Mercer Health thanks physician

COLDWATER - A distinguished doctor who served Mercer Health for 45 years, including a nearly seven-year stint as the health care system's vice president of medical affairs, will retire at the end of the month, capping what Mercer Health CEO Jon Dingledine called "a remarkable career."

Dr. Thangaraj Amaran received a standing ovation at the hospital board of governors regular meeting on Wednesday night.

"I want to thank him for all his years of service. You don't meet many like him, if any," Dingledine said. "What he has given to this organization really is not matched by anyone else."

Board members approved a resolution formally recognizing and honoring Amaran for "his extraordinary service, leadership, and dedication to advancing healthcare for our patients, staff, and community."

From July 1981 to January 2018, Amaran served Mercer Health as a board certified urologist. During that tenure, Amaran held numerous leadership positions, including vice chief of staff and chief of staff and contributed significantly to the surgery commitee, credentials commitee and bylaws commitee.

Amaran marveled at the progress Mercer Health has made over the years in bringing new medical specialties to the area and supporting the doctors and medical staff who carry out these critical functions.

"I'm really honored to be with you guys. The board has done such a wonderful job," he said.

Following his clinical career, Amaran assumed the role of vice president of medical affairs, serving as a vital liaison between administration and medical staff, ensuring collaboration and mutual support, according to Dingledine.

"It was a learning process as the first one to do this job," Amaran remarked. "So I thought I'd do it for a year. I didn't expect to do it for almost eight years."

Amaran was credited with strengthening unity among medical staff by fostering in-person connections, cultivating relationships and initiating the Medical Staff Education Series to encourage peer-to-peer learning, discussion and awareness of specialized services in the community.

"Dr. Amaran advanced communication and cooperation between provider practices and hospital operations, championed the creation of the Associate Staff Category, modernized the Rules and Regulations to reflect current practice, and launched Community Health 101, an educational series addressing public health risks," the resolution states.

"I didn't even know I did all that stuff," Amaran quipped.

Moreover, the resolution notes that Amaran has been nominated for the 2026 Ohio Hospital Association's Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year. The award honors the excellence of front-line health care workers and is presented each year to one Ohio caregiver who routinely goes beyond the call of duty, daily reflects the mission and values of their organization, and notably gives back to the community.

"So again, I want to thank you, Dr. Amaran, for everything you've done and also congratulate you on a remarkable career," Dingledine said.

In his report to board members, Dingledine thanked Mercer Health for another great year.

"2025 has been a remarkable year, and as we start to sit down with employees and start to review performance … and look at everything we've achieved in the last year, it's incredible," he said. "We have a lot to be thankful for the past year and a lot to be optimistic for as we head into 2026. But this group is a huge part … of setting the tone in terms of where we want to go as an organization."  

In 2025, Mercer Health was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including Top Honors in Rural and Community Healthcare, Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals in the Nation, a Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital, one of America's Best-in-State Hospitals for 2025 and Women's Choice Award for Emergency Care.

Board members also:

• learned that Celina Moose Lodge has offered to provide lunch to the hospital staff working on Christmas Eve.  

• learned that St. Henry Bank sponsored a coffee day for Mercer Health teams to recognize and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the organization.

"On December 6, 1950, Our Lady of Mercy opened its doors to the community. We celebrated our 75th Anniversary with an open house on December 4th, welcoming in community members to relive some of the history and memories that continue to impact the way in which we deliver care to the community," Dingledine wrote in his report.

• learned that renovation work at the Celina Medical Center is well underway. Demolition has been completed and metal stud walls are being built, Dingledine noted. The project will allow Mercer Health to expand urgent care hours and is slated to be completed in spring 2026.

• learned that as an enhancement to the Patient Safety and Service Excellence committees, a Patient and Family Advisory Council has been formed. This group of community members represent diverse age groups and townships and will act as a voice for patients, according to Dingledine. They will advise on patient safety opportunities.

An orientation was held Dec. 1, and the group will meet at least quarterly to review patient comments and safety events and provide recommendations that will align with strategic goals.

• went into executive session to discuss strategic planning, personnel and peer review.

The board meets next at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the hospital.