On April 8, 2024, from 6pm-7pm, at the Selby Library Gelbart Auditorium,  the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will present a panel of experts in the healthcare field to discuss the role of the SMH Board and how their decisions might impact the future of medical care in our community. Currently there are two candidates of the same party running for Hospital Board At Large Seat 1 and for Central District Seat 1. That means the August Primary could become a Universal Primary, making it the final election for these two seats. In that case, all voters would be able to vote;  thus filling two of the four seats on this nine-person board. At Large Seats 2 and 3 will be voted on in  November. According to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, “Of nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals evaluated every year,  SMH has repeatedly been recognized in the “50 Best Hospitals” for at least one medical specialty and rated among the nation’s top 10% for other high performing specialties, conditions and procedures.”  (August 1, 2023). It is the responsibility of the Hospital Board to maintain or improve upon this level of excellence.  Our panelists will cover all the issues at play in this year’s SMH Hospital Board elections including privatization of our public nonprofit hospital. Our panel of experts include: Sandra Stuart, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation. Former Assist. Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Kirk George Voelker, MD. Pulmonologist, Medical Director of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Clinical Research Center, and Alan Unell a researcher of healthcare systems and policies and who publishes the daily newsletter “Healthcare Advocacy”. This event will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page where a recording will be posted. For more information and to register for in person attendance visit LWVSRQ.org.