SARASOTA (June 18, 2026) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) has been named to Forbes' list of “America's Best Employers for New Grads 2026,” earning national recognition as one of the country's best workplaces for early-career professionals. Sarasota Memorial ranked in the top 10 nationwide in the Healthcare & Social Services category, and was the second-highest ranked employer in all categories in Florida, reflecting the health system’s commitment to supporting employees as they begin and build meaningful careers in healthcare in the region.
Presented by Forbes in partnership with global market research company Statista, “America's Best Employers for New Grads 2026” were identified through independent surveys of more than 100,000 U.S. professionals with fewer than 10 years of work experience and employed by organizations with at least 1,000 employees. More than 2 million employer evaluations were considered, with rankings based on personal recommendations from employees and public recommendations from individuals familiar with employers in the same industry.
Laurie Bennett, vice president of Human Resources for Sarasota Memorial, said the recognition highlights Sarasota Memorial's ongoing investment in creating an environment where recent graduates can learn, grow and make meaningful contributions from the beginning of their careers.
"Healthcare is a profession built on teamwork, compassion and lifelong learning," Bennett said. "Our team is committed to providing new graduates with the mentorship, educational resources and opportunities they need to develop their skills, advance their careers and deliver exceptional care to our patients and our community."
One of southwest Florida's largest employers with approximately 11,000 employees, SMH offers career opportunities across nursing, allied health, physician practices, information technology, finance, administration and numerous other clinical and non-clinical fields. New graduates benefit from comprehensive onboarding, nurse residency and clinical education programs, mentorship opportunities, leadership development initiatives and continuing education designed to foster long-term career growth.
To see the full rankings visit: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-for-new-grads/
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 about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 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 (and third under construction in North Port), freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and First Physician Group primary and specialty care practices. Founded in 1925, SMH’s flagship Sarasota campus also is home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest 5-Star quality ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital – and one of just 11 in the nation – to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from CMS every year since the federal rating program began in 2016.