CANTON, Ohio (June 5, 2017) – Aultman recently honored three local physicians with induction into the Hippocrates Honor Society. This “lifetime achievement” award, created by the Aultman Hospital Medical Staff, recognizes physicians who exemplify the qualities of excellence, compassion, integrity and leadership.

Congratulations to the 2017 Hippocrates Honor Society inductees:

Michael Hopkins, M.D., GYN Oncology

Dr. Michael Hopkins has been an intricate part of the OBGYN Residency Program since he came on staff at Aultman in 1989. In 2000, he became the medical director of the program, remaining in the position until 2016. The residents he has mentored over the years greatly admire and respect him, as do his colleagues. Over the last 29 years, Dr. Hopkins has been the saving grace for many women whose lives were threatened to be cut short from female cancers. Mothers, wives and grandmothers received years, sometimes decades, to spend with their families because of Dr. Hopkins’ medical and surgical interventions. 

Dr. Hopkins was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. He grew up in a large family in Cleveland Heights and is the second oldest in a family of 12 children. Unsure of what his future held, Dr. Hopkins’ father encouraged him to take the entrance exam into West Point, and it was a blessing in more ways than one – West Point is where he met his wife, Mary Kay. After graduating from West Point and fulfilling his five years in the army infantry, he attended medical school at Case Western University School of Medicine. He then went on to complete his residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland as well as a gynecologic oncology fellowship at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Susan Mercer, M.D., Family Medicine

Dr. Sue Mercer came on staff at Aultman in 1986, when she began practicing family medicine in the community. Then seeing the importance of medical staff leadership, Dr. Mercer served as chair of the Family Medicine department from 1994 – 1996. She went on to chair the Medical Records committee for several years before serving the important role of medical staff performance improvement chair for six years. All the while, she was either heavily participating in or chairing the Graduate Medical Education and Research Committee. In 2013, she also took on the role of vice president of medical affairs.

Dr. Mercer was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. She attended State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biological Sciences. She then came to Aultman for her family medicine residency, where she met her husband, Matt, while he was a respiratory therapist at Aultman. She and Matt have three children – Marcus, Bevin and Matt Jr.     

Teresa Wurst, M.D., Family Medicine

At 50 years old, Dr. Teresa Wurst is now officially the youngest physician to be inducted into the Hippocrates Honor Society. Dr. Wurst came from humble beginnings – she was a young mom, having her first child, Andrea, prior to college. Even with this big responsibility, Dr. Wurst went on to college, medical school and residency. She met her husband, Chris, during her undergraduate studies at Walsh University. Later, the couple had their son, Nick, while Dr. Wurst was in her last year of residency. 

Dr. Wurst graduated from NEOMED and then completed her residency in family medicine at Aultman. She joined Aultman’s medical staff in 1996 and became a mainstay on the family medicine teaching faculty – a position she has held since 1998. But one of the biggest reasons Teresa was inducted into the Hippocrates Honor Society is because of her leadership at the Hartville Migrant Ministry Medical Center (the oldest-standing free clinic in Ohio).

Currently, more than 350 men and women come to Hartville with their families to work on the farms. The migrants come to Hartville from Mexico, Jamaica and southern U.S. states. Normally, these migrants reside in housing provided by the local produce growers from spring to fall. Migrant workers are some of the most economically disadvantaged and most medically vulnerable groups. The lifestyle of migrant farm workers makes it difficult for them to access health care when they need it. Many migrants have limited financial resources and do not speak English. They have no telephone or automobile, and are unsure of how to access health care while in Ohio. This is where selfless physicians like Dr. Wurst step in. She has been medical director of the Migrant Clinic since 2001 – a role she takes seriously and holds very dear.