Summa Health announces Dale P. Murphy, M.D., FACP as 2026 recipient of the Distinguished Physician Award

Date: 03/31/2026

AKRON, Ohio, March 31, 2026 — Summa Health is pleased to announce that Dale P. Murphy, M.D., FACP, has been selected to receive the 2026 Distinguished Physician Award, the highest honor awarded to a physician within the health system. 

“Dr. Dale Murphy’s dedication to the practice and teaching of internal medicine is an inspiration to us all. His efforts ensured Akron-area patients received the right care at the right times for more than four decades. Our community is surely healthier because of his steadfast commitment to quality care,” said Dr. Charles Zonfa, Executive Vice President of Acute Care and President Summa Health System Hospitals. “It is a privilege to honor Dr. Murphy and all he has done for Summa Health with our most prestigious award.”

Dr. Murphy dedicated his career to the study and practice of internal medicine and to the development of stronger programs to help Akron-area doctors to become better practitioners of it. An opportunity for a one-year internship would bring Dale to Akron City Hospital (now Summa Health System – Akron Campus) in 1971. Chairman Dr. Andrew Kerr encouraged Dale to stay on at Akron City Hospital and continue his study of internal medicine. In his last year of residency, he was named Chief Resident. After his residency, Dr. Kerr would challenge Dale Murphy, Hayes Davis, Jim Tan and Mario Brezler to develop new ways to train new internal medicine doctors at Akron City Hospital. Dr. Murphy would go on to build a new ambulatory model designed to make primary care doctors thrive because of added exposure to hospital care models.

During his tenure, he served as the President of the Medical Staff twice — once as an elected term and another at the request of the Medical Executive Committee. He also served a short interim stint as Chair, Department of Medicine. Dale and his partner, Dave Sweet, founded Summit County Internists & Associates, which paved the way for other primary care groups that followed. In 1994, Dr. Murphy accepted a position as Vice President of Medical Affairs — which allowed him to serve as a bridge between the medical staff and the executive branch of Akron City Hospital/Summa Health System. He also contributed to valuable health system programs such as the “I’m 4 Safety” initiative and many others.

He graduated Dartmouth College in 1967, where he majored in political science and minored in English. He also attended The Ohio State University School of Medicine — there he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Honorary Society, an honor reserved for the top students in each graduating class.

For over 40 years, Dr. Murphy devoted countless hours to the continued growth and development of Akron City Hospital / Summa Health and its medical staff. Now he joins a distinguished group of past honorees, including Linda Parenti, M.D. (2025), the late William "Bill" Smucker, M.D. (2024); Thomas "Tom" M. File, M.D. (2023); William "Bill" Bauman, M.D. (2022); J. Patrick Flanagan, M.D. (2021); Jay Williamson, M.D. (2019); Ernest R. Estep, M.D. (2018); Gary B. Williams, M.D. (2017); the late Robert Liebelt, Ph.D., M.D. (2016); and the late James Tan, M.D. (2015).

The Distinguished Physician Award, selected by a physician selection committee, recognizes a Summa Health physician who exemplifies the mission and values of the health system, demonstrates exceptional leadership and dedication, and serves as a professional and personal role model to the community. The honoree is also celebrated for clinical excellence, leadership in research and education, and a strong dedication to advancing philanthropy at Summa Health.

About Summa Health
Summa Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community medical centers, a health plan, an accountable care organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, medical education, and research, we are nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa Health’s clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), The Joint Commission, American Hospital Association, U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group.

Media Contact: Maureen Nagg
Phone: 234.475.0193