Dr. Alex Heintzelman, associate professor of Family and Community Medicine at NEOMED and associate program director of family medicine at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, has been named the 2025 NEOMED faculty recipient of the prestigious Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
This national award recognizes faculty members who are both exemplars and mentors of humanism in the care of patients and families. Honorees are selected for their dedication to kind, safe, trustworthy care. Those recognized with this award are also inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a program of the nonprofit Gold Foundation.
“Dr. Heintzelman brings a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to both his clinical work and his teaching,” said Dr. Jim Kravec, Chief Clinical Officer, Mercy Health – Lorain and Youngstown, and System Medical Director of Graduate Medical Education at Bon Secours Mercy Health. “He’s a valued mentor to our residents, and this award underscores his commitment to preparing future family medicine physicians to care for Mahoning Valley patients and families for decades to come.”
Dr. Heintzelman was selected by students in the College of Medicine for his unwavering commitment to the principles of humanism in clinical practice and medical education. As a physician and educator, he is known for fostering meaningful relationships with his patients and serving as a compassionate role model for future healthcare providers. Dr. Heintzelman formally received the award and delivered the keynote address during NEOMED’s Virtuous Healer Honor Society induction ceremony, which was held in March.
In addition to caring for patients at Mercy Health – Columbiana Primary Care and serving in his academic leadership roles, Dr. Heintzelman has helped expand the scope of Mercy Health’s Graduate Medical Education program by co-developing a rural health care pathway with Dr. Thomas Macabobby. This pathway offers family medicine residents immersive training in a rural setting, preparing them to address the unique challenges and health disparities that rural communities face—insights Dr. Heintzelman brings from his own experience.
“I’m honored to receive this award from my students and thankful that I can teach them the value of developing meaningful relationships with neighbors in our community,” said Dr. Heintzelman. “Trust and competent medical care are built through those connections, which benefit the wellness of both the patient and the physician. It is my hope that through meaningful education experiences, we can develop physicians who our Valley’s communities will rely on for years to come.”