04/01/2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Dr. Paul Zych. He died on March 28, 2026, at the age of 68. He is a graduate of the Wright State Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Class of 1984. For many of our graduates, he will be remembered as a fixture in the Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department.
To say they broke the mold after him would be an understatement. He was known for his gruff mannerisms, salty language, bushy moustache, incredible wealth of medical knowledge, and a bedside manner that made him beloved by his patients and nursing staff. He was known and loved by public safety through his work as an EMS medical director and Dayton Air Show medical director.
My personal remembrances are too numerous to count (and mostly NSFW), but I will share my experience as a clueless intern on a Good Sam night shift, during a rare quiet moment. Dr. Zych points at me, commands “Springer! Come here!” and leads me out onto the loading dock. He reaches into his white coat, pulls out a pack of Kools, lights up, and proceeds to educate me on “what the f**k emergency medicine is really all about.” My EM street smarts came from doctors like him. He will be greatly missed.
-Brian Springer
