Aultman Physicians

Our partnerships with nearly 700 physicians keep Aultman a vital, thriving and modern health-care facility.  Our doctors research new treatment methods, help educate new physicians and are always current on the latest medical breakthroughs in equipment and medications.  If you’re an Aultman physician, we have a special message for you regarding the lawsuit recently filed against us by Mercy.  If not, please read the information below to learn about our physicians' accomplishments.

Medical Education and Research
The Aultman Department of Medical Education and Research contributes to the quality health care provided at Aultman Hospital and to our community by training health-care professionals, providing ongoing education to our highly skilled physicians and assuring availability of new treatments for our patients through clinical research. 

Residency Programs
Residency programs offered at Aultman Hospital are Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Transitional Residency, Osteopathic Family Medicine and an Osteopathic Rotating Internship. Two other residency programs, Diagnostic Radiology and Internal Medicine, are offered in partnership with another area hospital.

Our residency programs graduated 24 residents in 2007, and all successfully completed their written board exams. A total of 288 medical students from Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine received clinical training with our resident physicians as well as attending physicians in our community.

The residents in Aultman’s teaching programs provide outstanding care to the insured, underinsured and uninsured members of our community in a patient-centered atmosphere. In 2007, approximately 5,000 patients were cared for as inpatients at Aultman Hospital – while 58,000 visits were made to the outpatient offices staffed by resident physicians and teaching attending physicians. 

Aultman Education Center
In 2007, the department relocated to the first floor of the Aultman Education Center – in close proximity to the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the medical library. The location provides state-of-the-art classrooms and clinical office training sites.  The resident physicians and students have the opportunity to utilize patient simulators and models in preparation for the care of patients in the outpatient and hospital settings.

Continuing Medical Education
Continuing medical education programs are a central component of the continuum of education for physicians in attaining and maintaining professional skills. Aultman Hospital sponsored 70 continuing medical education programs in 2007 and had participation from almost 1,500 physicians.

Medical Research
Research is the medical community’s method of exploring the frontiers of medical knowledge and skills. The physicians participating in research at our facility bring treatment regimens and procedures to our community that would not otherwise be available. Their dedication to new knowledge assists our community in providing a quality of medical care that is not otherwise possible. There were 63 new research studies initiated in 2007 – with a total 260 active studies ongoing.

Aultman Management Services Organization (MSO)
Aultman MSO provides information technology and practice management software and services, medical coding and revenue management services for physicians throughout Aultman’s five-county service area.

MSO continued to enhance employee education in 2007 by providing an on-site coding class for staff members. Twelve participants from the MSO office, hospital staff and area physician offices completed the coding course. All participants obtained Certified Procedural Coding certification, which enhances coding accuracy and profitability for local physician practices.

The MSO has embarked on implementing electronic medical records (EMR). Throughout 2007, MSO developed a physician task force committee to evaluate EMR systems. The goal is to find a user-friendly, cost-effective EMR solution to install in the practices throughout Stark County. The committee has been very successful in this physician-led endeavor and is currently working with vendors on a cost-effective pricing structure to offer to physicians.

Medical Staff
In 2007, 37 new physicians joined the Aultman medical staff.

Of the 672 medical staff members, 95 percent are board certified. To achieve board certification or the international equivalent, physicians must undergo additional training, pass a national exam and take steps to maintain board-certified status.

Educational Programs

Seventh Annual Cancer Conference
More than 200 physicians and health-care professionals attended the Aultman Cancer Center’s Seventh Annual Cancer Conference. Topics at the two-day event in September 2007 included breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies. The annual cancer conference provides a forum in which information on latest oncology research and treatment breakthroughs can be delivered.

The Aultman Institute
The Aultman Institute offers 12 educational programs for physicians and specialty nurses each year. 2007 program topics ranged from treatment and management of congestive heart failure to trends, prevention and management of infections due to resistant bacteria. Guest speakers represented institutions including The Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, Henry Ford Hospital of Detroit and the University of Kentucky.

Perinatal Symposium
The Aultman Women and Children’s Services Program held the Third Annual Perinatal Symposium in November. The symposium featured topics concerning high-risk maternal and newborn care. National speakers traveled from Connecticut, Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania to share their areas of expertise – in addition to focus groups led by Aultman speakers. More than 115 people were in attendance, including physicians, residents, nurses, medical students and nursing students.

Physician Achievements

Gilbert Rowley, M.D., received the Golden Apple Award presented by Aultman President and CEO Edward J. Roth III. Dr. Rowley was recognized for his contributions to the United States Army Reserve Medical Corps.  He is a lieutenant colonel who served in Kosovo in 2004 and 2007, responsible for the care of U.S. service personnel, U.S. civilians and NATO soldiers from neighboring countries.

S. David Wakulchik, M.D., received a Medical Staff President’s Leadership Award presented by William Wallace, M.D., president of the Aultman Medical Staff. As program director of the Aultman Family Medicine Residency, Dr. Wakulchik received this award for his commitment and leadership to the Medical Education Program and Aultman Hospital medical staff.

Steven Kelly, M.D., received a Medical Staff President’s Leadership Award presented by Dr. Wallace. As trauma director at Aultman Hospital, Dr. Kelly received this award for his commitment to Aultman’s Level II Trauma status.