Award recognizes distinguished leaders in healthcare
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Nov. 10, 2025 – Dr. Michael Mirro, chief academic research officer for Parkview Health, was recently awarded the Indiana Hospital Association’s (IHA) Award of Merit.
This annual award from the IHA recognizes one non-CEO individual who has made noteworthy contributions to the healthcare field in Indiana. The IHA represents more than 160 Indiana hospitals and advocates for policy to support and advance healthcare in the state.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Mirro has shaped the future of healthcare not just here at Parkview but across Indiana,” said Rick Henvey, CEO, Parkview Health. “His vision and drive gave birth to the Mirro Center for Research and Innovation here at Parkview, which advances healthcare through training and simulation programs, advancing new ventures in processes and devices, or conducting research to seek answers to the open questions in care. Combined with his many years of service advancing education at Indiana University, healthcare in Indiana is better today because of Dr. Mirro.”
Dr. Mirro earned his undergraduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago and received his doctorate in medicine from the Indiana University School of Medicine. After a brief teaching and research venture in Iowa, Dr. Mirro returned to Indiana and joined Fort Wayne Cardiology in 1981 where he established an in-house infrastructure to process and manage grant and research projects, allowing the practice to conduct clinical drug and device trials. He was named chief academic research officer for Parkview in 2014.
His passion for and prolific production in research led him to pitch the idea in the early 2010s for a new facility to house Parkview’s research administration. Throughout discussions, that idea grew to become a nexus for research, innovation and education, and with a leading gift from Dr. Mirro and his wife, the eponymous Mirro Center for Research and Innovation opened in April 2015.
Dr. Mirro has also served as a longtime educator, serving as a professor with the Indiana University School of Medicine starting in 1982, a role which he still maintains to this day. He has served on numerous boards for the university and was appointed as a member of the Indiana University Board of Trustees in 2014. Dr. Mirro sat on the board of trustees through 2023, including serving as president from 2017-21.
“Dr. Mirro is a transformational leader who has devoted his life to bettering the practice of medicine, the field of cardiology and the advancement of research,” said Dr. Ray Dusman, president, physician and clinical enterprise, Parkview Health. “His lifetime of accomplishments over more than 40 years extend far beyond Parkview. He has helped guide the futures of thousands of clinicians as a teacher and educational leader. As a fellow IU alum, a longtime colleague in cardiology and a friend, I offer my sincerest congratulations to Dr. Mirro and I look forward, as always, to seeing what more he can offer our community and profession in the future.”
Dr. Mirro has served with numerous professional and community organizations, including the Fort Wayne Medical Society, Indiana State Medical Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, the American College of Cardiology, the Northeast Indiana Wellness Council, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Northeast Indiana Elevate Ventures, BioCrossroads and 16 Tech. He also served on multiple government-appointed committees, including the Indiana Controlled Substance Advisory Committee, Allen County Board of Health, Indiana Health Policy Advisory Committee, Indiana Medical Licensing Board and 21st Century Research Fund Board.
Dr. Mirro received a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest citizen honor, from Gov. Frank O’Bannon in 1999 and Gov, Eric Holcomb in 2024. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from Indiana University in 2003; was given the Distinguished Hoosier Award by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005; awarded the Physician Exemplar Award by the Fort Wayne Medical Society and the Career Achievement Award by the Indiana chapter of the American College of Cardiology in 2018; and granted the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal in 2020.
“IHA is proud to recognize Dr. Mirro for his leadership and ongoing commitment to research, education, and innovation,” said Scott B. Tittle, president, Indiana Hospital Association. “With more than 40 years of practice in the Fort Wayne area, Dr. Mirro’s incredible work has transformed northeast Indiana into a hub for academic and medical research.”
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Award of Merit 1: Dr. Michael Mirro, chief academic research officer for Parkview Health, received the Indiana Hospital Association Award of Merit in Indianapolis on Nov. 5. The award recognizes one individual each year for noteworthy contributions to healthcare in Indiana.
Award of Merit 2: Parkview nurse practitioner Shauna Wagner, left, a longtime colleague of Parkview Chief Academic Research Officer Dr. Michael Mirro, center, introduced this year’s Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) Award of Merit. They are joined by IHA President Scott B. Tittle.
Award of Merit 3: Indiana Hospital Association Award of Merit recipient Dr. Michael Mirro was joined by multiple Parkview co-workers for the award presentation in Indianapolis on Nov. 5.