Welcome to the Summa Health Community Impact Report
Welcome to Summa Health’s 2024 Community Impact Report. Summa Health recognizes the vital importance of meeting the health needs of our community. For over 125 years, our organization has been committed to advancing the well-being of individuals across our region, with our mission encompassing every member of the community.
Our enduring dedication continues to evolve through substantial investments, consistent evaluations and a thoughtful approach to addressing the most pressing health challenges faced by our communities. This report details how, in 2024, Summa Health strategically allocated resources to effectively address these needs and make a measurable difference where it is most required.
We strive to serve as a dependable partner, collaborating with numerous community organizations and agencies to deploy initiatives that deliver the greatest impact. In cooperation with our partners, we:
- Address the most significant health needs of the community
- Improve access to health services
- Support chronic disease management through education
- Reduce health disparities
Examples of this work are highlighted in this report, including our efforts to help pave the way for careers in healthcare for bright students in the Akron community through our partnership with Akron Public Schools. We also expanded access to quality healthcare plans through the MEWA program and behavioral health services in Barberton. We also share how research continues to improve the lives of our community members.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Community Engagement Committee who have devoted their time and energy to Summa Health for many years. Your dedication, creativity and partnership have been instrumental in advancing our organization’s mission and strengthening our connection with the communities we serve.
The initiatives you have led and supported have deepened relationships, enhanced our presence across the region, and aligned community engagement efforts with Summa’s broader priorities. Your commitment to building meaningful partnerships has left a lasting and positive impact, and we are sincerely grateful for your many contributions and years of service.
As our community grows and changes, so does our commitment to meeting its needs. In 2024, we invested $212.9 million in community benefit, reflecting our deep dedication to improving lives beyond our hospital walls. We remain focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care while expanding programs and services that support health, wellness and equity for all. Our promise is simple: to be here for you — now and into the future — so that together, our communities can thrive.
Marlo Schmidt
System Director, Community Benefit
By the Numbers
Community Benefit in Action
The Summa Health Career Pathways Program is a dynamic initiative designed to connect individuals with meaningful employment opportunities at Summa Health while providing comprehensive support and guidance throughout their journey. Since its inception, the program has become an essential resource for job seekers and a catalyst for community growth, having successfully placed 66 participants into roles across the system.
At the heart of the Career Pathways Program is a robust network of partnerships with local schools, community organizations and employers. Notable collaborators include Buchtel CLC in Akron, The Well CDC, Open M, Haven of Rest, International Welcome Center and the Battered Women’s Shelter, among others. These partnerships ensure that candidates from diverse backgrounds have access to job fairs, mock interviews, application assistance and career exploration activities such as hospital tours, all tailored to help them discover their passions and talents and put them to use at Summa Health.
Participants begin their journey by registering for the program, which is followed by a personalized screening call. This step helps recruiters understand each applicant’s interests and connect them with roles best suited to their skills and aspirations. Dedicated staff provide ongoing support, ensuring that individuals are well-prepared for interviews and workplace integration.
The Career Pathways Program benefits the community in numerous ways. By fostering direct connections between candidates and employers, it streamlines the hiring process and increases retention, ensuring that more residents find stable employment. Educational initiatives, such as mock interview days for ninth graders and multi-pathway career fairs, equip young people with real-world skills and exposure to future career options.
The program’s approach is rooted in inclusivity and empowerment, offering individualized assistance and ongoing mentorship. As a result, it not only strengthens the local workforce but also fosters a sense of belonging, hope and upward mobility for all participants. In building these bridges, the Career Pathways Program is truly shaping a brighter future for the community.
Coronary Artery Disease remains a significant health concern in our community. Summa Health offers its patients multiple ways to treat this condition, including medications, angioplasty, and bypass surgery. Additionally, the Summa Health Clinical Research Center offers patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials for a variety of conditions, including heart disease. These trials provide limited access to new and innovative cutting-edge care and the latest in investigational treatments, until they are approved for use across the U.S.
Summa Health has recently partnered with Frantz Medical from Mentor, OH to conduct a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating a new investigational device designed to treat coronary arteries that have been blocked for longer than 3 months, the most difficult type of blockages to open. The VasoStar Vibrating Guidewire System uses a vibrating guidewire to help navigate through completely blocked blood vessels in the heart. Summa Health, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Silver, is one of only two institutions selected to participate in this Early Feasibility Study (EFS). An EFS is a preliminary study with a small number of participants to study a device early in development.
