Two medical staff leaders chosen to head Sarasota, Venice health system campuses

As it transforms into a regional health system with multiple campuses and facilities, Sarasota Memorial recently added two medical staff leaders to the administrative team. 

Dr. Joseph Seaman, critical care pulmonologist, and Dr. Kyle Garner, obstetrician-gynecologist, were announced as the new additions. Seaman is the new associate chief medical officer at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital — Sarasota campus. 

Garner will be the new associate chief medical officer for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital — Venice campus. It will be on a part-time basis when the campus opens in November, as he plans to continue seeing patients at his Gulfcoast Obstetrics and Gynecology practice. 

Both officers will fulfill administrative responsibilities to ensure quality of care, medical education and for the departments that support those functions, according to a statement. With each campus housing its own credentialed medical staff, both doctors will act as liaison between the medical staff and campus presidents’ administrative teams. Both Seaman and Garner will directly report to Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Fiorica, the release states. 

Seaman joined the SMH staff in 2012, becoming the chief of staff in 2018-19. He also was the hospital’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine section’s chair. The doctor is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine and interventional pulmonology. 

Garner has been with SMH since 2006. During that time, he served as chief of obstetrics and gynecology and, in 2017-18, he was named chief of staff. Garner is board certified in obstetrics, gynecology and family medicine.

SMH President and CEO David Verinder says in the press release that the enhanced medical leadership structure will ensure SMH maintains the highest standards across its expanding network of care.

“The physicians’ extensive experience, clinical expertise and proven commitment to their patients, fellow physicians and staff members, combined with Dr. Fiorica’s ongoing leadership, will help ensure our health system continues to provide excellent patient experiences and outcomes as we grow to better serve our community.”