Cosmas Onwudiwe Onuora, M.D., FACOG. FICS
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canton, OH
Parents: Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence O. J. Onuora of Nenwe in Aninri LGA, Nigeria.
Secondary School Attended: Awgu County Secondary School, Nenwe. Attended Southern University and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 1975 – 1978, obtaining his B.S. in Chemistry. Attended Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee where he obtained his M.D. degree in May 1985. He obtained his internship and residency education in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport, Louisiana from 1985 – 1989.
Upon completion of his residency, he was appointed to a full academic faculty position as an Instructor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at L.S.U. He was appointed the Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at E. A. Conway Memorial Hospital, Monroe, Louisiana (one of L.S.U.’s Teaching Hospitals) in August 1989. Dr. Onuora subsequently re-located to Canton, Ohio in September 1990 to help rebuild the Ambulatory OB/GYN Clinic at Mercy Medical Center.
Dr. Onuora holds membership in many medical professional societies, and currently serves as the President of Stark County OB/GYN Society. He was the Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Medical Center, Canton, Ohio from January 2008 to December 2013. He also holds academic appointment of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, at Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio. He is a Senior Attending Physician at Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio and serves on many committees at both Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center.
He has been named in America’s Top Obstetricians & Gynecologists consistently since 2003, by the Consumer’s Research Council of America. He has received Patients’ Choice award annually since 2008. His philanthropic activities include University Scholarship Foundation for undergraduate students in Nigeria. He was awarded the certificate of the Pillar of Education by the National Executive Council of Nigerian Postgraduate Students Union on January 12, 2010. He has been engaged in self-funded annual medical mission to Nigeria since 1997.
Dr. Onuora is active in many civic organizations. He is the founder of Nenwe Progressive Association, USA and served as the founding President. He is a founding member of Nigerians in Metropolitan Akron and Surroundings. He is the immediate past President of Nzuko Ndi Igbo of Northeast Ohio. He is blessed with six children and is an active member of St. Paul Catholic Church, North Canton, Ohio.
Edward J. Roth III
Chairman and Board of Trustees
Canton, OH
For more than 30 years, Edward J. Roth III has been part of a team dedicated to providing the Stark County area with excellence and affordability in health care. Mr. Roth began his career with Aultman in 1981 and held a variety of management and leadership positions before being named president and chief executive officer in 2001. Since that time, he has led Aultman with a spirit of compassion and a true belief in the power of each individual to make a difference. Mr. Roth is responsible for more than 5,000 employees and all corporate entities within Aultman Health Foundation.
A graduate of the University of Akron, Mr. Roth is an active member of the community and a board member for the following agencies and organizations: Central Catholic High School Advisory Board, Junior Achievement Executive Leadership Council, Akron Regional Hospital Association (ARHA), Northeastern Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE), Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), Ohio Hospital Association (OHA); Pro Football Hall of Fame, Stark Development Board, and Walsh University.
Mr. Roth has also taken a leadership role in the community and has chaired many organizations and events over the years including: United Way Campaign, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Stark Development Board, Akron Canton Regional Harvest for Hunger Campaign, The Wilderness Center Earthly Delights Auction, American Cancer Society Golf Classic and Junior Achievement Golf Classic.
Mr. Roth is married with four children and resides in Jackson Township.
Sheri A. Peters
Secretary
Munroe Falls, OH
SHERI A. PETERS is a principal in the law firm of Sheri A. Peters Co., L.P.A. with law offices in Munroe Falls and Canton. She has been in practice since 1991 focusing her practice in estate planning, elder law and probate law and is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She co-authored the National Business Institute’s Basic Drafting of Wills and Trusts, published in 1991, contributed to Designating Fiduciaries which was published in the WealthCounsel’s Estate Planning Strategies in 2009 and has also co-authored professional seminar materials on probate, estate planning, and long term care planning. Ms. Peters earned her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Baldwin-Wallace College and received her J.D. Degree from the University of Akron. She is a member of the Ohio and Akron Bar Associations, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Elder Law Answers, WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel.
James Miller
Trustee
Canton, OH
Vice President, Schroer Property Management
James received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron in 1992. He worked at several companies including Volvo Heavy Trucks in Greensboro, North Carolina in the mid 1990’s. James moved back to Hartville in 1997 to work at Aultman Hospital. He worked in Aultman’s Engineering and Construction department from 1997-2017. In 2017 James secured a position with The Schroer Group as Vice President of Property Management. James received his Ohio Professional Engineer license in 1998.
