From right to left: SMH Trauma Surgeon Alfredo Cordova, MD; SMH Trauma Medical Director Christian Scheutz, MD; DoD/ESGR Florida Committee Chair Rita M. Broadway; SMH Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Director Jennifer Sweeney; and Jack Rodman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group.
SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2025) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) and its Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Services Division were formally recognized today by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) with two prestigious Seven Seals Awards, honoring the health system’s outstanding support of employees who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves and National Guard.
During a special ceremony held Tuesday morning at the SMH-Sarasota campus, Rita M. Broadway, chair of the Florida Committee of the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presented the awards to SMH leaders in recognition of the organization's continued commitment to fostering a workplace where service members can thrive both in and out of uniform.
The nomination for the awards was submitted by SMH Trauma Surgeon Alfredo Cordova, MD, FACS, FAAST, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. Dr. Cordova praised the health system and its Trauma division for supporting his military service and for their broader efforts to recruit, retain, and honor military personnel.
Dr. Cordova, a double board-certified surgeon, joined SMH in 2022 and is one of hundreds of active reservists and veterans currently working across the health system. He has served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps since 2014, having been recruited through the elite Military Accessions for Vital National Interest (MAVNI) program for his specialized surgical expertise. He serves in missions all over the world in support of the nation’s military service members, most recently participating in a Joint Forces humanitarian mission in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rita M. Broadway, chair of the Florida Committee of the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presents awards to Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder and Sarasota Memorial Trauma Medical Director Christian Scheutz, MD.
“We are incredibly proud of all of our team members who are current or former military personnel,” said David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. “We are thankful for their service and the skills they bring to our organization. This dual recognition from the Department of Defense affirms SMH’s role not only as a leader in healthcare but also as a champion of those who serve our nation.”
The ESGR’s Seven Seals Award represents the seven branches of the U.S. Reserve and National Guard and is awarded in recognition of significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes ESGR’s mission.
Since opening 100 years ago, SMH has a longstanding tradition of supporting the military, including the renaming of Sarasota Municipal Hospital to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 1954 to honor those who served in World Wars I and II.
In recent years, the organization has expanded its military-focused initiatives:
- A dedicated section for military personnel on its careers website: careers.smh.com
- Participation in the Veteran Hiring Pledge via Military.com, identifying SMH as a best-in-class employer for veterans
- Active military leave policies and internal recognition events for veteran and active-duty staff
- Special initiatives to recognize and thank critically ill patients who are veterans
- Since October 2024, SMH has hired more than 45 veterans
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.