Administrators

Gwen M. MacKenzie, President and Chief Executive Officer

Gwen M. MacKenzie is President and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, a regional medical center consisting of an 806-bed hospital, physician practices and a network of specialized medical campuses and clinics that include a nursing home and rehabilitation center, home health, psychiatric hospital, walk-in medical centers and outpatient care centers that offer the latest diagnostic and imaging services available.

Among its many achievements, Sarasota Memorial has been repeatedly listed in U.S. News and World Report's “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” issue. Sarasota Memorial also is the only hospital in the region with “Magnet” status – the nation’s highest honor for excellence in nursing. A number of other quality awards continually recognize Sarasota Memorial as a national benchmark for clinical excellence, specialty care and patient safety.

Since joining Sarasota Memorial in May 2005, MacKenzie has successfully opened a number of new outpatient facilities – including the Institute for Advanced Medicine neuroscience specialty campus – while streamlining internal operations. She shepherded the hospital through an ER initiative that resulted in a 30-minute wait time guarantee for patients and eliminated ambulance diversions. Those kinds of operational improvements, coupled with a strong focus on growth opportunities and cost-saving measures, has helped Sarasota Memorial turn around a longstanding operating loss despite significant increases in bad debt expense.

Trained as an oncology nurse, MacKenzie worked for 25 years at the nine-hospital Detroit Medical Center, the largest health care provider in southeast Michigan. Starting as an advanced practice nurse practitioner, she worked her way from bedside care and clinical management to executive vice president and chief operating officer at DMC. She was also President of a number of the DMC hospitals and for a time served as interim Chief Executive Officer of the system. A native of Michigan, MacKenzie attended the University of Michigan receiving a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in health services administration. She also received a Master’s from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Michael Harrington was appointed Chief Operating Officer in September, 2005. Previously, he served as Sarasota Memorial's Chief Ambulatory Officer, where he formulated an effective ambulatory strategy with the goal of creating a robust network of conveniently located outpatient services that exceed customers’ expectations. As Chief Operating Officer, Harrington is responsible for the health system's day-to-day operations and providing oversight for areas including Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Hospitality Services, First Physicians Group operations, the Business Development/Physician Liaison Program, ambulatory sites and services. Before joining Sarasota Memorial in February, 2005, Harrington had been the Chief Executive Officer of Bon Secours - St. Joseph Healthcare Group in Port Charlotte since 1996. Before that, he served as group CEO of Magellan Health Services in Orlando. A Florida native, he has had a long career in health care, including serving as CEO of Charter Peachford Hospital in Atlanta and holding top posts at several Ohio hospitals. Harrington received a master's degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and his bachelor's degree from Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida. He has served as president of the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte County, and on the boards of the YMCA and Hospice of Southwest Florida. In 2001, Harrington was named one of the 50 most influential people in Charlotte County.

Denis Baker, Chief Information Officer

Denis Baker was appointed Sarasota Memorial's Vice President and Chief Information Officer in February of 2000. Previously, he served five years as the health care system's director of Information Services. Under his administration, Sarasota Memorial undertook system-wide improvements, including upgrades to become Y2K compliant and conversion to electronic medical records, among other initiatives. Before coming to Sarasota Memorial, he served as the Vice president-Chief Information Officer for The Sisters of Mercy-Cincinnati Region for four years. He holds a master's degree from Marylhurst College in Oregon.

Jan Mauck, RN, CNOR, Chief Nursing Officer

Jan Mauck joined Sarasota Memorial Health Care System in 1975 as an RN on the Orthopedic Nursing Unit. In 1982 she became the Director of Surgical Services and, in 1999, she was promoted to Executive Director of the Diagnostic & Procedural Division.  Prior to her appointment as CNO in 2003, Jan was Vice President of Heart and Vascular Services.  Today, she is responsible for consistency in nursing practice and policy, as well as the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs, budgets and services to assure quality and cost-effective care along the continuum. She oversees a nursing organization of over 1,200 staff positions.  Mauck received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Murray State University in 1975 and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from Saint Francis College in 1997.
 

David C. Verinder is Chief Financial Officer of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest depth and breadth of specialized care. With 4,500 staff members and more than 750 physicians, the health system is the second-largest acute-care public hospital in Florida.

Since joining Sarasota Memorial in August, 2006, Mr. Verinder has successfully implemented a financial road map that focuses on strategic growth opportunities, disciplined expense controls, strong credit ratings and improved financial results. He also has instituted significant improvements in revenue cycle processes, managed care positions and debt structures, converting the health system’s prolonged operating loss into a positive margin in 2007.

Mr. Verinder came to Sarasota Memorial from Scott & White Memorial Hospital & Clinic in Temple, TX, where he served as Chief Financial Officer for Hospital and Clinic operations. A Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Verinder received his Master of Business Administration from Auburn University and his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University.

Parlane Reid, Ph.D., M.D., Chief Medical Officer

Parlane Reid, Ph.D., M.D. was appointed Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Chief Medical Officer in January of 2007.  Previously, he served as Medical Director for the Bayside Center for Behavioral Health since 1997 and as Chief of Staff for the Health Care System in 2005.  He also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor in Psychiatry for the University of Florida.  In addition to his lengthy physician leadership and academic experience, Dr. Reid is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has 25 years of private practice experience as a psychiatrist.  As Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Reid will work with our more than 770 medical staff members as well as employees and administration to ensure the highest quality of medical practice.