Service Meets Success: Why Healthcare Professionals Thrive in Dayton, OH

Courtesy of Dayton Children’s Hospital

Healthcare professionals in the Greater Dayton area build rewarding careers and lives while serving the community in lasting, meaningful ways.

For clinical leaders, physicians and administrators exploring healthcare careers in Dayton, OH, the region provides an ideal blend of career development, competitive compensation and a high quality of life.

Coming Home to Serve: Culinary Medicine and Community

A self-described Gem City girl, Dayton native Dr. Rachelle Dulan-Hood grew up attending church only five minutes from where she now works as a primary care physician for Kettering Health.

“It’s really special that people who literally prayed for me through this journey now allow me to take care of them,” Dulan-Hood says.

She practices medicine on the Kettering Health Dayton campus and at a second location on South Gettysburg Avenue through a partnership with Homefull, a nonprofit organization addressing housing and food insecurity.

“My primary care office at Homefull is attached to a grocery store, and one thing I focus on is culinary medicine,” she says, emphasizing healthy eating to help patients manage conditions like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. “It’s nice that we can talk about those things and then walk next door to the grocery store and do a little shopping.”

Dulan-Hood’s love of cooking and healthy eating carries beyond her work. “I enjoy cooking, and also tasting food,” she says. “Second Street Market is one of my favorite places because it has so many different restaurants in one place.”

She also serves on the board of Miami Valley Meals, a local non-profit that turns donated food into healthy meals distributed through community partners. Her artistic side appreciates the area’s art galleries, like the Bing Davis Art Studio and the Front Street Building art district.

“You get out of this community what you put into it,” Dulan-Hood says. “Our city is filled with really beautiful, heartfelt people. And if you pour into it, it really does the same right back for you.”

Premier Health

Connecting to the Community: Leading at Scale

Zakiya Robinson, director of operations for primary care at Premier Physician Network, also values the sense of connection and impact she gains from living and working in Dayton.

“Professionally, the region offers opportunities to lead at scale while still seeing the tangible results of our work,” Robinson says. “Personally, Dayton provides a strong sense of community, accessibility and balance that supports both career growth and family life.”

Robinson has been with Premier Health for 16 years, providing operational leadership for 11 primary care practices across the west-central portion of the Greater Dayton region. She began her career as an administrative fellow, a program designed to accelerate leadership development that allowed her to progress through increasingly complex roles within the system.

“The organization’s commitment to developing internal talent has allowed me to broaden my impact while remaining closely connected to the community we serve,” she says.

In the community, Robinson serves organizations focusing on health, well-being, youth engagement and professional development.

“I am intentional about balancing these commitments while prioritizing family, including supporting my daughter’s academic and athletic activities,” she says. “I enjoy spending quality time with my daughter, including our tradition of Sunday brunch after church.”

Among their favorite locally owned restaurants are Salar Restaurant and Lounge, Manna and Lily’s Dayton. They also enjoy the region’s vibrant festivals and cultural events.

“Dayton is an excellent place for healthcare professionals seeking both professional opportunities and quality of life,” she says.

Courtesy of Dayton Children’s Hospital

Creating Lasting Change: Specialized Pediatric Care

As an attending neurologist at Dayton Children’s Hospital, Dr. Grant Turek regularly sees patients in clinic and hospital settings and works closely with diagnostic technicians to provide comprehensive patient care. He also teaches medical students and residents, delivers community lectures and helps spread awareness of his specialty.

“Dayton Children’s puts a lot of emphasis on creating an environment that is nurturing to physicians and their skills, encouraging them to succeed and improve,” he says. “I can see lasting change – that I have influenced – implemented in our clinics and even institution-wide. I know that I am not only helping care for my patients, but I’m helping other providers care for theirs.”

Turek, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, says he likes the great access to shops, restaurants, shows and museums.

Courtesy of Dayton Children’s Hospital

“My kids are exposed to great teachers in their schools, and on their competitive sports teams, they have coaches who have national or even international recognition,” Turek says. “The cost of living is affordable. There are great schools, both public and private. Be sure to take advantage of the expansive green spaces and hiking trails. Friendships and hobbies are easy to explore with the multitude of activities around the Greater Dayton area.”