Sarasota Memorial names new medical chiefs and honors two veteran doctors
Leadership changes take effect at the Sarasota and Venice campuses as the hospital recognizes John Abu and Steven Halbreich for their decades of service.
By Alina Carter ·
Patients and staff at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System will see new leadership at the top of the medical staff starting this year. The hospital announced the appointments of new chiefs of staff for both its Sarasota and Venice campuses during an annual meeting on October 29.
Dr. Joel Baker, DO, will serve as the Chief of Staff for the SMH-Sarasota campus. He will represent a group of more than 2,100 medical staff members and advanced practice providers. Dr. Baker succeeds Dr. Daniel Kaplon, whose one-year term concluded recently. At the SMH-Venice campus, Dr. Daniel Murphy, MD, is entering the second year of his two-year term. His role involves overseeing a team of more than 1,300 medical staff and providers.
The hospital also awarded its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. John Abu. A physician at Sarasota Memorial for nearly 25 years, Dr. Abu joined the OB hospitalist team in 2012. He helped establish the hospital’s OB Emergency Care Center to ensure round-the-clock access to labor and delivery services. His career at the institution began in 2003 after he completed training at the Medical College of Ohio and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Steven Halbreich received the 2026 Physician of the Year honor. He arrived at Sarasota Memorial in 2003 and specializes in laparoscopic and robotic surgery. In 2015, he joined First Physicians Group to help launch emergency surgical and trauma care services. He currently chairs the department’s Quality Improvement Committee and has mentored students and residents throughout his career.
The physician leadership committee selected both honorees based on recommendations from colleagues. Dr. James Fiorica, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, noted that both men are outstanding clinicians whose commitment to patient care has been remarkable. Dr. Washington Hill, a colleague of Dr. Abu for over 20 years, stated that Dr. Abu’s leadership and compassion reflect the best of the profession.
Dr. Abu has also chaired the Obstetrical Department and served on the Medical Executive Committee. He continues to provide direct care through the Pregnancy and Wellness Center and the county health department. Dr. Halbreich previously practiced for twelve years at Vascular and Surgery Associates before joining his current group. Both doctors trained at NYU or Mount Sinai institutions before settling in Sarasota.
The annual medical staff meeting served as the venue for these announcements. The new terms for the chiefs of staff will guide the administrative direction of the medical staff at both locations for the upcoming year.
