August 11, 2026 – Eight months after a devastating motorcycle accident left his future uncertain, Victor Lopez returned to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital today for an emotional reunion with the caregivers and first responders who helped save his life.

Lopez was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital following the December accident. For weeks, his family faced uncertainty about what his recovery would look like. His girlfriend, Stefany, was pregnant at the time, and their daughter, Juliet, was born in January while Lopez was still hospitalized.

After nearly three months of treatment and recovery, Lopez was able to return home to his family.

Today, Lopez returned to the hospital with Stefany and Juliet to reunite with the physicians, nurses and other caregivers who cared for him, as well as members of St. Lucie County Fire Rescue, whose EMS team was part of his lifesaving journey.

The reunion brought together the people who cared for Lopez during some of his most critical moments. This time celebrating how far he has come and the family moments his recovery made possible.

 

About HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital
HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital is a 497-bed, full-service acute care hospital accredited by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration as a comprehensive stroke center. Specializing in emergency services, dedicated pediatric emergency services, Level II trauma services, maternity, Level III neonatal services, pediatric intensive care services, comprehensive stroke services, minimally invasive surgery and open-heart surgery, we provide high-quality, exceptional patient care to Fort Pierce residents and the surrounding communities. The hospital has been recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for cardiac care and is an American College of Surgeons Verified Level II Trauma Center. The hospital’s 24-hour emergency room provides specialized hospital services for adults and children of all ages. For more information on HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, please visit hcafloridahealthcare.com or call 772-461-4000.

About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is one of Florida’s leading healthcare networks. Its 11,200 physicians and 80,000 colleagues work together to deliver evidence-based, collaborative care through nearly 12.8 million patient encounters annually. With more than 670 connected care sites—including hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency rooms—across the state, HCA Florida Healthcare helps expand access to the specialized care patients need. HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals are annually recognized for excellence in patient experience and clinical outcomes, including three facilities ranked in the top 2% nationally for overall clinical excellence. A leader in healthcare education, HCA Florida Healthcare supports the next generation of healthcare workers through its 153 graduate medical education programs across 29 hospitals. In 2025, the network provided more than $1.1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.5 million to community organizations across the state. Visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.



National recognition affirms JMC’s commitment to delivering world-class care close to home

August 11, 2026 – Jupiter Medical Center (JMC) proudly announces it has been recognized as one of Becker’s Healthcare’s “100 Great Community Hospitals” for 2026. This acknowledgment reflects the independent, not-for-profit hospital’s dedication to excellence in providing exceptional health care services to the surrounding communities. For patients and families, the recognition affirms that access to high-quality, nationally recognized care remains close to home.

According to Becker’s, a leading health care news source, the annual list showcases hospitals that bring accessible, affordable, high-quality care beyond the reach of large urban health systems. The Becker’s editorial team drew on nominations, as well as data and insights from respected national evaluators, including U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS, The Leapfrog Group, and others.

“Being named one of Becker’s Healthcare’s 100 Great Community Hospitals is an affirmation of the world-class care we deliver each day,” said Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM, President and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. “As the region’s only independent, not-for-profit hospital, we take great pride in serving our neighbors, and this recognition reflects the dedication of the physicians, nurses, and care teams who make Jupiter Medical Center a trusted destination for our growing community.”

This honor adds to a year of notable national recognitions for Jupiter Medical Center. The hospital recently earned its 15th “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, remaining the only hospital in Palm Beach and Martin Counties to hold the “A” rating. It was also named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026 list for the fourth year in a row — the only health system in the region to earn this distinction. Additionally, it was the sole hospital in the region to be named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2026.

Jupiter Medical Center has continued to invest in growth, expanding both its physical space and services. In January, the hospital opened the Tim and Jayne Donahue Patient Care Tower, a 92-bed, five-story building on its main campus, featuring specialty floors for oncology, cardiac care, and orthopedics. Also in January, Jupiter Medical Center announced a collaboration with world-renowned orthopedic specialists at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) to expand access to world-class musculoskeletal care.

To see the full 100 Great Community Hospitals 2026 list, visit Becker’s Health Care.

For more information about Jupiter Medical Center, visit jupitermed.com, call (561) 263-2234, or follow Jupiter Medical Center on Facebook and Instagram @jupitermedicalcenter or on ‘X’ @JupiterMedCtr.

ABOUT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER 
Rated #1 in the region for quality, safety and patient experience, Jupiter Medical Center is the leading destination for world-class health care in Palm Beach County and across the Treasure Coast. Jupiter Medical Center’s state-of-the-art facilities and leading-edge technologies enable its award-winning physicians to provide a comprehensive continuum of inpatient and outpatient health care services. Jupiter Medical Center’s specialty centers of excellence include: comprehensive cancer care, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurosciences, and women’s and children’s services. For more information about Jupiter Medical Center, please call 561-263-2234 or visit www.jupitermed.com.



Pictured alongside Sarasota Memorial leaders are Team SMH‘s 2026 DNP graduates from the FSU College of Nursing. Front row: Nicole McClain, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, MRCM; Jean Lucas, PhD, MBA, APRN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System; and Georgina Farrell, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ. Back row: David Verinder, President & CEO; Lisa Hinds, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN; Susan Fallis, DNP, MSN, RN; Katie Williams, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC; Rebecca Feeley, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR; Katrin Diana, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ; Cindy Taylor, DNP, MSN, RN, CNML; and Lisa Baumgardner, DNP, APRN, CNS-BC, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, SMH-Sarasota.

