Akron Pediatrician Honored for Community Garden Work
Families in Akron can see how a free garden tied to pediatric care is helping children access fresh produce.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Children’s Health
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Cleveland Clinic Akron General pediatrician Maureen Ahmann was named the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2026 community pediatrician of the year. The annual award recognizes community commitment to improving the health and safety of Ohio's adolescents.
Why it matters
The honor spotlights community-level work that extends pediatric care beyond the exam room, which matters for families in Akron who face barriers to fresh food and health education. It also signals that local efforts to improve children's health are being recognized at the state level.
The recognition is an annual honor from the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than a clinical study. Its basis is Ahmann's community work and more than two decades in practice, and no outcome measures were reported.
The players
Maureen Ahmann
A pediatrician and chair of pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Akron General who also serves as medical director of the Stark County Health Department.
Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
The state chapter of the national pediatric physician organization that presents an annual award recognizing community contributions to children's health.
The details
Ahmann started the Grow with Us Garden outside her Akron clinic, where patients and families receive free fruits, vegetables and herbs. The garden also serves as a teaching space for families learning how to grow food at home. The program connects routine pediatric care to nutrition and food access, two factors that shape children's long-term health.
Timeline
2026: Ahmann named Ohio AAP community pediatrician of the year
Health Landscape
The AAP's community pediatrician recognition highlights a growing emphasis on social and environmental drivers of child health alongside clinical treatment. Programs like the Grow with Us Garden put that emphasis into practice at the level of a single clinic.
Families in Akron who want to improve children's access to fresh produce can ask their pediatrician about community gardens and nutrition programs. Worth discussing with your child's doctor are practical ways to build vegetables and herbs into daily meals.
The takeaway
Community-based programs can extend pediatric care into nutrition and food access. Families seeking similar support can start by asking their child's doctor about local resources.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Children’s Health in Akron.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Akron Beacon Journal.
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