Sarasota Memorial Health Care System welcomed two of Sarasota’s longstanding surgeons into its First Physician Group (FPG) network this week. Dr. John Nora and Dr. Russell Novak officially joined the health system’s network of primary and specialty physicians under the new practice name First Physicians Group General Surgery at Medical Arts. Board-certified general surgeons, Nora and Novak have been in private practice at Sarasota Surgical Associates for 28 years and 31 years, respectively. They specialize in a wide range of minimally invasive laparoscopic, robotic and traditional surgical treatments for diseases and conditions of the abdomen, breast and soft tissues, including gastrointestinal surgery, breast surgery, hernia surgery and thyroid surgery. Both have held multiple leadership positions at Sarasota Memorial over the years. Novak has served on the Medical Executive Committee and as past Chief of Surgery, while Nora helped develop Sarasota Memorial’s successful bariatric surgery program with clinical outcomes that exceed national averages. In addition to scheduled procedures, Drs. Nora and Novak will help provide 24/7 emergency-call coverage for hospitalized patients, providing consults in the ER, performing emergency procedures that are needed and covering for general surgeons in the area.

First Physician Group