US Acute Care Solutions Names Its Academic Excellence Recipients for 2025

CANTON, Ohio, January 8, 2026—US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned provider of hospital-based emergency and inpatient medicine, is pleased to announce the clinicians who have been named recipients of the Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Academic Incentive Awards. 

Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award

The Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award was created to honor the outstanding clinical educators at each USACS residency program for their commitment to training the future physician workforce. Nominations are submitted by resident learners and fellow faculty and are reviewed at the beginning of each calendar year. 

Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award:

• Ahmad Amireh, MD, Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital—Boardman, OH
• Alexandre Lightfoot, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OH
• Andrew F. Kalnow, DO, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OH
• Andrew Kitlowski, MD, Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas—Austin, TX
• Emily A. Hammer, DO, Henry Ford Genesys Hospital—Grand Blanc, MI
• Irtaza Asar, DO, Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PA
• Jared Mugfor, DO, Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PA
• Randall McComb, MD, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH
• Richard W. Thompson, DO, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TX 

The Academic Incentive Award

The Academic Incentive Award was established to recognize faculty members who have achieved academic success through research, teaching, and service excellence. To be selected, the faculty member must showcase high academic productivity during the calendar year to meet the threshold for earning the award. 
Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2025 Academic Incentive Award:

• Aleta Mizner, DO, Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PA
• Andrew Kienstra, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TX
• Benjamin D. Duncan, MD, FPD-AEMUS, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OH
• Benjamin A. Lang, MD, MPH, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TX
• Brent M. Troy, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TX
• Brooke L. Watanabe, MD, Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas—Austin, TX
• Christopher M. Lloyd, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OH
• Dennis P. Hanlon, MD, FAAEM, Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PA
• Dhimitri A. Nikolla, DO, Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PA
• Erica J. Ross, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OH
• Howard W. Levitin, MD, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OH
• Javier Morales, DO, FACOEP, Henry Ford Genesys Hospital—Grand Blanc, MI
• Jonathan R. Eisenberg, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TX
• Jonathan J. Oskvarek, MD, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH
• Kathryn M. Moore, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH
• Kristine D. Song, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OH
• Melody L. Milliron, DO, FACOEP, Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PA
• Meenal D. Sharkey, MD, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OH
• Michael J. Pallaci, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH
• Nickolas J. Meier, DO, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OH
• Philip S. Nawrocki, MD, Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PA
• Shiv B. Dua, MD, Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PA
• Tamara Augustine Duclaire, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OH
• Vishnu V. Mudrakola, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH

Executive Vice President of Academic Medicine David Seaberg, MD, CPE, FACEP, shared, “Our focus on education and academics at USACS is directly reflected in our ability to provide high-quality care to our patients. The contributions of our faculty, who drive innovation and advance the specialty, are highly valued, and we are fortunate to have them leading the way at our residency programs.” 

Chief Medical Officer Amer Aldeen, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, added, “I am proud to celebrate our Academic Excellence Award recipients for their critical involvement in the success of our residency and fellowship programs. They are at the forefront of developing the next generation of physicians, ensuring every resident and fellow is equipped with the latest evidence-based practices to excel in their specialty as an attending.”