Skip to main content.

Founder's Day: The Birthplace of AA

Posted June 07, 2019 by Alan H Shein, MD

Founders Day Blogs

Akron is fortunate to be the birthplace of AA, which has saved and continues to save the lives of millions of people struggling with their addictions. To this day, the 12 step program is by far the most effective support system to help stabilize one’s recovery.

This is where it all began! A struggling salesman named Bill W, and a physician, Dr. Bob, came together to establish a lifeline for the struggling alcoholic. Furthermore, St. Thomas Hospital is the “legendary” place where Sister Ignatia and Dr. Bob treated the first alcoholic in a hospital setting. As current medical director of Ignatia Hall, I am humbled and honored to continue this tradition.

As a result of Akron’s legendary status as the birthplace of AA, thousands of grateful recovering alcoholics and addicts travel from all over the world yearly to Akron and St. Thomas Hospital to celebrate Founders Day.

Since 1935, millions of lives have been saved due to AA. These grateful individuals will never forget what this program means to them. Accordingly, I firmly believe that many years from now, as Akron’s reputation as “rubber city” gradually fades, it’s notoriety as the birthplace of AA will continue to grow.

If you are struggling with addiction, the Summa Health Addiction Medicine Intensive Outpatient Program can help. Summa’s program is abstinence based and supports the use of a 12-step recovery program for obtaining and maintaining a chemical-free lifestyle. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)/12-step program attendance, family involvement and random drug screenings are mandatory. For more information, call 330.379.9836 in Akron, 330.491.9215 in Canton, 330.615.5460 in Barberton, or 330.319.9768 in Hudson.


About the Author

Alan Shein, MD

Schedule Appointment

Vitality eNews Sign Up

Receive the Summa Health eNewsletter for the latest health tips, advice and updates.

Related Blogs

View all Flourish Blogs

A Partner in Health: How Patient Navigators Empower and Support Patients

Imagine navigating a health system during a stressful time, like a new diagnosis or chronic illness. That’s where patient navigators come in—they act as personal guides to help patients receive the best possible care at Summa Health. 

Patient navigators bridge the gap between our patients and the medical system. Although their backgrounds vary, they all deeply understand the healthcare landscape and are passionate about patient advocacy.

Patient navigators…

Revolutionizing Healthcare: Inside Summa Health's Epic Implementation and Game-Changing Patient Portal [Podcast]

Unveiling Summa Health's Epic implementation and MyChart portal. Get exclusive insights on the game-changing impact for patients and providers from Elbridge Locklear, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, and Dr. Justin Catlett, Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer.

Unleash the Power of Volunteering with Summa Health

Ever wondered how you can truly make a meaningful impact in the world? Look no further. Volunteering isn't just a way to give back; its a transformative experience that touches lives, uplifts communities and fuels the spirit of compassion. In this blog, we'll explore the opportunities waiting for you at Summa Health — where your desire to make a difference meets boundless possibilities. Let's embark on a journey of purpose, connection and positive change together. 

But,…

How Does a Hospital-Owned Healthcare Insurance Company Provide Better Service and Quality? [Podcast]

Summa Health President and CEO Cliff Deveny, M.D. and SummaCare President Bill Epling discuss the benefits of a hospital-owned healthcare insurance company and how SummaCare and Summa Health put the needs of patients first.
 

Celebrating Women in Healthcare [Podcast]

In this episode, we are celebrating women physicians. Dr. Cheryl Johnson and Dr. Jacqueline Tulodzieski-Ahlstrom lead an interactive discussion focusing on what brought them to their careers in medicine, and what they love about working at Summa Health.

Securing the Safety for Healthcare Employees [Podcast]

Violence is rising in the healthcare setting. According to the American Hospital Association, 44% of nurses reported experiencing physical violence, and 68% reported experiencing verbal abuse nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic as of June 2022.

Unfortunately, we know this reality to also be true at Summa Health. It is estimated that 3% of patients are considered violent on a daily basis. Violent situations make it more challenging for nurses and other staff to provide quality patient care, especially when they fear for their safety.

We have asked our nurses and frontline staff to share the stories of their experiences with patients being violent or abusive. Their stories deserve to be heard. The policy needs to change.

Grief Counseling: A Personal Experience That Fueled a Passion for Helping Others [Podcast]

Shannon Blower, Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care Services, shares his personal experience with grief and provides tips and resources for anyone coping with grief.

Nurses Week: Celebrating Nurses and Their Commitment to Our Community [Podcast]

Tiffany Collins discusses her journey and passion for nursing.

Summa Health opens new Joint Replacement Center of Excellence

Summa Health is pleased to bring to Barberton and the greater Akron community a brand new, state-of-the-art Joint Replacement Center of Excellence. The new center is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive care, all the while enhancing the patient experience throughout every phase of treatment.

Patients can expect a high concentration of expertise and resources centered on providing exceptional orthopedic care for hip and knee replacement. Summa Health is proud to…

5 surprising health benefits of volunteering

Volunteering makes a huge difference in the lives of others. From dishing out meals in a soup kitchen to cleaning up trash in a park to holding babies in the NICU, volunteering gives tremendous help to people in need, worthy causes and the community. Simply put, it helps make the world a better place. 

