<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SHERIDAN HEALTHCARE, INC. FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AN DIS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 51,850 <ALLOWANCES> 31,063 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 23,958 <PP&E> 6,558 <DEPRECIATION> 2,780 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 78,116 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,093 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 67 <OTHER-SE> 37,079 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 78,116 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 22,905 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,999 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,530 <LOSS-PROVISION> 925 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 601 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,850 <INCOME-TAX> 662 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,188 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,188 <EPS-PRIMARY> .17 <EPS-DILUTED> .17