CANTON, Ohio (Aug. 11, 2026) – Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Aultman Health System have announced a new formal partnership designed to expand workforce development opportunities and strengthen the pipeline of future physicians who will serve communities across Ohio.

The collaboration builds upon a longstanding relationship between the two institutions and establishes a more strategic framework for advancing medical education, clinical training, and regional healthcare innovation. Through the affiliation, NEOMED students will benefit from expanded clinical learning experiences, mentorship, and greater exposure to patient-centered care environments across the Aultman system.

The partnership comes at a critical time as healthcare leaders nationwide continue to address physician shortages, particularly in regional healthcare settings. By creating stronger pathways for medical education and clinical training in Northeast Ohio, both organizations aim to encourage more students to remain in the state to practice medicine after graduation.

“This partnership represents a meaningful investment in the future of healthcare in Ohio,” said NEOMED President John Langell. M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., FACS. “NEOMED's overall goal is to improve the health, economy and quality of life of the communities we serve. By strengthening our relationship with Aultman, we are creating new opportunities for students to train in exceptional clinical environments while building meaningful connections to the region they may one day call home as practicing physicians.”

As one of the region’s premier healthcare providers and the largest employer in Stark County, Aultman offers a broad network of hospitals, outpatient centers and specialty care services that will provide students with valuable real-world clinical experiences. NEOMED, meanwhile, continues its growth as one of Ohio’s leading public health sciences universities, granting advanced professional degrees in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and scientific research.

“The affiliation between Aultman and NEOMED reflects our shared commitment to advancing healthcare throughout the region,” said Robert Mullen, President and CEO of the Aultman Health System. “Together, we have an opportunity to develop the next generation of physicians and healthcare leaders while strengthening access to high-quality care for the patients and communities we serve.”

The new affiliation is expected to create additional opportunities for collaboration in academic programming, workforce initiatives and community health engagement in the years ahead.

About Aultman Health System
The Aultman Health System is a nonprofit healthcare organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The integrated healthcare system includes Aultman Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, the locally managed health insurance provider AultCare, The Aultman Foundation and Aultman College. With 1,032 beds, over 1,000 active providers and a team of more than 7,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County's largest provider of healthcare services. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.

About NEOMED
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) creates transformational leaders and improves health through education, discovery and service. NEOMED’s mission is made possible through its network consisting of several nationally ranked healthcare systems. The University has four Colleges — Medicine, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies and the Bitonte College of Dentistry. Its programs offer Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in other medical and life science areas. In addition to the basic sciences at its Colleges, NEOMED conducts research to advance innovation in healthcare. NEOMED’s unique areas of service include Coordinating Centers of Excellence that disseminate best practices for treating mental illness. Primary care patient services are offered at NEOMED Health Care and the University’s award-winning NEOMED Free Clinic. Learn more at neomed.edu.