But, did you know that volunteering also has benefits for you? Researchers have found that volunteering can give you a positive attitude, increased social interaction and…

How to recognize alcoholism and the need for help

For many, alcohol is used occasionally as a way to celebrate, relax, bond and socialize with friends and loved ones. It’s a toast to wedding nuptials or an anniversary, or a shared drink with a loved one to kick off the weekend.

When drinking is done in moderation, it is generally not considered to be dangerous to your health or mental wellbeing. The problem for some is it can be difficult to tell when their alcoholic intake has crossed the line from casual or moderate…

Top 5 Health Concerns in Northeast Ohio

COVID-19 remains one of our region’s top health concerns as we navigate this pandemic. Community spread leading to new cases and unfortunate deaths have affected every one of us.

It’s important, however, that we don’t ignore other health concerns. Resuming care for regular health checkups, health screenings and management of chronic illness is critical to the overall health of our community.

Here are 5 major health concerns in Northeast Ohio that cannot be…

Battling Drug Addiction in our Community: All About First Step [Podcast]

Healthy VitalsListen to this episode of the Healthy Vitals Podcast featuring Jason Kolb, MD.

Summa Health is implementing additional safety protocols as we return to standard operations

COVID-19 has forever changed our society. As cases continue to stabilize in Ohio and the stay-at-home order has been lifted, it’s time to navigate our way forward with our new normal — together.

 

In accordance with Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, Summa Health is now scheduling procedures and surgeries.

 

While we understand resuming services for preexisting conditions and preventative measures is critical to the overall health of our…

How virtual visits are changing healthcare

In this day and age, nearly everything is readily available at our fingertips. We can grocery shop, pay our bills, get merchandise shipped directly to our door and even virtually consult with medical providers all from the palm of our hands. 

Now with much of the country shut down and under stay-at-home orders due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is perhaps more important than ever before. 

Telehealth enables patients to conveniently connect with…

SummaCare Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

October 15 marked the beginning of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, sometimes referred to as the Annual Election Period or AEP. Most Medicare beneficiaries have only 10 weeks, from October 15 to December 7, to make changes to their existing plan. With more than 60 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in such a short time, it’s no wonder selecting the right plan for some Medicare beneficiaries can be confusing and overwhelming. Anne Armao, Vice President of Medicare…

Trauma Center Levels - Explained

While many hospitals have emergency departments, some hospitals are equipped to treat the most severely injured patients. Such hospitals are verified by the American College of Surgeons as Trauma Centers with highly trained doctors who specialize in treating traumatic injuries. These trauma centers are staffed 24/7 and are always prepared to treat patients with any injury.

Trauma Centers across the United States go through a verification process to receive their designation…

Take the First Step to Treat Opiate Addiction

With the opiate crisis in the United States growing annually, it has become essential for community organizations and those on the front lines to make resources for recovery easily accessible. Too often, those affected end up in an emergency room where providers administer a quick fix, hand over an informational pamphlet and send them on their way.

When you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. Online resources can be…

8 Technologies That Have Impacted Healthcare

The healthcare industry has had an explosion of innovation over the past few decades. These innovations continue to improve quality of life for millions of people. Let’s take a look at some of the latest and greatest in technological innovation and what impact and importance they have on the field of healthcare.

Electronic Health Records at Your Doctor’s Fingertips

Before medical records became electronic, your medical information from visits to various doctors,…

Healthy Spring Break Staycations

While the idea of slipping away for a tropical island vacation sounds dreamy right about now, a staycation can actually be a healthier alternative to a big trip. We’re not talking about a week on the sofa, movie-binge-style spring break. This staycation keeps you local but is also packed with outdoor activities and the arts. These types of activities can prevent:

  • Processed food binge, especially on longer road trips. Kitchens and fresh produce aren’t usually close…

Gifts to Summa Health are vital

As another year comes to a close and a time of giving nears, please consider a gift to Summa Health. Summa is committed to providing the highest quality, compassionate care to our patients and to contribute to a healthier community. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on philanthropic support to remain on the forefront of healthcare excellence and innovation, educate the next generation of caregivers and care for all in need.

Below are a few stories about the impact of philanthropy, and how you can help.  

Eliminating the need for opioids in surgical procedures

It is no secret that there is an opioid epidemic in the United States. Every day, more than 115 people die after overdosing on opioids. At least 20 percent of patients that visit a physician for pain symptoms will receive a prescription for an opioid.

At Summa Health, we’re forging the movement to eliminate the need for opioids in our pre-surgery, post-surgery and pain management treatments. And it is working! Not only are patients healing quicker, their overall satisfaction with their treatment is more than triple those who were prescribed an opioid. Before we get into our success rates, let’s look at the history and side effects of narcotics.

Compassion-and-the-Opioid-Epidemic

As many of you know, our community has been struggling to effectively manage the addiction epidemic, which is now widely considered to be a public health crisis. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations.

While much of the scientific and medical community…

[{"RootId":"ba198066-3078-4dcd-8e69-28251bebb940","RootUrl":"/glossary/"}]

Options to Request an Appointment

If your situation is an emergency, call 911.