Barbara Allen began her career at Akron Children’s 21 years ago, cleaning toys. After COVID halted the toy cleaning program, Barb transitioned to housekeeping. She’s been an important member of the Environmental Services support staff here at Akron Children’s. “I’ve known Barb a long time,” said Crystal Cline, administrative secretary for Environmental Services. “She’s great! […]
As he looks forward to retirement, Dr. John Pope relishes the privilege of taking care of kids
Since joining Akron Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in 1998, John Pope, MD, has held additional roles that enabled him to make a bigger impact on our organization and our patient families. These other responsibilities allowed him to explore interests in areas such as medical ethics, teaching and global health. Yet he found his […]
Building relationships for life: Dr. William Schrader retires after 36 years
From residency to retirement, pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Schrader’s guiding principle has been to surround himself with good people and treat them well. “I have been blessed to be a part of a great department and a great hospital,” Dr. Schrader said. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Schrader credits three people for their impact […]
Lauren Armstrong makes surgery less stressful for patients and families
As a child life specialist at Akron Children’s Outpatient Surgery Center in Beachwood, Lauren Armstrong helps patients and their families cope before, during and after a surgical procedure. By using terminology that children can understand, as well as medical play with some of the equipment that will be used, Lauren makes a child’s surgery less […]
Caring for the people who care for kids: Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert McGregor retires
Throughout his 12 years at Akron Children’s, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert McGregor helped transform challenges into opportunities for growth. During COVID, Dr. McGregor co-led the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) at Akron Children’s, working 12- to 15-hour days for weeks. Despite the grueling schedule, supporting the staff and patients was one of his most […]
Nancy Carst – ‘the heart & soul’ – of Akron Children’s palliative care team to retire after 38 years
It’s difficult to say precisely how many lives Nancy Carst has touched during her career, but it’s a certainty that she has been the comforting presence for thousands of parents during the most difficult time imaginable – the time when a parent loses a child. Nancy is retiring on Jan. 3 after 38 years, first […]