August 10, 2026- Recently, SMH celebrated eight incredible team members, all women, who graduated with their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees from Florida State University College of Nursing. The women supported one another through late nights, demanding coursework, full-time careers, family responsibilities and everything in between, demonstrating the supportive workplace that helped earn SMH the #1 spot on the list of Florida’s best employers of women.

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (www.smh.com)

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 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 (and third under construction in North Port), freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and SMH First Physicians Group primary and specialty care practices. Founded in 1925, SMH’s flagship Sarasota campus also is home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest 5-Star quality ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital – and one of just 11 in the nation – to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from CMS every year since the federal rating program began in 2016.



Nationally, SMH ranked #28 among 700 employers recognized across all industries and #8 among healthcare organizations

August 10, 2026 – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has been named Florida’s top employer for women in Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers for Women 2026,” earning the highest ranking of any employer headquartered in the state.

In addition to claiming the top spot in Florida, Sarasota Memorial ranked #28 among 700 employers recognized across all industries and #8 among healthcare organizations, underscoring the community-owned health system’s commitment to creating a workplace where women can build meaningful, rewarding careers.

Compiled annually by Forbes in partnership with market research firm Statista, the rankings are based on an independent survey of more than 146,000 women working for companies that employ at least 1,000 people in the United States and incorporate more than 4 million employer evaluations collected over a three-year period.

Employers were evaluated on factors that matter most to women in the workplace, including:

  •      Career ladders and advancement opportunities
  •      Pay equity and benefits
  •      Workplace culture and conditions
  •      Parental leave and family support
  •      Representation in leadership

Ultimately, the 700 companies with the highest scores made Forbes’ 2026 list.

“This recognition reflects the commitment of our entire organization to creating a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected and empowered to grow,” said Laurie Bennett, vice president of Human Resources at Sarasota Memorial. “Women play an essential role in every aspect of our health system—from patient care and research to leadership and innovation—and we are honored to be recognized for fostering an environment where they can thrive.”

Sarasota Memorial’s workforce reflects that commitment. Women represent 75% of the health system’s more than 11,000 employees and 73% of its leadership positions across hospitals, physician practices, outpatient care centers and other facilities throughout the region. One of Florida’s largest public health systems and Sarasota County’s largest employer, Sarasota Memorial invests in its workforce through competitive benefits, professional development, leadership training, wellness resources, onsite childcare and programs that support work-life balance.

The latest Forbes recognition adds to Sarasota Memorial’s longstanding reputation as an employer of choice. In addition to past awards by Forbes, the health system earned Gallup’s prestigious Exceptional Workplace Award, recognizing organizations with world-class employee engagement and workplace culture.

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (www.smh.com)

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 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 (and third under construction in North Port), freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and SMH First Physicians Group primary and specialty care practices. Founded in 1925, SMH’s flagship Sarasota campus also is home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest 5-Star quality ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital – and one of just 11 in the nation – to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from CMS every year since the federal rating program began in 2016.

 



Sixth Florida location brings patient-centered care model to the Southwest coast

August 10, 2026: Cleveland Clinic has opened its newest Concierge Medicine practice in Naples, making relationship-based, primary care available to the region’s residents. This marks the sixth Florida location for Cleveland Clinic’s Concierge Medicine practice, reflecting the ongoing effort to meet more patients where they live with personalized healthcare services.

Led by Clayton J. Rabens, M.D., MPH, a board-certified family physician and aerospace medicine specialist who recently joined Cleveland Clinic, the practice offers patients a healthcare experience centered on personalized attention and enhanced access to their physicians. Dr. Rabens will serve patients in Naples with support from Cleveland Clinic’s network.

Patients who enroll will benefit from:

  • Highly personalized care tailored to individual health needs and goals
  • Flexible scheduling, including same or next-day appointments and virtual visits
  • Extended time with their physician during each visit
  • Seamless coordination of care within Cleveland Clinic’s global network
  • Around-the-clock access to their physician for urgent questions or concerns

“Bringing Concierge Medicine to Naples means more than opening another office—it’s about fostering true partnerships with our patients,” said Stephen V. Avallone, M.D., Center Director for Concierge Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “We believe in practicing medicine that is personal and preventive, where each patient feels heard and valued. Our goal is to help individuals not only manage illness but thrive in their everyday lives. We are pleased to bring Naples a primary care experience rooted in trust, accessibility and lasting relationships.”

With the addition of Naples, Cleveland Clinic now offers Concierge Medicine at six locations throughout Florida. This expansion comes at a time when more patients are seeking thoughtful, individualized healthcare that prioritizes wellness alongside medical expertise. Naples residents will join a program recognized nationally for its quality, innovation and patient satisfaction.

The Concierge Medicine practice will be located at 4501 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 101.

Prospective patients may schedule a meet-and-greet appointment by calling 239.397.6900 or filling out this interest form.

 

About Cleveland Clinic Florida Market

Cleveland Clinic in Florida is a nonprofit multi-specialty healthcare provider that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. The Florida market includes Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, as well as 40 outpatient centers across Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. An integral part of Cleveland Clinic, the Florida market employs approximately 12,000 caregivers and operates a 1,100-bed health system, where exceptional patient care is rooted in a mission of caring for life, researching for health, and educating those who serve. In 2025, caregivers across the Florida market provided more than 2.7 million patient encounters.