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Innovation Center

Insights and creativity benefitting families and children

The Akron Children’s Hospital Innovation Center is your connection point to access the insights and creativity of our diverse and experienced workforce. We accelerate the development of successful products and services in the healthcare sector that benefit children and families.

We offer customized partnerships to support and collaborate with you at any stage of development, from early discovery and ideation through to piloting and market launch.  Our Innovation Center team, with its broad range of clinical, operational, and business backgrounds, will help you network deeply into every part of the organization that may offer value to your endeavor.

Working closely with our research institute, the Innovation Center is also responsible for propelling ideas and discoveries from across our organization towards positive impact on the health of and delivery of care to children, creating a steady pipeline of opportunities for industry partners and investors.  Our portfolio spans the domains of surgical instruments, medical devices, software tools, mobile apps, and aids for quality and process improvement.

Contact us at innovation@akronchildrens.org to get started!


Donating to our Innovation Fund supports the earliest stages of the innovation journey.

The activities supported with your donation include the formation of think tanks and other vehicles for generating ideas, and early prototyping and validation work to further define, develop, and de-risk these ideas. This leads to a steadier flow of more promising opportunities to have a game-changing positive impact in the lives of children and families. Donors receive invitations to special donor-only events to connect more richly with our innovation ecosystem.


Meet the Team:

Stefan Agamanolis, PhD Chief Innovation Officer
Anne Musitano, RPh, PharmD, LSSBB, MBOE Operational Excellence Administrative Director
Mike Antochow, BSIE, MBA Innovation Manager
Meenu Bansal, MSN, RN, CPN Clinical Coordinator of Products and Technology, Center of Nursing Professional Practice; Innovation Partner, Innovation Center
Robert Parry, MD, FACS Pediatric General Surgeon; Innovation Partner, Innovation Center
Erica Whalen Innovation Project Coordinator

Innovation Council:

Our diverse Innovation Council helps shape the organization’s innovation activities and partnerships.


Stefan Agamanolis, PhD

Chief Innovation Officer


Krista Caldwell, PhD

Pediatric Psychologist


Tim DuFore

Senior Director, Development Operations


Michael Forbes, MD, FAAP, FCCM

Chief Academic Officer; William H. and Rebecca D. Considine Endowed Chair for Pediatric Research; Head, Rebecca D Considine Research Institute; Immediate Past President, Medical Staff; Pediatric Critical Care Specialist


Jeff Hale, MBA

Vice President, Financial Management


Shawn Lyden, JD

Chief Strategy Officer


Jenny Michel, DNP, APRN-CNP

Director of the office of Advanced Practice; Chair, APP Credentials Committee; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner


Anne Musitano, RPh, PharmD, LSSBB, MBOE

Operational Excellence Administrative Director


Robert Parry, MD, FACS

Pediatric General Surgeon; Innovation Partner, Innovation Center


Harun Rashid

Chief Information Officer


Todd Ritzman, MD, FAAOS, FAOA

Chair, Department of Orthopedics; Director, Spine Center; Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon


Beth Smith

Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing


Michele Wilmoth, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN

Director of Nursing, School Health Services

What next?

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There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
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The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
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The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
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The correct path:
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We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.