James is a Current member of GentleBrook Board of Directors and also active at Evermore Community Church. James enjoys serving others and has worked on several short term mission projects locally, in Alabama, Louisiana and Haiti. James enjoys the outdoors, hiking and distance running, which was capped with three Boston Marathons. James and his wife have five sons, two daughters, a foster child and reside in Hartville, Ohio.
Kristen DeDent
Trustee / Assistant Secretary
Canton, OH
Kristen DeDent is the Chief Executive Officer at Aultman Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital located within Aultman Hospital.
Passionate about health care and its many possibilities, Kristen joined Aultman in 2000 as a registrar at Aultman North. After that, she served as manager of surgery information systems, director of the Independent Hospital Network, director of strategic planning and corporate operations, and executive director of operational excellence.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in art therapy from Capital University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Waldorf University. Kristen is trained as a blackbelt in six sigma, process improvement.
Kristen has grown twin sons and resides in Canton with her two dogs.
Steve L. Fetterman, RPh
Trustee
Canton, OH
Steve Fettman, R.Ph, received his BS in Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati School of Pharmacy in 1986. He briefly began his career as a staff pharmacist and manager for a couple of retail chain pharmacies and in 1990 was honored with the Marion Merrill Dow Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award.
Steve returned to his family’s independent pharmacy located in Canton, Ohio, in 1991. Davies Pharmacy is a thriving full service community pharmacy, serving customers in two locations. Davies exemplary reputation for product procurement, customer & community service is a testament to its longevity. Steve purchased the business from his father in 2002 and expanded its operations and services, including the erection of a medical building in his father’s honor. Steve’s dad taught him that philanthropy is a 24/7 responsibility...It never takes a break.
Steve has held leadership positions and supported the charitable efforts of the many organizations in which he holds membership. A short list includes: Stark Prescription Assistance Network, Aultman Hospital’s Formulary Advisory Board and a Lifetime Honorary Membership with the Philomatheon Society for the Blind. Steve’s membership with Rotary International has allowed him countless opportunities to serve both within and beyond Stark County. He is a four time Paul Harris Fellow, a ten star Rotarian with a Fifteen+ year perfect attendance record. He has chaired numerous club avenues. He was a yearly sponsor for Rotary’s Pancake Day and a sponsor for the Club’s annual Octoberfest. Steve is a member of The United Way of Stark County, a United Way Gold Key Recipient and accepted a 2005 Business Excellence Award from the Canton Chamber of Commerce on behalf of his pharmacy. In 2016 Steve was elected to the J. Babe Stern Hall of Fame, in recognition for his continual support for the center. J. Babe Stern provides sports activities and mentorship for our community’s youth. Steve was recognized as a 2018 Timken Senior High School Distinguished Alumni.
Davies celebrated their 50th year anniversary in 2013 by phasing in some exciting and innovating front-end renovations and patient services. In 2014 Davies brought the compliance packaging of meds to the retail level when they installed a FastPak EXP System. This implementation was so successful for Davies, it prompted an in-depth feature article about their experience in the January/February 2015 issue of ComputerTalk Magazine for the Pharmacist. In 2014, Davies Pharmacy was nominated for a Pharmacy of the Year award by AmeriSource-Bergen and in July 2014 Davies was recognized as one of the top 3 Good Neighbor Stores out of over 3000 GNP pharmacies.
Professionally, Steve is a member and has held numerous leadership positions for the Stark County Academy of Pharmacy, the Ohio Pharmacist’s Association and the American Pharmacist’s Association. He is a member of the National Community Pharmacist’s Association and a vital part of their speaker’s panel. He has flown across the country, sharing the wisdom and experience he has gained in building a continually successful Independent Pharmacy with other independent colleagues in his field.
Steve met his college sweetheart, Jodi, at the University of Cincinnati. They celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary this year. Together they raise a daughter Peyton – a labor and delivery nurse at the University of Cincinnati medical center; Robyn, a senior project manager for Mindgruve, an international marketing firm and also an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati. Zak, graduated from the Doctoral Pharmacy Program at UC. Zak has returned home to work alongside his dad at Davies when he can and is blazing his own trail in independent pharmacy.
Nothing is more meaningful to Steve than greeting each patient’s health concerns with practical modern innovation in tandem with dignity and old-fashioned individual care.
