Akron Children’s and Summa Health to host a Mother, Baby and Family Health Fair  

07-16-2025 (Akron, Ohio)

Akron Children’s and Summa Health invite families to a free Mother, Baby and Family Health Fair on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Perkins Square Park, One Perkins Square in Akron. 

The event will feature live entertainment, face painting, a stuffed animal clinic, touch-a-truck opportunities, the Akron ZooMobile, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Studio Go van, food trucks, educational presentations and opportunities to meet health care providers. 

Experts from both Akron Children’s and Summa Health will be on hand to share information and answer questions related to a variety of specialties, including: 

Akron Children’s: Injury Prevention, Breastfeeding Medicine, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Heart Center, Akron Children’s and Locust Pediatrics, School Health, the Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Child Life, Expressive Therapy, Rehabilitation, Akron Children’s Health Collaborative and the Adult and Pediatric Burn Institute. 

Summa Health: Summa Health: Women's Health, Heart and Vascular, Orthopedics, Primary Care, Pulmonary and the Health Equity Center.

“Welcoming a baby is a special time for new parents, but it can be overwhelming if complications arise,” said Dr. Marya Strand, chair, Akron Children’s Department of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. “Through our partnership with Summa Health, we provide expert care from high-risk pregnancy through delivery and beyond, with advanced birthing services and NICUs for premature and high-risk infants to support families every step of the way.” 

“The Mother, Baby and Family Health Fair is a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with families, answer their questions and remind them they have partners on this journey,” she added. “Akron Children’s can support families beyond perinatal care with breastfeeding and lactation support and connecting families to our primary care network after their baby is discharged.” 

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Akron Children’s to host the Mother, Baby and Family Health Fair,” said Dr. Edward Ferris, medical director, Women’s Health Institute at Summa Health. “This event is a fantastic opportunity for families in our community to access valuable health information, meet dedicated providers from a wide range of specialties and enjoy a day filled with fun and educational activities.  

“At Summa Health, we are committed to supporting families at every stage of their health journey, and this fair perfectly embodies our dedication to providing comprehensive, compassionate care for mothers, babies and the entire family,” he added. 

From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., enjoy: 

• Touch-a-Truck including fire, police and EMS vehicles, Akron ZooMobile, Cleveland Museum of Art Studio Go van 

• Meet Akron Children’s and Summa Health providers 

• Stuffed animal clinic 

• Face painting 

• Food trucks: Brooks Homestyle BBQ, Eddie’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Swenson’s, Dr. Hibachi  

  
Entertainment: 

• 10-10:45 a.m.: Music with Mr. Jeff 

• 10:55 a.m.: Dr. Carly Dulabon, director of breastfeeding medicine, Akron Children’s:  "Demonstration: How to correctly use a breast pump"  

• 11:15 a.m.: Pitch-a-Pediatrician 

• 11:35 a.m.: Dr. Laura Hlavaty, pediatric psychologist, Akron Children’s: "Stress and anxiety during and after pregnancy: When to seek help"  

• Noon-12:45 p.m.: Music with Mr. Jeff 

• 12:45-1 p.m.: Prize drawings for a Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox, Little Tikes Water Table, Little Tikes Seesaw and Amazon gift cards. 

Free parking is available to all attendees in Akron Children’s Bowery deck, 199 Bowery St. The fair will be held rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, activities will be moved inside the Considine building on Akron Children’s campus. 

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