Staff Celebrate Years of Stellar Service
Sarasota Memorial held its annual Service Anniversary Celebration in April to honor the dedication and contributions of 700 employees celebrating milestone work anniversaries this year, including 123 longtime staffers achieving 20, 30, 40 and even 45 years of service.
The celebration was held in-person at the Sarasota Hyatt to accommodate the large number of attendees.
With more than 9,000 employees, the health system is Sarasota County’s largest employer.
“Our people are our most important resource, and we can’t thank them enough for their years of hard work,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder. “Their diligence, dedication and invaluable experience have helped Sarasota Memorial become the top-notch health system it is today.”
OB/GYN Perinatal Sonographer Barbara Pittenger, who has served Sarasota Memorial patients for 45 years, was a guest of honor at the celebration.
Affectionately known as Bip, Pittenger started working at SMH as an X-ray tech in 1977, and within a few years, completed training to become a perinatal sonographer, specializing in ultrasound exams for high-risk pregnancies. She eventually worked her way from the hospital’s Radiology Department to Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group OB/GYN practice.
Colleagues and leaders shared many congratulatory comments, recognizing Bip for the skilled and compassionate care she gives to patients and for the support and insights she shares with teammates.
Celebrating 45 years of service was Barbara (Bip) Pittenger, OB/GYN perinatal sonographer (center), with Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder and First Physicians Group Manager Barbara Tello-Accola
Celebrating 40 years of service, from left are: Jackie Bland, RN, of Medical/Wound Care; Cindi Little of Rehabilitation Services; Craig Dibler, Respiratory Therapist/Trauma. Not shown: Twila Krick, Pharmacy Technologist and Eric Chernin, Pharmacy Care Specialist.
A number of employees celebrated 35 years with the organization. From left are Lynette Heggs of Sarasota Memorial’s Nursing & Rehab Center, Jacquelyn Carter of Phlebotomy, Mark Billington of Public Safety, Suellen Kaeb and Jennifer Pitts, both of the Delivery Room, Patti Miller of Health Information Management, Robyn DeWitt of Cardiology, Butch Willis of Patient Registration, Danne Murphy of Information Systems, Pam Lewis of the Pharmacy. Not pictured: Shelly Labarr of Biomedical Engineering.
Staff celebrating 30 years, from left, include Renee Kinney of the Ultimate Float Team, Mary Woodard and Tonya Hershberger of Pre-Op, Suzanne Novak of Cardiac Progressive, Maribeth Desiongco of Education & Clinical Programs, Sue Olsen of Nursing Administration, Susan King of Child Care, Cameron Watt of Cardiovascular Services and Jason Rowland of the Emergency Care Center. Not pictured: Neta Houston of Patient Registration, Jennifer Griffen of First Physicians Group, Barbara Schwartz of the Pharmacy, Paul Wroblewski of Biomedical Engineering and Georgia Montgomery of Ortho.
See the gallery below for more photos from this year’s Service Anniversary Celebration!
