2022 to 2023

FPG Highlights from 2022

With the new year just around the corner, we’re taking some time to reflect on 2022.

First Physicians Group has added nearly 70 new providers this year, and has grown to include over 375 medical professionals across more than 20 specialties, with offices throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

Take a look at this year’s highlights:

New Specialties: Colon & Rectal Surgery, Head & Neck Surgery, Laryngology

With the addition of Samir Agarwal, MD, FACS, FASCRS, FPG leads the new Colon & Rectal Surgery specialty at Sarasota Memorial. Dr. Agarwal is triple board certified and fellowship trained in colon and rectal surgery. He performs advanced surgery for rectal and colon cancers, along with a variety of other colon and rectal issues, and specializes in robotic, laparoscopic, and single-incision surgery.

Peter Vosler, MD joined First Physicians Group in September 2022, adding his expertise in head and neck cancers, microvascular reconstructive surgery, and transoral robotic suture to the FPG team and the Sarasota Memorial Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute’s Head & Neck Cancer team.

Dr. Vosler, along with Dr. Agarwal and FPG Urologist Daniel Kaplon, MD, are among the first doctors at SMH and FPG to train on the latest generation da Vinci SP Robot, which allows doctors to perform complex surgery with a single incision. Read more about the da Vinci SP Robot here.

Candace Hrelec, MD
Victoria Gau, MD

FPG also welcomed two laryngology specialists to the Ear, Nose, and Throat team in Sarasota. Candace Hrelec, MD specializes in voice disorders, glottic cancers, vocal fold paralysis, swallowing disorders, and glottic, subglottic, and tracheal stenosis. Victoria Gau, MD specializes in laryngeal cancers, chronic sinusitis, chronic tonsilitis, and endoscopic sinus surgery.  

Bigger Teams for Vital Specialties

As the population of the Sarasota area continues to grow, so does our capacity to serve our patients. Key specialties expanded their teams this year, including urology, gastroenterology, interventional cardiology, endocrinology, OBGYN, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

FPG Urology had a significant year for growth, including the addition of 3 new specialists. William Fredriksson, MD, joined the FPG Urology team in Sarasota. Meanwhile, Francis Wren, MD and Eric McKeever, DO opened FPG Urology in Venice, located in the Medical Office Building next to SMH Venice. This brings the Urology care ranked #1 in Florida by US News and World Report to more patients throughout Sarasota county.

FPG Gastroenterology at Hillview added two new specialists – Benjamin Rodriguez, MD, who specializes in colon cancer screenings, adenoma detection, acute and chronic liver disease, acid reflux, and functional bowel disease, joined FPG in July. Jahnavi Koppala, MD is a recent addition from early December. Her specialties include inflammatory bowel disease, women’s gastrointestinal and liver problems, colonoscopy and endoscopy.

FPG Interventional and Diagnostic Cardiology in Venice gained a new specialist when Mohamed Morsy, MD, joined us in October, adding even more expertise to the current team of Drs. Balzano, Bermudez, Landis, and Shoemaker. Dr. Morsy specializes in high risk and indicated coronary interventions, as well as peripheral vascular disease interventions.

FPG Endocrinology added Angela Boldo, MD to their roster. Dr. Boldo specializes in diagnosis and medical management of thyroid and parathyroid disorders, as well as metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. She will be a welcome addition to the Sarasota endocrinology team as FPG Endocrinology expands full-time into Venice. Endocrinologist Joseph Rand, MD will be moving to FPG Specialty Care at Jacaranda on January 3, 2023.

FPG OBGYN added two new team members this year – Lauren Runnels, MD in May, and Ariella Price, MD in September. Dr. Runnels serves patients at multiple locations throughout Sarasota, including Clark Road Health Care Center, FPG Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at Lorraine Corners, and Waldemere Medical Plaza suite 307. Dr. Price joined the FPG OBGYN team in Waldemere Medical Plaza suite 802.

FPG Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctors are part of the nationally recognized Rehab program at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Jamuna Sivakanthan, MD joined this award-winning team in November, bringing her specialties in patient-centered rehabilitation plans for orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries, cancer-related conditions, and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and stroke.

FPG Psychiatry welcomed Logan Parrott, MD, who specializes in working with adult patients. FPG Psychiatry’s new home in the Cornell Family Behavioral Health Pavilion in Sarasota is planned to open in late 2023.

A pediatrician focused on newborn babies also joined FPG’s team this year. Gretchen Bakos, DO will be doing rounds in the newborn nursery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

New Primary Care Providers in Sarasota and Venice

Mario Azuero, MD
Randall Raine, DO

In October, two new primary care providers joined FPG in Sarasota and Venice. Mario Azuero, MD joined the FPG Family Practice team at Clark Road Health Care Center, while Randall Raine, DO joined the FPG Internal Medicine and Family Medicine team at our Lakeside office in Venice.  Dr. Azuero and Dr. Raine are both accepting new patients. For office phone numbers and a form to request an appointment, please click their names.

Best Wishes for Retiring Providers

We thank our retired doctors for their work and dedication to high-quality patient care and wish them the best in their future endeavors:

Juliette Coleman, MD

James Rodgers, DO

Albert Novak, DO

Joseph Ferrari, MD

Alan Grindal, MD

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