Akron Children’s Health Center, Wooster opens Tues., Feb. 4 at 3807 Friendsville Road in Wooster.
Akron Children’s Hospital hosted a community open house Jan. 25 to debut its new health center at 3807 Friendsville Road in Wooster. The 15,239 square-foot building will give families the convenience of multiple outpatient services under one roof.
The Jacobson family of Wooster (center) helps local officials, donors and staff cut the ceremonial ribbon at the health center open house.
The open house’s ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from the hospital’s president and CEO, Grace Wakulchik. She recognized Akron Children’s decades-long commitment to Wooster – and thanked contractors, community partners and government officials for making the health center a reality. Akron Children’s Hospital chaplain, Matthew Tweddle, dedicated the building.
Akron Children’s President & CEO Grace Wakulchik shares in a photo with the Jacobson family (Zach and Amanda with their boys, Myles, 1, Luke, 5, and Caden, 2), who spoke to guests about how their son was helped by the extraordinary people and care at Akron Children’s.
The Jacobson family of Wooster shared words of gratitude for bringing care closer to home for their family, including 2-year-old Caden, who has a congenital heart defect. “Caden changed everything in our house and our family. We are grateful for all that the Akron Children’s doctors, nurses and support staff have done for us,” said Caden’s mom, Amanda. “As a teacher, I am thankful this new Wooster facility will help my students and other local kids whose families can’t make the drive to Akron for care.”
Visitors were all smiles while getting a chance to meet staff, a magician and even one of the hospital’s Doggie Brigade members.
The open house included a scavenger hunt through the new building, a magician and photo booth with funny hats and props, refreshments and prizes.
Philanthropic Support
Randy Payne is president of the Adena Corporation, the Mansfield-based company that built the Wooster health center. He and Jim Schmidt, president of MKC Architects, have agreed to gift the building to Akron Children’s after the lease term expires. The gift, valued at $5 million, is a personal gift from Randy and Lisa Payne and Jim and Ann Schmidt.
Grace Wakulchik (left) along with hospital executives, Shawn Lyden (second from right) and Brian Lapolla (far right), stop to greet and meet with donors from The Adena Corporation, Randy and Lisa Payne, with their children, Randa and Ryan.
“Lisa and I are very happy and fortunate to be able to support the mission of Akron Children’s Hospital,” said Randy Payne. “The services they provide in Wooster and the entire region have helped our family, friends and members of our team for years. This gift represents all the hard work and commitment of the Adena team since 1982. It’s wonderful to be able to give back something to those who were here in the beginning, allowing for this contribution to help future generations of their families, and all of the families in our region.”
Additionally, the lobby of the Wooster health center is named the Seaman Family Foundation Lobby in recognition of a $250,000 gift from Richard and Judy Seaman.
Akron Children’s Health Center, Wooster
The health center is the new home of Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, Wooster that provides primary care for babies, kids and teens. The facility also offers cardiology, including evaluation and treatment of common pediatric heart concerns, and gastroenterology for diagnosis and treatment of issues with the pediatric digestive system.
Staff members from Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, cardiology and gastroenterology were on hand to welcome families at the new health center.
Patients will be seen in the new Wooster health center starting Tuesday, Feb. 4. For details, call 330-345-1100 (for Pediatrics) and 330-202-7500 (for Cardiology and Gastroenterology).
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