Florida 2020: Breaking new ground for hope and healing

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2020 edition of Promise magazine.

Primed for another extraordinary era of growth, Summa Health leaders shared exciting news about the future of behavioral healthcare at the annual outreach events in Naples, Florida. 

At the Annual Dinner, Cliff Deveny, M.D., Summa Health president and chief executive officer, announced the generous gift of $1.5 million from Denise and Norm Wells to establish the first endowed chair in the Department of Urology, the fifth donor-supported chair at Summa Health. This honor will be known as The Denise G. and Norman E. Wells Jr. Endowed Chair in Urology in Honor of Joseph Dankoff, M.D., and Kevin Spear, M.D.

Joseph D. Varley, M.D., Summa Health chair of the Department of Psychiatry and holder of the Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Endowed Chair in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, presented the next phase of Summa Health’s investment in the healthcare of the community with the construction of a seven-story, 60-bed inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facility on the Akron Campus by 2022. 

David W. Deckert, M.D., director of inpatient psychiatry and the Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Summa Health, shared impactful stories of hope and healing and how the Behavioral Health Institute has made a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families with the integration of music therapy into treatment programs.

Foundations Health Solutions sponsored the Annual Dinner where renderings of the new facility for behavioral healthcare were on display during the dessert reception sponsored by Barbara and Gino Faciana of Pleasant Valley Corporation.

Additional outreach events took place throughout the week. Summa Health benefactor Gail McCready hosted the annual Ladies Luncheon at her home. Simona Suchan, M.D., director of geropsychiatric services, talked to luncheon guests about lifestyle choices that may reduce the risk of dementia.

Nancy and Darrel Seibert, members of the Healing Arts Leadership Council, hosted a dinner and council meeting at their home. Meg Stanton, curator of the Summa Health Healing Arts Program, presented council members’ progress in creating a healing environment at Summa Health.