SARASOTA, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2025) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System honored two physicians for their exemplary service to the health system and the Suncoast community, and announced its 2026 Chiefs of Staff for both the SMH-Sarasota and SMH-Venice campuses.
Eyad Almallouhi, MD, a neurointerventionalist, was named Sarasota Memorial’s 2025 Physician of the Year, while otolaryngologist Roger Shea, MD received SMH’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. A committee of physician leaders recognized both physicians at the annual medical staff meeting in October.
SMH Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Shea received Sarasota Memorial’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his three decades of dedicated service to SMH and the community.
The longtime physician joined the SMH medical staff in September of 1995. Throughout the years, he has served in multiple leadership roles, including chairman of the Surgical Quality Improvement Committee in 2001 and Chief of Surgery in 2002.
A pediatric-focused ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Shea has always been widely respected by his colleagues for his compassion, accessibility, and unwavering advocacy for children’s health.
“Dr. Shea has continually gone above and beyond for the children of this community,” said Sarah Temple, MD, former Chief of Staff at SMH-Sarasota. “It is rare to find a physician these days who gives their cell phone number out to all patients and families, and who accepts any child into his practice, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Dr. Shea exemplifies the best of what physicians can be, and Sarasota is lucky to have him.”
Peers described Dr. Shea as a trusted collaborator and team player. Known for his patient-centered approach, he is admired for keeping “the patient as the most important person—no matter how small they are.”
SMH Physician of the Year
Dr. Almallouhi was named Sarasota Memorial’s 2025 Physician of the Year. Since joining SMH in July 2023, he has dramatically impacted the lives of many stroke patients through his neurointerventional surgical skills and collaborative approach to care.
Peers recognized Dr. Almallouhi for his exceptional skill and unwavering commitment to patients and colleagues, noting that his precision and willingness to serve on-call 24/7 have saved lives and improved quality of life for countless patients.
“Dr. Almallouhi has integrated seamlessly into our hospital culture with compassionate dedication to his patients and team,” said James Fiorica, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. “We are proud to recognize his leadership and the life-saving work he does each day for our stroke patients and community.”
In addition to recognizing both distinguished physicians, both the SMH-Sarasota and SMH-Venice Medical Staffs selected their Chiefs of Staff for 2026.
Chiefs of Staff for 2026
Daniel Kaplon, MD, was named Chief of Staff, for the SMH-Sarasota campus’ 2,000-plus medical staff members and advanced practice providers; he succeeds Kenneth Hurwitz, MD, whose one-year term as chief ended last month.
Daniel Murphy, MD, will begin the first of his two-year term as Chief of Staff for the SMH-Venice campus, serving as the top representative for that hospital’s 1,300-plus medical staff members and advanced practice providers this month.
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.