Community Specialty Clinic Marks Three Decades of Invaluable Service

Sarasota Memorial recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Community Specialty Clinic, honoring active and retired physicians who provide free medical care, consultations and specialty services to thousands of low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents of Sarasota County each year.

Nearly 200 active and retired physicians representing dozens of specialties – including cardiac, cancer, orthopedic, gynecology, urology and surgical care and many more – treat nearly 5,000 patients a year at the community clinic and the hospital, and carve out time to see them in their private practices.

Rickey Wiseman, MD, who serves as medical director of the clinic, is one of the volunteer doctors who has been caring for patients from the clinic’s inception.

“I first became involved about 30 years ago,” he said. “It just all fit what my philosophy was as a doctor, to provide care to someone on an ongoing basis and prevent emergencies in the future.”

The clinic has grown significantly since opening in 1992 and continues to evolve to meet the growing community’s needs, said James Fiorica, MD, chief medical officer for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.

“Most communities do not have this,” he said. “It’s really wonderful to be able to offer a full spectrum of services for those in need.”

Check out this video celebrating the clinic’s three decades of service!