Summa Health System
05/30/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/30/2023 10:26
Infectious diseases expert Dr. Thomas “Tom” File Jr. awarded 2023 Summa Health Distinguished Physician Award
Date: 05/30/2023
AKRON, Ohio, May 26 - Thomas "Tom" File Jr., M.D., a renowned leader, educator and compassionate caregiver in the field of infectious diseases, was honored with the 2023 Summa Health Distinguished Physician Award.
The health system's highest physician honor was presented to Dr. File on May 24, 2023, by Cliff Deveny, M.D., Summa Health president and chief executive officer, at Summa Society Celebration-the health system's annual honor recognition event-at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn.
The Summa Health Distinguished Physician Award is presented to a physician who exemplifies the mission and values of Summa Health, demonstrates outstanding leadership and dedication, and acts as a role model professionally and personally in the community. The honoree also is recognized for clinical excellence and leadership in research and training and demonstrates a personal commitment to advancing philanthropy at Summa Health.
"If I were to describe Tom File, it would be in the truest sense of the word, 'philanthropist,' somebody who genuinely loves humanity. And that is Tom. He truly loves his family, his colleagues, his students and his patients - and giving back to Summa Health," said Dr. Deveny.
Among his many leadership roles, Dr. File serves as the chair of the Summa Health Infectious Disease division and a founder and co-director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
A pioneer in the field of infectious diseases, both nationally and at Summa Health, Dr. File began his medical journey after graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School and receiving a master's degree in medical microbiology from The Ohio State University.
He completed his internship and residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital and an Infectious Diseases Fellowship from The Ohio State University's College of Medicine. In 1977, Dr. File became one of several health professionals involved in evaluating the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Columbus.
Now one of the leading infectious disease specialists in the country, Dr. File along with his colleagues has influenced the national recognition Summa Health received throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He was among those on the list of experts who kept the nation informed, educated and safe.
Dr. File is also professor of internal medicine, master teacher and chair of the Infectious Disease Division Section at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. He is a past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America where he received the prestigious Watanakunakorn Clinician Award, just one of many professional honors.
He joins a distinguished group of past honorees including William "Bill" Bauman, M.D. (2022); J. Patrick Flanagan, M.D. (2021); Jay Williamson, M.D. (2019); Ernest R. Estep, M.D. (2018); Gary B. Williams, M.D. (2017); Robert Liebelt, M.D., Ph.D. (2016); and the late James Tan, M.D. (2015), who was Dr. File's mentor and partner at Summa Health for 16 years.
About Summa Health
Summa Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community medical centers, a health plan, an accountable care organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and the Summa Health Foundation, we are nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. For more information, visit summahealth.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/summahealth, Twitter, twitter.com/summahealth, Pinterest, pinterest.com/SummaHealth and LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/summahealth.
Media Contact: Maureen Nagg
Phone:234.475.0193