DR. ELIZABETH HAYFORD

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Hayford grew up in a small central Ohio town dreaming of becoming a doctor like her father, family physician Dr. Bill Elder. Dr. Elder’s practice was in their house until Dr. Hayford was in the second grade, and then it was relocated about three minutes across town. Even with the move, Dr. Hayford was involved in her father’s office throughout high school and beyond. Within two weeks of graduating high school as co-valedictorian and senior class president, she began her journey to become a physician at Youngstown State University. She completed the BS/MD program through NEOMED, formerly NEOUCOM (Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine), where four years of college is condensed into two years. She went back and forth between family medicine and psychiatry, ultimately deciding on family medicine. She loves families and seeing each family member.

Although Dr. Hayford loves Ohio, she opted to complete her family medicine residency in Anderson, S.C. She accepted her residency out-of-state to experience life in another part of the country. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Hayford moved back to Northeast Ohio and practiced in Alliance for a couple of years. Her favorite patients to see were those with mental illness. After learning that it can take three- to four-months to receive a psychiatric evaluation, Dr. Hayford decided to return to residency to pursue psychiatry. As she and her husband Joe had two small children at the time, she wanted to stay local. She applied to the NEOMED Adult Psychiatry Residency Program, which is shared between Akron General Medical Center and Summa Health Systems, and was accepted. Upon finishing this program, Dr. Hayford was admitted into the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program at Akron Children’s Hospital. She is currently board certified in family medicine, adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Hayford joined the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health family in July 2017 as medical director. She has enjoyed watching the MSU (medical service unit) Department evolve and grow by leaps and bounds, including the addition of four APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse). She has been blessed by the experience of Meredith Skotschir, RN, and Laura Sandy, department coordinator. Dr. Hayford also feels fortunate to work with dedicated therapists, case managers and support staff as we all strive to help the children, teens and families of the Stark County area.

When she is not working, she delights in spending time with Joe, who is a computer guy, and their three daughters, Kay, Rene and Josie. In her spare time, she enjoys family and friends and participates in Bible Study Fellowship and volunteers at church.

Fun Facts about Liz:

Favorite ice cream: Superman

Favorite children's book: The Giving Tree

Hobbies: Being outside, traveling (including People to People, going to China and going on mission trips to Papua New Guinea and Peru) and trying to get back into jogging and reading for fun.