February 3, 2026
Key takeaways
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, in collaboration with Bon Secours Mercy Health – Lima, has announced the leadership team for its Community Medicine MD Track, which aims to train physicians for rural and smaller communities.
- Key leadership roles include Alan Harzman, MD, as assistant dean overseeing curriculum and student life; Emily Barbee, MD, as academic program director leading curriculum development and management in Lima; and Bryce Ringwald, MD, as associate academic program director supporting curriculum administration.
- Launched in 2024, the program addresses physician shortages in smaller communities, with students spending their first two years in Columbus and the last two years completing clinical training at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima and other regional hospitals.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Medicine announces the leadership team for the Community Medicine MD Track (CMT), a collaboration with Bon Secours Mercy Health – Lima to train physicians who want to practice medicine in rural and smaller communities.
“As we train the future physician workforce, these leadership appointments will help shape the strategic growth and direction of the Community Medicine MD Track,” said Jennifer McCallister, MD, associate dean of medical education and clinical professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Ohio State College of Medicine. “These physician leaders will work closely with Ohio State, Mercy Health and regional leaders to enhance medical education, support interdisciplinary learning and continued teaching innovation.”
The CMT leadership team members are:
Assistant dean
Alan Harzman, MD, clinical professor of surgery at Ohio State College of Medicine, is the assistant dean. In this role, Harzman is responsible for shaping the educational experience for medical students in the community medicine program. He oversees curriculum and evaluation, faculty teaching activities and student life.
Academic program director
Emily Barbee, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center, is the academic program director. Barbee leads the development and management of Ohio State’s innovative Lead.Serve.Inspire curriculum in Lima for CMT students.
Associate academic program director
Bryce Ringwald, MD, a primary care physician at Mercy Health, is the associate academic program director. Ringwald assists Barbee with the administration and management of the curriculum, including design, implementation and evaluation.
Launched in 2024, the Community Medicine MD Track is designed to address the growing shortage of physicians practicing in smaller communities in Ohio and throughout the country. Medical students complete the first two years of training at The Ohio State University in Columbus and complete the remaining two years of core clinical training at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima and other hospitals in the region.
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