A longtime Akron General Medical Center emergency medicine doctor has earned statewide recognition.
Dr. Thomas Hetrick recently was named 2013 Emergency Medicine Physician of the Year by the Ohio chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
The award is given annually “to an exceptional physician who encourages members to pursue the ideals of emergency medicine,” according to the chapter. The award recognizes doctors who provide excellent care, mentor other physicians and contributes to the community through service and education.
Dr. Paul Been, an emergency medicine physician at Grant Medical Center and Riverside Methodist in Columbus, nominated Hetrick for the award. Been graduated from Akron General’s emergency medicine residency program last year.
“Having recently trained under this physician, I can confidently state that he played an integral role in my development as an emergency medicine physician; more than any other attending during residency, in fact,” Been told the chapter.
Hetrick, 61, of Copley has been an emergency medicine physician at Akron General since completing his residency at the hospital in 1979. He earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia.
He has served as resident physician medical director for fire departments in Akron, Coventry and Stow, as well as NEC golf tournament event physician. NEC was the predecessor tournament to the current Bridgestone Invitational, a World Golf Championships event played at Firestone Country Club.
At its annual meeting this month, the state group also presented Dr. Dominic Bagnoli with its Bill Hall Award for Service. The honor recognizes “remarkable contributions of time and enthusiasm to the advancement of emergency medicine and patient care.”
Bagnoli is president and chief executive of Emergency Medicine Physicians. The Canton-based group of emergency medicine physicians provides services to nearly 3 million patients each year at 60 locations nationwide.
An article on the state group’s website states Bagnoli was honored for “immense respect among his colleagues” for his leadership in the business of emergency medicine and for advocating for the specialty.
Bagnoli earned his medical degree from Wright State University and completed his emergency medicine training at Akron General.
Free cancer support
Summa Western Reserve Hospital and the American Cancer Society are offering a free “Look Good Feel Better” breakfast for women who are undergoing cancer treatment or are in recovery from cancer and their guests.
The event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. July 13 in the auditorium of Summa Western Reserve, located at 1900 23rd St., Cuyahoga Falls.
The program will include a buffet breakfast, healthful eating presentations and a fashion show by Clothes Mentor in Cuyahoga Falls featuring cancer survivors,
Chair massages and nail polish changes will be offered by Gavin Scott Salon in Stow. Maria Suciu from Callatis Spa in Cuyahoga Falls will provide Reiki.
Attendees also will receive a goody bag filled with items from Gavin Scott Salon and Summa Western Reserve.
Registration is limited. Deadline is July 10. Contact Kathy Romito at 330-971-7408 or by email at romitoks@summahealth.org.
Medicare Advantage
The number of seniors enrolling in optional Medicare managed-care plans — also known as Medicare Advantage — increased nearly 10 percent last year to a record 14.4 million, according to a new report from the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.
Enrollment has increased 30 percent since 2010, despite concerns that payment changes to insurers under the federal health-care reform law would result in enrollment reductions, the nonprofit research group found.
About 28 percent of Medicare recipients nationwide are enrolled in a Medicare managed-care plan, according to Kaiser.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/abjcherylpowell.