In recognition of National Doctors’ Day, the medical staff executive committee voted to make a $16,000 donation to the newly opened Food Farmacy on the Boardman campus. This is the third year that medical staff funds have been used to make a charitable donation rather than purchasing tokens of appreciation for providers.
Medical staff leadership presents 2025 Doctors’ Day donation check to the Boardman Food Farmacy on behalf of physician staff.
Presenting the donation check for 2025 were president-elect Laura Markley, MD, from Psychiatry and Adolescent Medicine; medical staff president Kerwyn Jones, MD, from Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; and Pediatrician in Chief Shefali Mahesh, MD, from Nephrology.
A ribbon cutting for the Akron Children’s Food Farmacy in Boardman took place on March 24, 2025. The Food Farmacy is a food pantry that provides a 3-to-5-day supply of food for patient families who screen positive for food insecurity. These assessments take place during social needs screenings at Boardman pediatrician offices and through appointments with endocrinology providers. Income-eligible patient families may visit the Food Farmacy once per month.
After opening the Akron campus Food Farmacy in 2023, providers have seen the tangible difference the program offers and the positive way it has helped patient families thrive.
“This is an exciting way for physicians to support this new asset for the Boardman community,” said Dr. Kerwyn Jones, medical staff president. He shared that the Akron Food Farmacy served 26,000 individuals and provided 156,234 pounds of food in 2024.
“Knowing this impact will be extended to another campus to nourish more income-eligible families speaks to the full cycle of care and dedication of our providers,” said Dr. Jones.
“Adding this second Food Farmacy is a great example of how our health care institution is committed to going beyond treating illnesses to address social determinants of health,” added Courtney Hudson, community outreach and education manager at Akron Children’s.
The Food Farmacy is located on the first floor in Building A on the Boardman campus. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Read Dr. Jones’ 2025 message on Doctors’ Day.
Watch an interview on the Boardman Food Farmacy with Courtney Hudson from Akron Children’s on WFMJ Youngstown. Akron Children’s to open Food Farmacy at Boardman campus.
View the complete schedule of Doctors’ Day activities for physician staff on March 31 through April 4, 2025, here.