The goal of the VST100 clinical trial is to assess the initial safety and effectiveness of the VasoStar system in crossing chronically totally blocked coronary arteries that are resistant to traditional guidewires. The system includes a guidewire, catheter, and console. During the procedure, a catheter (long skinny hollow tube) is inserted into an artery of the arm or leg up to the artery of the heart. The guidewire is inserted through the catheter into the coronary artery — similar to standard interventional procedures. Once connected to the console, the guidewire gently vibrates to assist in crossing the blockage. After successful advancement beyond the blockage, the procedure continues using standard techniques such as balloons and stents as directed by the physician.
This research may lead to broader availability of the VasoStar system, potentially benefiting many patients within our community and beyond, with similar challenging blockages in the future.
Summa Health has physicians and staff that are dedicated to improving the care of our patients. This is recognized within the research community and allows Summa Health to continue to offer advanced, research-driven care in a community hospital setting—bringing state-of-the-art treatments close to home.
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SummaCare and the Greater Akron Chamber have partnered to offer Northeast Ohio small businesses a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA). This health plan is more than just an insurance solution — it’s a strategic partnership that strengthens small businesses, enhances access to care and fosters community collaboration.
Designed for businesses with 50 or fewer employees, the plan empowers small employers to offer flexible, competitive health benefits at a lower cost than many traditional options. By pooling risk across participating businesses and using a self-funded structure, the MEWA offers cost savings for groups that meet underwriting requirements. At SummaCare, with 14 plan designs and multiple provider networks—including Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals — employers can tailor coverage to meet their team’s needs and budget.
Helping small businesses stay competitive is essential to our region’s economic health. The MEWA allows small businesses to offer comprehensive healthcare coverage at an affordable price, strengthening their ability to attract and retain talent.
Participation in the plan also supports local partnerships. Joining the Chamber and becoming a MEWA participant encourages the collaboration between insurers, chambers and business leaders. This collaborative innovation advances both economic and community well-being.
With more than 1,200 groups representing over 9,000 members currently enrolled across 21 counties—and 93% of groups renewing in 2024—SummaCare’s MEWA is proving to be a sustainable, high-value option for the region. It is a great alternative to the guaranteed issue Affordable Care Act plans at a more competitive price for employers.
Beyond affordability, the plan enhances access to quality care for employees and their families. By offering a robust number of flexible benefit designs—including HSA-compatible options and multiple network tiers—the MEWA helps employers find the right balance between cost and coverage.
Backed by a strong partnership with the Greater Akron Chamber, this plan is not just a product—it’s a tool for community well-being. It ensures small businesses can thrive, families can stay healthy and local healthcare systems can continue delivering high-quality care.
If you are a small business that wants to expand access to healthcare while keeping costs manageable, contact your broker, call the Greater Akron Chamber at 330.237.1249 or visit MEWA Resources and Plan Designs.
In 2024, Summa Health took a deliberate and transformative approach to expanding behavioral health services in Barberton — an initiative designed to address complex social drivers of health and ensure seamless access to the full continuum of behavioral health care for all residents. This evolution responds to a community-wide need for integrated, patient-centered solutions that transcend traditional outpatient therapy models.
At the foundation of this enhanced system lies traditional outpatient psychiatry and counseling, now available locally so residents don’t need to travel far to seek care. For those grappling with addiction, services have broadened with the establishment of a general outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinic, alongside addiction-specific counseling provided by licensed professionals. These options cater to varying needs, from those seeking ongoing support to individuals beginning their recovery journey.
In addition, Summa Health maintains its longstanding Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Barberton focused on addiction, and has further strengthened acute services through consult teams based in both inpatient settings and the Emergency Department (ED). Through the First Step program, addiction care coordinators are stationed in the ED, expediting assessments, streamlining transitions to appropriate levels of care and initiating treatments such as Suboxone directly on site.
Recognizing that behavioral health is inseparable from primary care and daily life, Summa Health has also embedded behavioral health counselors within family practice offices in Barberton, enabling real-time referrals and holistic support for patients who might not otherwise seek mental health care. This integrated approach directly addresses social drivers like transportation challenges, stigma and fragmented care, ensuring that help is accessible where and when it’s most needed.
Summa Health has curated a behavioral health hub on the Barberton Campus, thereby curating continuity across service levels and thus, increasing the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes and reduced recidivism. This expansion of the Summa Behavioral Health service line in Barberton represents an investment in offering equitable access and strengthening the fabric of the Barberton community.
