Dr. Ronald Dwinnells
H.O.P.E. Honoree 2022
Dr. Ronald Dwinnells earned his undergraduate (BS) and medical degrees (MD) from the University of Kentucky and his MBA from the George Washington University in Washington D.C. Serving as a Pediatric Resident and later Chief Resident from 1983-86, Dr. Dwinnells completed a three-year pediatric residency training at Tod Children’s Hospital in Youngstown. He was instrumental in establishing ONE Health Ohio in 1986 by writing for a federal grant to start and maintain a safety net clinic to address the health care needs of the poor and medically underserved populations in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. Now, 36 years later, Dr. Dwinnells grew the program from a 4-person, $50,000 organization to its present $26 million annual budget that employs over 200 doctors, dentists, counselors, nurses and clerical staff to servicing 10 health centers throughout Youngstown, Warren, Newton Falls and Alliance. During his tenure, Dr. Dwinnells has written for and received over $60 million worth of federal grants and has infused over $200 million into the local economy through health care services and improving the community’s health. His clinical facilities have provided medical, dental, and mental health care to over one million patient visits since opening these facilities, most of whom were medically uninsured, underinsured or underserved.
Dr. Dwinnells has also conducted and published clinical research studies focusing on integrative health care delivery programs and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). His research interests include emotional and behavioral trauma of children, disparities of health care delivery, healthcare economics and integrative behavioral health care in the clinical setting. This effort has been recognized nationally and internationally resulting in being invited to speaking engagements throughout the United States and abroad, including Dubai, Paris, London, Singapore, Switzerland, and Tokyo. He is the founder of a private, non-profit foundation called Butterflies and Hope which endeavors to support childhood mental and behavioral health issues afflicting the youth of our communities. Most recently, Dr. Dwinnells has written a book titled, Don’t Pick Up All the Dog Hairs, Lessons for Life and Leadership, which was published in September 2021. The book is based on his popular lecture series that he conducts at NEOMED and other local-national universities. He is currently working on his second book, a fictional novel based upon a true incident he encountered during his years in medical school.
