Transformative gifts accelerate system progress

Ann and the late David Brennan

In more recent years, Summa Health has expanded services in Barberton and at multiple community locations throughout Summit, Portage and Medina counties. Its tradition of giving has endured, as numerous benefactors have made transformative gifts that accelerated the health system’s progress in serving its community better:

• 2022: Mike and Sheila Lewis make a leadership gift of $1 million to establish the first endowed directorship in critical care. This honor is known as The Mike and Sheila Lewis Critical Care Directorship in honor of Dr. Michael Chandler, the division chief and medical director of Critical Care at Summa Health. 
• 2022: Sharon and Richard Juve make a visionary gift of $10 million to the health system. In recognition, Summa Health named its new behavioral health facility - the Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion - in their honor.
• 2021: Dr. Gary B. and Mrs. Pamela S. Williams make a new visionary gift of $15 million to the health system. In recognition of what is the largest gift in its history, Summa names its patient tower on the Akron Campus — the Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower.
• 2021: Alice and George Strickler make a leadership gift of $1 million that inspires the extension of the campaign, "Caring for You ... Then, Now, Always" and an increased goal of $100 million.
• 2020: Denise and Norm Wells make a gift of $1.5 million to Summa Health and establish the Denise G. and Norman E. Wells Endowed Chair in Urology in Honor of Joseph Dankoff, M.D., and Kevin Spear, M.D. 
• 2019: Jim and Vanita Oelschlager increased their lifetime giving to more than $7 million with an additional gift of $2.1 million to support the Behavioral Health Institute.
• 2018: The Women's Board of Summa Health and the Women's Board of St. Thomas together have raised nearly $10 million, and their members have volunteered more than 350,000 hours for hospital programs and patient services.
• 2017: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams make a $5 million gift to Summa Health, becoming the first benefactors to be honored with a named space in the new patient tower — the Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Center for Breast Health.
• 2017: Jim and Vanita Oelschlager establish the Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Chair in Traumatic Stress, currently held by Patrick Palmieri, Ph.D.
• 2015: Ann and David Brennan make a historic $6 million gift, bringing their total giving to Summa Health to more than $10 million.
• 2014: Vincent and Nancy DiGirolamo make an additional gift of $2 million to enhance the services of the Summa Health Cancer Institute and further support their endowed chair in oncology, bringing their total giving to Summa Health to nearly $4 million.
• 2013: Richard M. and Yvonne Hamlin provide a generous $4 million gift to construct the Richard M. and Yvonne Hamlin Hybrid Operating Room Suite on the Akron Campus, expanding options for advanced cardiovascular care in Akron.
• 2008: The Jean and Milton Cooper Pavilion opens as a centralized location for comprehensive cancer care, with a lead gift from Milton Cooper, D.D.S., in honor of his late wife, Jean.
• 2007: The first endowed chairs at Summa Health are established: the Vincent and Nancy DiGirolamo Endowed Chair in Oncology, currently held by Sameer Mahesh, M.D.; and the Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Endowed Chair in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, currently held by Joseph Varley, M.D.
• 2006: A generous gift from Ann and David Brennan takes the lead in establishing the Ann and David Brennan Pavilion, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the delivery of critical care for the Akron region.