2025 Free Clinic Physician of the Year
The Charitable Healthcare Network is proud to recognize Diana Pi, MD, as the 2025 Free Clinic Physician of the Year, celebrating her dedication to compassionate care, mentorship, and expanding access for underserved patients at Lorain County Free Clinic.
Dr. Pi’s career reflects both a lifelong commitment to medicine and a deep belief in equitable care. Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States from the age of fourteen, she completed her undergraduate studies at MIT and earned her medical degree from Dartmouth College before pursuing an internal medicine residency at NYU/Bellevue Hospital. Her career began at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where she spent 19 years as a clinician and educator, serving patients who often faced barriers to care.
After nearly two decades of practice, Dr. Pi made the difficult decision to pause her career to recover from professional burnout—a turning point that ultimately reconnected her with the core of her vocation. Seeking the space to practice medicine with intention and empathy, she joined the Lorain County Free Clinic in 2013.
Founded in 1986 through partnerships with civic leaders, faith communities, and local healthcare providers, the Lorain County Free Clinic has long served as a safety net for residents without insurance. The clinic provides primary and preventive care, chronic disease management, prescription assistance, and health education to those who might otherwise go without essential services.
At the clinic, Dr. Pi quickly became known for her attentive, patient-centered approach. She structures her clinic days based on the complexity of her patients’ needs, allowing time for listening and meaningful connection. Her care extends well beyond the exam room—providing follow-up calls, telehealth check-ins, and even home visits for those facing significant challenges. Patients leave their appointments not only with prescriptions or referrals, but with the assurance that someone genuinely cares.
In addition to clinical care, Dr. Pi dedicates time to mentoring and outreach. She leads workshops on physician burnout and represents the clinic at community health events, sharing insights from her experience in both academic and free clinic settings. Her colleagues describe her as a steady, empathetic leader whose example fosters purpose and resilience among peers and trainees alike.
Dr. Pi truly captures what Free Clinic Appreciation Month is all about. She shows how volunteer doctors keep care within reach for everyone while treating every patient with dignity and respect. Her journey is one of renewal and a reminder that, at its heart, medicine is all about human connection.
The Charitable Healthcare Network will honor Dr. Diana Pi and this year’s Free Clinic Appreciation Award recipients at the Free Clinic Appreciation Awards Reception on April 29, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
For event details, visit: https://www.charitablehealthcarenetwork.org/who-we-are/what-we-do/free-clinic-appreciation-month.html
