SMH RENEW at The Bay

Join Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s RENEW wellness team for three energizing sessions designed to help you set meaningful goals, learn simple meal prep strategies, and grocery shop with confidence. Each session gives you practical tools and expert guidance so you can feel your best and make positive changes that last.

PLEASE REGISTER FOR EACH OF THE SESSIONS YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING. NOTE: REGISTERING FOR ONE DOES NOT REGISTER YOU FOR ANY OTHER SESSIONS.

Those who register and attend all three SMH Renew sessions will have their name entered in a raffle to win a FREE 45-minute virtual health coaching session with an SMH Renew Coach.

• Jan 10 | 12:00-1:00pm: Setting 2026 Goals to Become the Best Version of You!: Become your best self in 2026 by setting SMART goals that align with your values, such as improving personal well-being, financial stability, or taking a digital sabbatical. Discover how to break down large goals into manageable steps, create accountability, and adjust your plan to stay flexible and motivated. Presented by Kara Saunders and Deniese Kragel.
• Jan 17 | 11:00am-12:00pm: Healthy Eating & Meal Prep Made Easy: RENEW dietitians will teach you how to build real meal prep skills, cook healthy food efficiently, and prep meals in advance. Enjoy calmer days with nutritious meals ready in minutes. Presented by Jordan Colbert and Mikka Ipri.
• Jan 24 | 12:00-1:00pm: Shop This, Not That: Secrets to Healthier Grocery Shopping: From confusing labels to confident choices, discover how to fill your cart with healthier swaps for your favorite foods, decode nutrition labels in seconds, and learn simple ways to eat cleaner. You won't want to miss this one! Presented by Mikka Ipri.

Know Before You Go:

• Registration, while not mandatory, is strongly encouraged as attendance for these events often near capacity. Thank you for registering in advance.
• Free parking is located around the site— along Blvd of the Arts and Van Wezel Way, and in front of the Van Wezel, Municipal Auditorium and Blue Pagoda. Please avoid parking in designated Sarasota Orchestra parking areas.
• Please report any risky or unsafe behavior to the Sarasota Non-Emergency Police 24 hours a day (941) 316-1199.

About Make 2026 the Year of YOU!

Kick off the new year by tapping into the Superpowers of The Bay. Engage with experts across a range of topics designed to inspire healthier habits, deeper balance, and a more energized YOU! Click here to view the full lineup of events and click here for more information.

About the RENEW Program

RENEW is Sarasota Memorial’s signature lifestyle medicine program that helps you eat better, move more, manage stress, and build lasting healthy habits. It reflects SMH’s commitment to the health of its community through trusted, expert guidance.

About Sarasota Memorial Health

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System began serving patients in 1925, and today it's one of the largest public health systems in Florida. With a mission to deliver services that excel in caring, quality and innovation, its vision is to be the best place to be a patient, work and practice medicine.

About Kara Saunders | Setting 2026 Goals to Become the Best Version of You! (Wellness Wheel) - Jan 10, 11:00am-12:00pm

Kara Saunders is a motivating Health-Wellness Coach and yoga instructor who encourages individuals to reach their goals through education, healthy eating, exercise, and, most importantly, deep breathing. Kara is passionate about creating an individualized experience for clients to feel tuned in and turned on so they can be the best version of themselves. She is a Certified Wellness Coach (Cornell University), Yoga instructor (300 YTT), Fitness Instructor (AFAA), and Breathing & Meditation Facilitator, with a BS from Johnson & Wales University.

About Deniese Kragel

Setting 2026 Goals to Become the Best Version of You! (Wellness Wheel) - Jan 10, 11:00-12:00pm

Deniese is a Health-Wellness Coach with robust experience as a wellness coach, personal trainer, exercise instructor, nutritionist, and motivational speaker. Her current passion is teaching Pilates at HealthFit, while her lifelong passion is helping others develop lasting strength - mind, body, and spirit. She is a Certified Wellness Coach (AASDN), Personal Trainer (AFAA), Group Exercise Instructor (AFAA), and Yoga Instructor (YogaFit), with a BA from the University of Kentucky.

About Jordan Colbert

Healthy Eating & Meal Prep Made Easy - Jan 17, 11:00am-12:00pm

Jordan is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) who believes in the transformative power of mindful living and quality nutrition. As an RDN, Jordan is committed to helping individuals navigate the complex world of nutrition through a compassionate approach, offering practical insights and personalized strategies to promote wellness. Jordan earned his MPH and RDN from UNC Chapel Hill, and his BA from New College of Florida.

About Mikka Ipri

Healthy Eating & Meal Prep Made Easy - Jan 17,11:00am-12:00pm

Shop This, Not That: Secrets to Healthier Grocery Shopping - Jan 24, 11:00am-12:00pm

Mikka is the RENEW Program Coordinator and a Board-Certified Registered Dietitian, here to support, educate, and cheer you on. Her mission is to help people reach their wellness goals, improve their relationship with food, and support their bodies for a lifetime of health by making easy but impactful changes to their plates. Mikka is DIFM-certified in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, earned her BS in Dietetics from Florida State University, and completed a Dietetic Internship at the Tulane University School of Public Health.