<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FIANNACIAL INFORMATIN EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SHERIDAN HEALTHCARE, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 56,332 <ALLOWANCES> 34,802 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 26,808 <PP&E> 5,581 <DEPRECIATION> 2,158 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 84,335 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,347 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 67 <OTHER-SE> 39,645 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 84,335 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 70,897 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 49,376 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,051 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,850 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,779 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,841 <INCOME-TAX> 2,087 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,754 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,754 <EPS-PRIMARY> .54 <EPS-DILUTED> .53