Akron Children’s new Wooster Health Center opens Feb. 4

01-29-2020 (Ohio)

Akron Children’s newest health center in Wooster opens to the public on Feb. 4.

Located at 3807 Friendsville Road, the new center will feature a pediatric primary care office staffed with four board-certified pediatricians, two pediatric nurse practitioners, and a mental health therapist. Akron Children’s will also provide office space for pediatric cardiology and gastroenterology practices.  

The new 15,239 square-foot building consolidates the office of Akron Children’s Pediatrics, currently at 128 E. Milltown Road, and its pediatric cardiology office, which is currently located at 546 Winter St.

“Akron Children’s has been part of the Wooster community for more than two decades,” said president and CEO Grace Wakulchik. “We are excited to open this new building, which will be colorful and child-friendly, and will further our commitment to making the highest-quality pediatric health convenient for families.”

Akron Children’s is leasing the land from Wooster Community Hospital. Akron Children’s and Wooster Community Hospital have long ties. Akron Children’s operates a special care nursery at Wooster Community Hospital and Akron Children’s Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists, who specialize in pregnancies or births considered high risk, have office hours there as well.

Philanthropic Support

Randy Payne, president of the Adena Corporation, of Mansfield, which has served as the general contractor and developer of the building, along with co-investor, Jim Schmidt, 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 Payne and his wife, Lisa, and Schmidt, who is president of MKC Architects, and his wife, Ann.

"Lisa and I are very happy and fortunate to be able to support the mission of Akron Children's," said 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."

The lobby of the building will be named the Seaman Family Foundation Lobby in recognition of a $250,000 gift from Richard and Judy Seaman. Dick Seaman is the retired president of the Seaman Corporation, and remains the chairman of its Board of Directors.  

“We have always tried to provide financial and leadership support to our communities, said Dick Seaman. “The construction of the health center was an excellent opportunity for us to make a gift that would have lasting impact to support Akron Children’s initiatives in the Wayne and Holmes county communities.”

“We truly appreciate the support of Wooster Community Hospital and donors such as Randy and Lisa Payne, Jim and Ann Schmidt, and Dick and Judy Seaman,” said Wakulchik. “It’s heartwarming and shows how much the Wooster community values pediatric health care and making sure its children have only the brightest and healthiest futures.”

Care for Newborns through Young Adulthood

The Wooster office of Akron Children’s Pediatrics is a full-service pediatric primary care office, which cares for newborns through teens and young adults – from well-child visits and routine immunizations to the care of children with chronic illnesses. Convenient evening and Saturday appointments are offered.

Pediatric cardiology services include evaluation and treatment of common cardiac concerns, including heart murmurs, chest pain, dizziness and fainting – to caring for children with abnormal health rhythms and complex congenital heart disease.

Akron Children’s pediatric gastroenterology team diagnoses and treats children and teens with such disorders as celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux and inflammatory bowel disease.