June 2016 J Babe Stearn Center Hall of Fame
June 2018. Timken Senior High School Distinguished Alumni
June 2018 Rotary Club of Canton Rotarian of the Year
May 2022 J Babe Stearn Center advisory board
2019 to present chairman of Thurman Munson Scholarship at J Babe Stearn Center
2025 Vice President of J Babe Stearn Boys and Girls Club
Stephen P. Griffin
Trustee
North Canton, OH
David Roberts
David is Chief Experience Officer, Private Wealth Management for OC Federal Credit Union. The largest faith based, full-service credit union in Ohio and 4th largest in the nation.
He developed a professional interest in healthcare along with his wife Ellyn’s passionate interest as their eldest daughter has a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. Ellyn is a strong advocate for Hannah.
David in his over 40-year career has worked at some large financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and UBS and smaller firms like United Bank and Farmers and now the credit union.
He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from KSU and an MBA with a concentration in finance from University of Akron and life and health and security licenses.
Community Involvement David was secretary of Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, multiple trustee and Paul Harris Fellow of Canton Rotary Club. Currently trustee Temple Israel board and on the finance, investment, dues committees and Chair of Chadash (Religious School).
Besides Hannah, who lives with Ellyn and David their youngest daughter Jamie is married to Dr Alex Carsel a 3rd year Resident at UH applying for fellowship in Hemonc. They have a granddaughter Sofia who is Ellyn, David and Hannah’s pride and joy.
Nneka Onuora
Bali, Indonesia
Nneka Onuora is an educator and leader with over 15 years of international experience spanning classroom teaching, educational governance, international development, and management consulting. She holds a BA in International Relations and Political Science from Georgia State University (2004), a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University (2007), and an MSc in Education from Johns Hopkins University (2022).
She currently teaches in Bali, Indonesia, where she designs inclusive, student-centered instruction that blends global best practices with local context. Prior to this, she taught in rural Alaska and Dallas, Texas, driving measurable gains in literacy, math, special education, and vocational readiness through innovative, data-driven approaches.
Her leadership extends beyond the classroom. As Chairperson of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, Nneka led statewide initiatives that improved literacy and math outcomes, strengthened teacher development, and delivered nearly 500 new and rehabilitated school facilities. She earned the UKaid Public Service Award for Integrity and Good Governance for this work.
As an Education Officer with UNICEF in Nigeria, she advanced girls’ education, influenced policy at the state level, and mobilized resources that expanded access for underserved communities. Earlier in her career, Nneka served as Special Assistant to the Governor of Enugu State, where she launched programs to support small businesses and led the state’s first international trade delegation to China. She also worked as a Management Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, DC, where she strengthened financial and operational systems for federal projects.
Her career reflects a sustained commitment to governance, education, advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration across Africa, North America, and Asia.
Alexander Chukwuma Onuora
Trustee
Canton, OH
Chukwuma is a Juris Doctor candidate at Cornell Law School (Class of 2027). He graduated magna cum laude from Ohio University in 2021 after completing his early education at McKinley Senior High School.
His academic and professional interests center on corporate and business law, with a particular focus on venture capital. Driven by a long-term goal of fostering enterprise development in Nigeria, Chukwuma is committed to leveraging legal expertise to support innovation, growth, and investment in emerging markets.
In pursuit of these goals, he has accepted an offer to join KGWD in Canton, Ohio, as a Summer Associate in 2026, where he will gain valuable experience in corporate practice. His vision is to build a career that bridges law, business, and international development to create lasting economic impact.
Chinonso O. Onuora
Trustee
Canton, OH
Chinonso Onuora graduated Summa Cum Laude from Jackson High School in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, he intends to matriculate into medical school.
During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research at Northeast Ohio Medical University in 2024, where he tested drug loading and delivery capabilities of 3D printed scaffolds aimed at regulating osteocyte differentiation in 2024. In 2025, he applied his technical expertise as an AI Validation Specialist at Handshake AI, where he focused on ensuring the reliability and accuracy of large language models across a range of applications.
Beyond academics, Chinonso is actively engaged in campus life. He serves as a sacristan with University Catholic and as a V2 Ambassador, where he supports first-year engineering students in their transition to college life at Vanderbilt. In his free time, he enjoys staying active by going to the gym or playing sports with friends.