Three doctors inducted into the Aultman Hippocrates Honor Society

CANTON – The Aultman Health System recently inducted local physicians Anthony Degenhard, Charles Milligan and Allison Oprandi into the Hippocrates Honor Society.

This “lifetime achievement” award, created by the Aultman medical staff, recognizes physicians who exemplify the qualities of excellence, compassion, integrity and leadership, according to a news release.

Patients, Aultman employees and medical staff members nominated physicians for the award. Nomination guidelines for the award include 10 years of practice as a physician, 10 years of service at Aultman Hospital, civic and community involvement, local or national medical society involvement and professional accomplishments.

Degenhard, a nephrologist, joined the medical staff of both Aultman Hospital and Aultman Alliance Community Hospital in 2004, followed by Aultman Orrville Hospital in 2013. He led initiatives to focus on provider wellness by creating and promoting activities that celebrate physician accomplishments. He founded the FunDocs initiative, which focused on planning social events to allow physicians time to socialize, relax and reduce burnout.

Degenhard was a key driver of an initiative to improve physician communication, with the goal of providing optimal care for patients. In 2012, he was presented with the Physician Leadership Award by the medical staff president. Degenhard has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, the Foundation for Community Betterment and the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association.

Milligan spent his 39-year medical career as part of the medical staff of Aultman Orrville Hospital. He served as medical staff president. He served on the Orrville Hospital Foundation Board of Directors as treasurer, secretary, vice chair and chair. He was president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association.

As a family practitioner, Milligan delivered many babies at Aultman Orrville Hospital and was instrumental in supporting the hospital’s newborn care coverage. He mentored medical students and residents throughout his career. Aultman Orrville Hospital staff dedicated the hospital’s labor and delivery room to him after he retired. Milligan served as team physician for area high school sports teams and has been involved with the Lions Club.

Oprandi began her career with Aultman in 1987 as a resident in the Family Medicine program. After completing her residency, Oprandi returned to the Aultman Family Medicine Residency Program as a faculty member and leader. She earned the program’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2003. She is a clinical professor of family and community medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

At Aultman Hospital, Oprandi has been physician advisor for utilization management, medical director for utilization management and clinical documentation improvement, as well as chief medical officer. In 2004, she received a Golden Apple (now called Keys to Success) award for her contributions to the medical staff.

Oprandi was instrumental in forming the Integrated Health Collaborative, a network of physicians who are committed to improving the quality of healthcare by providing a patient-centered approach, sharing information, streamlining care and lowering costs. She has been chief executive officer of the IHC since 2014. She has served on the board of trustees for the Margaret B. Shipley Child Health Clinic, Inc., since 2002.

To learn more about the 2024 inductees and view videos from their patients, colleagues and family members, go to aultman.org/hippocrates .

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Three doctors inducted into the Aultman Hippocrates Honor Society