SARASOTA, Fla. (June 24, 2025) – Sarasota Memorial Hospital has received the prestigious 2025 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award for demonstrating sustained, superior clinical outcomes in mitral valve reconstruction.
Awarded by the Mitral Foundation in June, the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center designation identifies and recognizes the nation’s top medical centers for mitral valve repair surgery. SMH is one of two hospitals in the state of Florida, and the only one in the Tampa Bay region, recognized for this life-enhancing procedure.
"Mitral valve reconstruction is one of the most challenging heart operations, but results for patients with degenerative mitral valve disease can be outstanding, with improved survival and fewer long-term complications than replacement with an artificial valve,” said Jonathan Hoffberger, DO, director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. “We are pleased to once again be recognized with this award, which is a reflection of our team’s ongoing commitment to delivering the very best treatment and outcomes for our patients.”
This is the fifth consecutive year that SMH has received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center award since the program launched in November 2019 in partnership with the American Heart Association.
David Adams, MD, president of the Mitral Foundation and professor and chair of Cardiovascular Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, said commended award recipients, noting they must meet rigorous outcomes criteria for repair rates, mortality and durability. “Patients receiving care at a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award-winning facility can have confidence in their guideline-directed care.”
Learn more about Sarasota Memorial’s heart services at smh.com/heart. Learn more about the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award at www.mitralfoundation.org/reference-center-award
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.