Sarasota Memorial’s new Internal Medicine Practice in Newtown and Legal Aid Manasota are teaming up to combat the complex needs of low-income patients impacted by health-harming social conditions. The two not-for-profit organizations formed the Suncoast region’s first medical-legal partnership, in which Legal Aid and pro bono attorneys will partner with physicians in the Newtown practice and their patients to address social conditions adversely impacting their health. For example, the lawyers may assist diabetic patients struggling to retain or access vital food stamps benefits, work with a reluctant landlord to remediate mold issues for a patient with asthma or assist patients who qualify for, but have been denied, disability or insurance benefits. A grant from the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation will help fund the program for the first year. More information about the medical-legal partnership will be shared at a free community presentation—“Health & Law: A Newtown Community Effort”—on Oct. 14 in the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. Speakers include: Linda Harradine, executive director of Legal Aid Manasota; Ilyas Saeg, Esq., with the Sarasota County Bar Association Diversity Committee; Dr. Karen Hamad and Dr. Vida Farhangi, physician leaders from SMH’s Internal Medicine Practice at Newtown; and Vickie Oldham, chair of Newtown Alive!

Sarasota Memorial Internal Medicine - Newtown