Medical society presents awards

Nine doctors were
recognized for completing 50 years of practicing
medicine.

YOUNGSTOWN — Drs. Richard Memo and Robert Ricchiuti, the sons of Italian immigrant parents, were named 2007 Distinguished Physicians by the Mahoning County Medical Society.

They were recognized at the society’s annual meeting in January, along with nine members of the Mahoning County Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Association who have completed 50 years in the practice of medicine.

Drs. Memo and Ricchiuti received their awards from their sons, Drs. Mark Memo and Vincent Ricchiuti, respectively. They are the only dual recipients of the Distinguished Physician Award since its inception in 1978.

Both honorees noted the similarities in their backgrounds, education and medical careers.

Dr. Memo was born in New Castle, Pa., while Dr. Ricchiuti was born in Youngstown. They attended the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., and both chose urology as their medical specialty. Dr. Memo said that he was encouraged to do so by Dr. Ricchiuti when they had occasion to meet in Oklahoma while Dr. Memo was working with the U.S. Public Health Service at the Claremore Indian Reservation, and Dr. Ricchiuti was completing his urological residency at the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Ricchiuti returned to the Youngstown area in 1974 and joined the late Dr. Reed Hoffmaster in his urological practice. Dr. Memo joined the practice in 1978, and they have been partners ever since.

In 2002 Dr. Vincent Ricchiuti joined the practice, now known as N.E.O. Urology. Dr. Daniel Ricchiuti came aboard in 2006, and Dr. Mark Memo joined them in 2007.

Dr. Robert Ricchiuti, formerly known as Dr. Robert Rich, took back his ancestral name in 1995. He and his wife, Phyllis, founded the Anthony and Paula Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University in memory of their son and daughter-in-law who perished in an airplane crash. In addition to their sons Vincent and Daniel, they have a daughter, Julie, who resides in Akron.

Dr. Memo has been active in the Mahoning County Medical Society, serving as president in 1985, as well as with the Ohio Urologic Society, of which he is also a past president, and the American Urologic Association. He and his wife, Rosemary, have four children: Michael, Dr. Mark, Daniel and Susie.

The nine members of the Mahoning County Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Association recognized for completing 50 years in the practice of medicine all graduated from medical school in 1957 and practiced medicine in the Mahoning Valley until their retirements. Many still live in the Youngstown area.

The 50-Years-in-Medicine award, given annually by the Ohio State Medical Association and presented this year by Dr. Marc Saunders, went to: Drs. William J. Cleary, Robert J. Hritzo, Frank J. Kocab, Dong S. Lee, Milton J. Lenhart, Vincent D. Lepore, William T. Martin, Juan A. Ruiz and Elias T. Saadi.

alcorn@vindy.com