Sarasota Memorial Administrators
David Verinder, President & CEO, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
In 2014, the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board unanimously appointed David Verinder as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.
David has overseen the development and successful launch of new medical services to improve the community's access to high-quality healthcare. In 2015, Sarasota Memorial opened the county’s only Trauma Center, a Level II program that cares for patients with life-threatening injuries and accidents. In 2017, the health system began an Internal Medicine Residency Program with Florida State University's College of Medicine to address local physician shortages, and later started an Emergency Medicine Residency Program and Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program. Also in 2017, Sarasota Memorial completed a state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Pavilion on its main campus to help patients regain their independence and quality of life following illness and injury.
David currently is leading the most significant expansion in the organization’s 95-year history, with the planned opening of a new hospital in Venice and the development of a comprehensive cancer center.
During David’s tenure, Sarasota Memorial has earned national recognition for its high-quality care. The health system is the only hospital in Florida to earn the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s highest 5-star rating for quality and safety in all reporting periods since the federal rating program began in 2016. Sarasota Memorial also has earned the top “A” grade designation from The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization.
Before assuming the CEO role, David served as Sarasota Memorial’s chief operating officer starting in 2010, overseeing the health system’s operations and ambulatory strategy. He also was responsible for architecture and construction projects, including the opening of the 9-story Courtyard Tower in 2013, as well as several new outpatient centers and urgent care centers.
David joined Sarasota Memorial in 2006 as chief financial officer. As CFO, and continuing in his role as CEO, he successfully instituted significant financial and operational improvements, focusing on strategic growth opportunities, disciplined expense controls and improved financial results.
He came to Sarasota Memorial from Scott & White Memorial Hospital & Clinic in Temple, Texas, where he served in senior leadership. David earned an MBA from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University. Florida Trend included David on its list of Florida's 500 most influential business leaders in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Lorrie Liang, President, Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Sarasota Campus
In January of 2021, Lorrie Liang was named president of Sarasota Memorial's Sarasota campus in Sarasota, where she oversees strategic initiatives, operations and overall performance.
Lorrie joined Sarasota Memorial as chief operating officer 2015, managing the operations and strategic growth of eight clinical and support divisions. She has also led construction, renovation and operational initiatives designed to expand the size and scope of services at the hospital and at outpatient sites, including the opening of a state-of-the-art new Rehabilitation Pavilion and the development of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. The comprehensive cancer institute includes an oncology tower now under construction on the main campus, a newly opened outpatient radiation oncology center with linear accelerators, and ambulatory cancer care facilities and programs that are in the planning stages.
A versatile senior executive with a proven track record for transforming vision into results, Lorrie has more than 30 years of experience in leading hospital operations, service lines, physician practice groups, graduate medical education, and clinical research programs in academic and community health systems. She previously served 18 years as vice president of LifeBridge Health System/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Md.
Lorrie received her Master of Health Services Administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her Bachelor of Arts in Health Science and Policy from the University of Maryland. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executive and has served on not-for-profit boards, including being a principal officer for the American Diabetes Association.
William Woeltjen, Chief Financial Officer
William Woeltjen was named chief financial officer in November 2010. Previously, he served as the health system's treasurer. He is responsible for all financial matters related to the health care system, including overseeing financial reporting, financial planning, revenue cycle, reimbursement, supply chain management, debt management and managed care contracting. He has worked with all levels of leadership to develop and implement financial strategies to help ensure the sustainability of the health system and its public mission. During his tenure, Sarasota Memorial has experienced strong operating margins, successful supply utilization and revenue cycle improvements. He has more than 30 years of experience in corporate health care finance. Before joining Sarasota Memorial’s Finance department in 2007, William served as corporate treasurer and corporate chief financial officer for University Community Health in Tampa. A Certified Public Accountant, he has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Tulane University, and a Bachelor’s in Accounting and an MBA from University of South Florida.
James Fiorica, MD, Chief Medical Officer
James Fiorica, MD, was named chief medical officer in September 2017. He serves as the liaison between hospital administration and the 900-plus members of Sarasota Memorial's medical staff and oversees strategies to improve quality, population health and patient safety. Previously, Dr. Fiorica served as Sarasota Memorial's associate chief medical officer. In 2014-15, he was chosen as the organization's chief of staff. Board-certified in gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Fiorica is director of the hospital's Women’s Cancer Specialty Program, working with physicians throughout the region to ensure that patients have access to the most successful treatments available. He has been at the forefront of the hospital's robotic surgery program for gynecological cancer patients and led innovative research trials. Before joining Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group in 2005, Dr. Fiorica was the program leader of the Gynecology Oncology Program at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Dr. Fiorica received his medical degree from Tufts University in Massachusetts and completed his residency and fellowship programs at the University of South Florida's College of Medicine.
Joseph Seaman, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer
Critical Care Pulmonologist Joseph Seaman, MD, serves as associate chief medical officer for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota Campus. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Interventional Pulmonology, Dr. Seaman joined SMH’s medical staff in 2012, served as chief of staff in 2018-2019 and has chaired the hospital’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Section. In 2020, he was a recipient of SMH’s Physician Team of the Year Award for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. A current faculty member of Florida State University’s College of Medicine, Dr. Seaman earned his medical degree from Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine, completed his internship/residency at the University of Cincinnati, and completed fellowships at the National Jewish Health System in Denver and the University of Cincinnati.
Connie Andersen, Chief Nursing Officer
Connie Andersen assumed the role of chief nursing officer in October 2016 and is responsible for the development, organization and management of patient care services, practices, policies and standards throughout the health system. A member of the hospital's leadership team since 1997, Connie previously served as associate chief nursing officer and director of the hospital's critical care and progressive care departments. Before joining Sarasota Memorial, she served as assistant vice president of Nursing at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead, NY, where she started her career in nursing as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit. She also worked as a Critical Care RN at Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart, FL, and as Head Nurse for Critical Care/Telemetry/Open Heart Recovery at University Hospital in Augusta, GA. Connie received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Excelsior College and a master's degree in Labor Management from Stonybrook University, both in New York.
Pam Ramhofer, Chief Information Officer
Pam Ramhofer was named chief information officer in May 2015. She is responsible for all of the health system’s information technology initiatives, and oversees the Information Systems and Clinical and Business Systems departments as well as Physician IT Services and Telecommunications. Previously, Pam served as Sarasota Memorial’s director of Clinical and Business Systems, playing a leading role in the successful implementation and support of critical systems. In 2010, she received Sarasota Memorial’s “Leader of the Year” award, with nominations praising her as an exceptional director, communicator and team-builder. Pam worked for 12 years as an RN on the Cardiac Acute, Cardiac Sub-Acute and Intermediate Intensive Care units. She received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Boston University, and Associate’s in Nursing from Manatee Community College.
Carol Ann Kalish, Esq., Chief Legal Officer
In July 2015, Carol Ann Kalish transitioned from her position as our chief legal counsel and shareholder at the Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen law firm to vice president and chief legal officer at Sarasota Memorial. She is a board-certified health care law specialist, and previously provided legal counsel to Sarasota Memorial for more than 20 years. Her practice has primarily focused on Florida and federal health laws relating to the business and practice of medicine, including licensure, regulation, credentialing, HIPAA and EMTALA compliance, and business relationships among and between health care providers. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, and her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law.