2024 marks thirty years of service to the community for First Physicians Group. Since its inception in 1994, First Physicians Group (FPG) has grown to become one of the most respected multi-specialty medical group in the community.
“From those humble beginnings 30 years ago, FPG has continued to work alongside the health system to meet the needs of our growing community, while keeping top-quality patient care at the center of everything we do,” said FPG Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Jack Rodman, MD, MPH.
FPG continues to grow in service of the needs of the growing population of Sarasota and Manatee. In 2024, we have gained over 30 new primary and specialty care providers and added new services in pulmonology and sleep medicine.
Check out the details below:
New Services
Lung Associates of Sarasota joined with First Physicians Group to become First Physicians Group Pulmonology, bringing over 30 years of expertise in pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine to FPG.
These board certified physicians and their team of advanced practice providers expand FPG’s capacity for providing high quality, comprehensive and seamless healthcare to our patients, specializing in the treatment of asthma, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, and sleep disorders.
For more information on FPG Pulmonology, click here.
Expanding Primary Care Services
In 2024, FPG increased capacity for primary care services throughout the county, with 6 new internal medicine providers in Sarasota and Venice and a new pediatrician in Venice.
At Clark Road Health Care Center in Sarasota, we welcomed Alysson Klein, MD to the Family Medicine team. He provides medical care for the management of acute and chronic illnesses. Dr. Klein is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
At Waldemere Medical Plaza in Sarasota, Ethan Windham, MD and Manon Transleau, MD joined our Internal Medicine team in Suite 405. Both physicians bring extensive training in the management of complex disease processes, including diabetes and hypertension, in addition to providing yearly physicals and regular screenings.
At the Venice Medical Office Building near SMH-Venice Campus, internal medicine physician Alena Gerasimova, MD and family medicine physician Kenneth Reiss, DO joined our internal medicine/family medicine team. Both focus on comprehensive, patient-centered care.
At FPG’s Family Practice at Jacaranda office in Venice, we welcomed Laila Folchini Pereira, MD to the team. Dr. Folchini Pereira is passionate about providing family and community-based care, and treats patients from 5 years of age and up.
And In Venice, Ronald Laracuente, MD joined Susan Mihm, MD and Deirdra Myers, MD at FPG Pediatrics at 5504 Pinebrook Medical Center. Dr. Laracuente provides specialized care for children from birth through age 18, and specializes in treating NICU graduate infants and children with medical complexity.
Specialty Care Teams Grow in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Venice
FPG welcomed new physicians to a range of specialties this year, including allergy/immunology, clinical neuropsychology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, interventional cardiology, physical medicine & rehabilitation, psychiatry and urology.
John Trickett, MD joined Alicia Alvarez, MD at FPG Allergy/Immunology in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. Dr. Trickett specializes in providing advanced allergy and asthma therapies and the evaluation and treatment of primary immunodeficiency.
Erica Ailes, Psy.D., joined the Memory Disorder Clinic as Clinical Neuropsychologist, working alongside neurologists, geriatricians, and other multidisciplinary healthcare specialists to evaluate, diagnose and treat a range of neurodegenerative, neurological, neurocognitive, medical and psychiatric conditions.
Jessica Betancourt, MD joined FPG Endocrinology at Waldemere Medical Plaza in Sarasota, and also serves patients in Venice. She is board certified and fellowship trained in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. She specializes in obesity, pituitary and adrenal gland disorders and osteoporosis.
Dustin Albert, MD joined FPG Gastroenterology in Sarasota. He specializes in esophageal disorders, GERD and reflux, colon cancer screening and prevention, liver disorders, irritable and inflammatory bowel disease and hemorrhoid banding.
Mark Radetic, MD joined FPG Gastroenterology in Sarasota. He specializes in esophageal disorders, bowel disease and dysphagia, and also performs ERCP, EUC and advanced polyp/lesion resection. He is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy.
Sara Chalifoux, MD joined FPG Gastroenterology in Venice. She is board certified in gastroenterology and specializes in upper endoscopy procedures and the treatment of GERD, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Michael Slater, Jr., DO joined FPG Gastroenterology in Venice. His specialties include GERD, bowel disease, colonoscopy and dysphagia. He is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Wesley McIlwain, MD joined Peter Vosler, MD at FPG Head and Neck Surgery. He is a board certified head and neck surgeon who treats benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, including mouth, throat, skin, sinuses, thyroid and skull base. He specializes in facial plastic reconstructive surgery of all defects of head and neck. He also specializes in maxillofacial trauma and rhinoplasty.
William Scott Woolverton, MD joined FPG Interventional Cardiology in Venice. He is board certified and fellowship trained in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology and specializes in percutaneous treatment of complex coronary disease.
Emese Simon, MD joined FPG Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Sarasota. Her specialties include stroke rehabilitation, brain and spine injury/trauma, central nervous system disorders and cardiac rehabilitation. Dr. Simon primarily works with inpatients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Rehabilitation Pavilion.
Conor Malloy, MD, Connor Swinford, MD and Benjamin Jacobi, MD joined FPG Psychiatry at the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion. FPG Psychiatry provides a range of services to child, adolescent and adult patients covering a range of mental health concerns. For more information about FPG Psychiatry, click here.
Katie Flower, MD joined Ramsay Kuo, MD at FPG Urology’s Jacaranda location in Venice. Dr. Flower is board certified in Urology and she treats a range of urologic conditions including overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infection, male sexual dysfunction, kidney stones and urologic cancers.
Our inpatient teams at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s campuses in Sarasota and Venice continue to grow to meet the needs of our community. We welcomed dozens of new physicians and advanced practice providers to our hospitalist, trauma care and anesthesiology teams this year.
We thank all of our providers for continuing to provide high-quality care to all of our patients. Have a happy new year!
