Dear Sarasota Democrats,
It is clearly the hot-button issue of the day, so DCS is pleased to welcome Gwen MacKenzie, President and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and Teresa Carafelli, Sarasota County Public Hospital Board member as our July luncheon speakers. They will discuss the state of the health care system from a local perspective.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center consisting of an 806-plus bed hospital, physician practices and a network of specialized medical campuses and clinics that include a nursing home and rehabilitation center, home health, psychiatric hospital, walk-in medical centers and outpatient care centers.
The only public hospital and the only not-for-profit hospital remaining in the 4-county Southwest Florida region, Sarasota Memorial has more than 3,000 employees, 1,000 volunteers and 750 physicians. It is Florida’s second largest acute care public hospital, and Sarasota County’s second largest employer. Total annual revenue equaled approximately $550 million in fiscal 2007.
Among its many achievements, Sarasota Memorial repeatedly ranks among U.S. News and World Report “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” and remains the only hospital in this region with “Magnet” status – the nation’s highest honor for excellence in nursing.
Trained as an oncology nurse, Ms. MacKenzie worked for 25 years at the nine-hospital Detroit Medical Center. Starting as an advanced practice nurse practitioner, she worked her way from bedside care and clinical management to executive vice president and chief operating officer at DMC. She was also President of a number of the DMC hospitals and for a time served as interim Chief Executive Officer of the system.
In 2008, Teresa Carafelli was elected to represent the Central District of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board. An RN for 30 years at Sarasota Memorial, Ms. Carafelli played a key role on committees promoting the health and well-being of the hospital and the nursing profession. Her positions included Operating Room nurse, surgery scheduling coordinator, clinical coordinator for the hospital's Perioperative Services Department, and Operating Room budget development and management. She has now come full circle and works as a patient, staff and physician advocate as a Hospital Board member.
Please join us Saturday, July 11th at Laurel Oak Country Club and as always, thanks for all you do as Democrats.
Nancy
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