Health care system also put in spotlight as featured company in Forbes-Statista report
The Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) ranks among the top 3% of America’s Best Employers for Women 2025, as noted in a report released in late July by Forbes and Statista, SMH has announced.
The health care system also was “highlighted as a featured company in the report,” a news release notes.
“Sarasota County’s only community-owned hospital,” SMH ranked No. 22 out of 700 companies spotlighted in Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Employers for Women, the release adds.
“Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder noted that women, in particular, have played a foundational role in the creation of the county’s first hospital in 1925,” the release says, and women “have continued to influence the extensive scope and high quality of care SMH has delivered through the decades. “From the grassroots efforts of local women’s groups who championed its founding and expansion, to the leadership of female healthcare professionals, administrators, and volunteers, women have been instrumental in shaping SMH into the nationally recognized institution it is today,” the release adds.
“As SMH celebrates its centennial this year we are especially grateful for the recognition of the exceptional culture at SMH,” Verinder said in the release. “People are our greatest asset, and we are a better organization because of the different perspectives, collaborative ideas and problem-solving approaches each member has brought to our team for 100 years.”
The release points out, “Today, women make up 76% of SMH’s 10,000-plus employees,” as well as 73% of its leadership roles, based on information provided by Laurie Bennett, vice president of human resources.
To determine the nation’s Best Employers for Women, the release continues, “Forbes, in collaboration with Statista, surveyed more than 140,000 women working for companies with at least 1,000 employees. Those surveyed provided feedback on their employer’s culture, opportunities for career development, salaries and benefits and other working conditions.”
In addition to placing No. 22 overall, the release notes, SMH placed No. 9 in the health care sector.
Bennett also reported that “SMH has a 92% overall employee retention rate, which is critical amidst a national shortage of healthcare workers,” the release adds.
“Maintaining a great workplace is about supporting your staff’s professional development, giving them the tools and opportunities they need to grow, while also recognizing the ever-growing importance of work-life balance,” Bennett said in the release. “This recognition is a reflection of the ongoing commitment this organization places on building and fostering an inclusive, supportive environment, where the SMH staff can lead, grow and thrive.”
To see the full list from Forbes, and the article highlighting SMH as a featured company, visit forbes.com/lists/best-employers-women/
For information about careers at SMH, visit smh.com/careers.