The Summa Health Department of Family Medicine celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Family Medicine Residency Program with a virtual residency reunion event on November 13. One of the earliest residency programs in the country, Summa’s program was started in Akron, at the City Hospital Campus in 1970 by family medicine pioneer and “living legend,” Edward Shahady, MD, FAAFP.
Since its inception, the program has graduated more than 312 family physicians who have had an impact throughout our community, our state, and the world; caring for people across the U.S. and from Kenya to Japan, Canada to Honduras. Along with all of the former directors, Dr. Shahady participated in the anniversary and reunion planning and appeared live via video remote from his home in Florida. The celebration included a live program hosted by John DiSabato, MD, FAAFP, chair of the department of family medicine; and Melanie Bortell, DO, newly named program director.
The evening featured a video of the residency’s history that was streamed to over 160 of our physician graduates from across the country. Following the live program, participants attended virtual breakout rooms where they could reconnect with their classmates, former directors, and faculty. All six of our former program directors hosted the breakout sessions including Dr. Shahady; David Hoff, MD, FAAFP; Jay Williamson, MD, FAAFP; Richard Hines, MD; William Smucker, MD; and Osteopathic Director Sharon Van Nostran, DO. Also celebrated was the Summa/Akron City program’s tradition of fostering leaders in family medicine, including four of its graduates who went on to serve as Ohio Academy of Family Physicians presidents including Dr. Hoff, Virgil N. Carrico, MD, FAAFP; Ross R. Black II, MD, FAAFP; and Matt Finneran, MD, FAAFP.
In recognition of the 50th Anniversary milestone, congratulatory videos from Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge were presented. In addition, the City of Akron and Summit County’s Executive’s Office designated November 13 as “Summa Family Medicine Residency Program Day” in Akron. Summa also received a proclamation from the Ohio Senate and from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office, which noted the particular importance of well-trained, front-line family physicians as we enter an even more challenging phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, the event was a very successful celebration, a welcome respite in a challenging year, and a meaningful reflection of 50 years of family medicine training at Summa Health.