Dr. Wilhelmine Wiese-Rometsch, SMH’s Chief Academic Officer, Honored for Advancing Women in Medicine

SARASOTA, Fla. (Dec. 30, 2025) - Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) is pleased to announce that Wilhelmine Wiese Rometsch, MD, was named the 2025 recipient of the "Outstanding Contributions to Advancing the Careers of Women in Medicine Award" by the American College of Physicians, Florida Chapter.

The prestigious award recognizes physicians whose leadership, advocacy, and mentorship have advanced meaningful opportunities for women in medicine across Florida.

As Chief Academic Officer at Sarasota Memorial, Dr. Wiese-Rometsch oversees the health system's expanding graduate medical education (GME) programs and research initiatives, which are helping create a robust pipeline of new physicians serving Florida and the Suncoast region.

Since launching Sarasota Memorial's GME program with Florida State University a decade ago, the program has more than tripled in size, providing specialty training, mentoring and support to more than 70 physicians a year in multiple residencies and fellowships under way at SMH. On average, more than half of the resident physicians remain in the region after completing their residencies, and as many as 70% have stayed and established practices in Florida.

"Dr. Wiese Rometsch exemplifies the best of academic medicine," Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD, said. "Her vision and dedication have positioned Sarasota Memorial as a leading teaching hospital, attracting and training top tier physicians with a culture committed to clinical excellence and compassionate care."

David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial, commended Dr. Wiese-Rometsch for her contributions to the community and beyond.

"The impact of Wilhelmine's work extends far beyond our health system and region," Verinder said. "She has helped shape programs that create real opportunities for physicians to lead, research, innovate and teach. Many of our resident physicians have stayed in our community and are filling critical needs throughout Florida. We're grateful for her leadership and proud to see her recognized by the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians."

Since starting SMH's first residency programs in Internal Medicine and Emergency medicine ago nearly a decade ago, Dr. Wiese-Rometsch has helped expand the GME training opportunities to include Emergency Medical Services and Hospice & Palliative Care Fellowships. A a new Complex Gastrointestinal Surgery Fellowship at Sarasota Memorial's Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute was recently accredited and is slated to start training physicians in that specialty in July 2026. An Advanced Head & Neck Fellowship at SMH also is in the works.

Photo caption: Wilhelmine Wiese-Rometsch (center), receives the 2025 "Outstanding Contributions to Advancing the Careers of Women in Medicine Award." The prestigious award was presented by Florida American College of Physicians Chapter Governors Elisa Sottile, MD, FACP, and Ankush Bansal, MD, FACP, at the chapter's annual scientific meeting in Orlando in November.

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (smh.com)

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 celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.