SARASOTA — Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s medical staff recently installed its new leaders for 2012–2013, with hematologist/oncologist Richard H. Brown, MD, becoming SMH’s chief of staff. He succeeds outgoing chief of staff John Collins, MD, whose term ends Thursday.

As the new chief of staff, Brown, who practices with Florida Cancer Specialists, will serve as the top representative of Sarasota Memorial’s more than 800 medical staff members. A member of SMH’s medical staff since 1991, Brown has served as director of Cancer Care Services since 1998. He has been an investigator in multiple clinical trials and published in several national publications. A previous SMH physician of the year award recipient, he also has won the Stephen H. Goldman, MD, Keystone Award from the Center for Building Hope (formerly The Wellness Community) for his commitment to the fight against cancer.