This is 2nd consecutive year that SMH has earned spot on national list
The Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) once again has been recognized among the nation’s best places to work in healthcare, ranking No. 17 on Forbes’ 2026 list of “America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals,” SMH announced this week.
The ranking is the highest for any healthcare employer in the state of Florida, a news release points out.
“The recognition marks the second consecutive year SMH has earned a place on the national list, which Forbes launched in 2025 to spotlight healthcare organizations that provide outstanding workplace environments for healthcare professionals,” the release notes. “This year, SMH was named among the top 20 of 250 healthcare organizations recognized nationally,” the release adds.
“Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to develop the rankings, surveying more than 30,000 employees working for healthcare and social services providers with at least 1,000 employees in the United States,” the release explains. “Participants were asked how likely they were to recommend their current employer,” the release continues, and they evaluated their workplaces on specific, criteria, including wages, working conditions and schedules, career advancement opportunities and safety.
“With more than 11,000 employees,” the release points out, “Sarasota Memorial is the largest employer in Sarasota County and the Suncoast region.”
The release adds that SMH President & CEO David Verinder called this latest recognition “particularly meaningful because it reflects the experiences and opinions of SMH staff and industry peers.”
“This honor belongs to our entire team at SMH and reflects the extraordinary skill, compassion and dedication they bring to work every day,” Verinder said in the release. “Our people are our greatest strength. Their commitment to each other, our patients and the entire community is what makes Sarasota Memorial an exceptional place to work and receive care,” he noted.
“The Forbes honor adds to a growing list of national workplace recognitions for Sarasota Memorial,” the release further points out. This year, Forbes also named SMH among “America’s Best Large Employers” and “America’s Best Employers for Company Culture,” and the healthcare system was designated one of Nursegrid’s Great Workplaces for Nurses. “The health system also has been recognized with Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award and other national honors highlighting its commitment to employee engagement, professional development and workplace excellence,” the release points out.
To see the full list from Forbes visit www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-healthcare-professionals/.
For information about career opportunities at Sarasota Memorial, visit www.smh.com/careers.