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01/26/2021

William D Smucker, MD

Dr. William Smucker 3The AMDA family has lost a dear friend and esteemed colleague, Dr. William “Bill“ Smucker passed away on January 11 with his family at his side. Dr. Smucker was a long-time friend and supporter of AMDA who served on many committees and was frequently a guest lecturer at our AMDA Annual Conference. Dr. Smucker also served as President of OMDA –The Ohio Medical Directors Association and was very influential and an educational leader for the Ohio Chapter. His career was dedicated to clinical excellence in the practice of medicine but his passion was patient care in Post-Acute and Long Term Care medicine. His practice included 30 years as a long-term care provider in addition to clinical care and later Program Director at the Family Practice Residency at Summa Health Systems in Akron Ohio.

Those fortunate enough to have worked with Dr. Smucker knew him as a “Force of Nature,” his presence and demeanor would fill a room. He was a peerless teacher, gifted leader, and passionate patient advocate whose efforts to drive clinical excellence had an impact on everyone he touched. Bill compiled an impressive portfolio of publications, presentations, grants and research awards over the past three decades.

He was a gifted speaker who had a “common sense” approach to many of the daily situations that confront us as clinicians. Those who knew him referred to these as “Smuckerism’s.” Some of these include: “the hand that writes the opioid order without a laxative will also be doing the disimpaction,” “they have blood in a bag, but not brain in a box” when discussing complications related to anticoagulation and “do not be the first or last one to prescribe a drug or device.”  

Dr. Smucker’s dedication and energy will have a lasting effect on those of us who had the opportunity to learn from and work with him at AMDA and in Long Term Care. He will be deeply missed. His request was for us to gratefully rededicate ourselves to the work of caring for our patients in the devoted and compassionate manner he inspired.

Those interested in offering a remembrance, consider a donation to Summa Health Foundation Family Medicine Residency Program Directors Endowment Fund at Summa Health Office of the Foundation, 525 E Market St, Akron OH 44304, or Faithful Servants Care Center, 65 Community Rd, Suite F, Tallmadge OH 44278, or Feeding Medina County at www.feedingmedinacounty.org.

 

 

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