SMH physician earns statewide award for women's career advancement

Sarasota Memorial Health System Chief Academic Officer Dr. Wilhelmine Wiese‑Rometsch was recently recognized for her leadership, advocacy and mentorship to advance women in medicine across Florida. She was the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to Advancing the Careers of Women in Medicine Award by the American College of Physicians, Florida Chapter.

Wiese-Rometsch oversees the health system’s expanding graduate medical education programs and research initiatives, which help create a pipeline of new physicians serving Florida and the Suncoast region.

“Dr. Wiese‑Rometsch exemplifies the best of academic medicine,” said SMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Fiorica in a news release. “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.”

Since launching Sarasota Memorial’s education program in conjunction with Florida State University a decade ago, it has more than tripled in size, providing specialty training, mentoring and support to more than 70 physicians each year in multiple residencies and fellowships. 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.

 “The impact of Wilhelmine’s work extends far beyond our health system and region,” said Sarasota Memorial Health System CEO David Verinder in the news release. “She has helped shape programs that create real opportunities for physicians to lead, research, innovate and teach.”