Akron Children’s welcomes the following new providers. Allergy/Immunology Pediatric allergist and immunologist Rachel Szekely, MD, FACAAI, has joined Akron Children’s Center for Allergy and Immunology. She sees patients at our health centers in Beachwood and Boston Heights. Dr. Szekely has been practicing since 2005. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Toledo […]
Provider News
Leah Rawdon receives 2024 Magnet Nurse of the Year award
Akron Children’s Leah Rawdon, DNP, APRN-CNP, received the 2024 Magnet Nurse of the Year Award in Empirical Outcomes from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Leah was among five nurses nationwide selected to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of clinical nurses in each of the five Magnet Model components: transformational leadership, […]
Pediatric Gastroenterology thrives under leadership of Dr. Reinaldo Garcia-Naveiro
As the director of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Akron Children’s, Dr. Reinaldo Garcia-Naveiro has built a thriving division that will one day be his legacy. “The difference between building a clinical practice and building a division is that when you are gone, so is the clinical practice. A division is permanent and not dependent on one […]
Akron Children’s developmental pediatrics fellow hopes to make a global impact
As a young girl growing up in Nigeria, Dr. Dami Omoniyi’s journey to becoming a physician was sparked by her natural curiosity. “I loved to ask questions,” she recalled. Initially drawn to engineering due to her love for math, Dr. Dami realized during secondary school that she preferred a career that involved critical thinking and […]
More Than a Job: Laura Benedict celebrates national genetics counselor awareness day
As we approach National Genetics Counselor Awareness Day on November 14, we’d like to shine a spotlight on the vital contributions of our genetics counselors like Laura Benedict. These dedicated professionals assist individuals and families navigating the complexities of genetic disorders, offering not just information and education, but also compassion and support. Laura’s journey into […]
Get to know our newest physician assistants in cancer care
Akron Children’s welcomes 2 new physician assistants (PAs) to our Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders to add to our growing multidisciplinary team. In their roles, PAs Gillian Brenner and Ashten Yoder will provide comprehensive and compassionate care to children and teens with blood disorders and cancer. They will collaborate closely with […]













