Cleveland Clinic Names New Chair of Hillcrest Hospital’s Board of Trustees

Hiroyuki Fujita, Ph.D., has been named chair of Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital’s Board of Trustees, beginning Jan. 1. He succeeds Ronald Ross, M.D., FACR, who has chaired Hillcrest’s Board of Trustees since it was created in 2013.

Dr. Fujita is the founder and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED) headquartered in Mayfield Village, a global innovator and manufacturer of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. In October 2019, QED became a subsidiary of Canon, Inc. based in Tokyo, with Dr. Fujita serving as Chief Technology Officer of the MRI Division of Canon Medical Systems Corporation in Tochigi, Japan. Founded in 2006, QED has been recognized nationally and internationally for its phenomenal growth in U.S. and state exports, receiving the United States President’s “E” and “E Star” and the Ohio Governor’s “E” Award for Excellence in exporting. He has authored 17 patents and published more than 40 scientific papers and abstracts.

“I’m honored by the opportunity to expand my role at Hillcrest Hospital and further contribute to the Cleveland Clinic community,” Dr. Fujita said. “I have committed my life’s work to the innovation of healthcare sciences and engineering. Cleveland Clinic and Hillcrest Hospital are world leaders in healthcare innovation and patient quality, and I am humbled by this opportunity.”

Dr. Fujita currently sits on the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees for numerous local, national and international organizations, most notably, The Ohio State University (OSU), chairing its Talent, Compensation and Governance Committee; OSU Wexner Medical Center; The Cleveland Orchestra; The Cleveland Foundation, chairing its Governance Committee; U.S.-Japan Council’s Board of Councilors; Global Cleveland; Cleveland Council on World Affairs and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Dr. Fujita is also the inaugural Honorary Consul of Japan in Cleveland responsible for northeast Ohio, an adjunct full professor of physics and radiology at Case Western Reserve University, and information technology and electrical engineering at the University of Queensland.

“As an original member of the Hillcrest board since 2013 and a member of the hospital’s Quality Council, Dr. Fujita has demonstrated his commitment to the hospital, its caregivers and its patients. We are very excited about his upcoming leadership of our board,” said Edmund Sabanegh, M.D., President of Main Campus and Regional Hospitals. “Dr. Ross’ leadership will be missed. He has shown extraordinary devotion to those who seek care at Hillcrest Hospital and throughout the entire Cleveland Clinic health system. Without his invaluable commitment, Hillcrest Hospital and Cleveland Clinic would not be the healthcare leaders they are today.”

Dr. Ross has served as the chair of the Hillcrest Hospital Board of Trustees since it was created in 2013. He also served with great distinction as chair of the Cleveland Clinic East Region Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2013 and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Cleveland Clinic Ohio Regional Hospitals from 2013 through 2019. Dr. Ross has served on 60 boards, positions and committees for Hillcrest Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic enterprise during his career.

“Dr. Fujita has been an excellent trustee on the Hillcrest Hospital Board of Trustees since 2013,” Dr. Ross said. “In addition to serving on various committees including a new hospital development committee, he has supported Hillcrest’s philanthropy programs. As with his scientific, business and community interests, Dr. Fujita will excel as chairman of Hillcrest Hospital’s board and will actively participate in other Cleveland Clinic activities in his new role.”

As distinguished Fellows of Cleveland Clinic and Emeritus Trustees for Life, Dr. and Mrs. Ross’ philanthropic efforts are widely recognized. They established the Helen and Ronald Ross Community and Education Center in 1997 and Center for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Wellness in 2014 at Hillcrest Hospital, as well as Cleveland Clinic’s first endowed chair originally entitled The Ronald and Helen Ross Chair in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery in 2005 and subsequently The Ronald and Helen Ross Chair in Pediatric Cardiology in 2014. They have made significant contributions to the Edward Jack Ross Appreciation Fund established in honor of their grandson, as well as the Cosgrove Innovation Fund and the Cosgrove Transformation Campaign. Dr. Ross has been named an Emeritus Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Board of Directors, Emeritus Chair of the Hillcrest Hospital Board of Trustees and Director Emeritus of Hillcrest’s radiology department.

“Dr. Ross’ contributions to Hillcrest Hospital over the last 30 years have been significant and he will be sorely missed,” said Richard D. Parker, M.D., President of Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest and Eastern Region Hospitals. “Moving forward, I am excited to work with Dr. Fujita in his new role as he continues the excellent work of our Board.”

Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital is a full-service, 500-registered-bed hospital, featuring both adult and pediatric emergency departments and helicopter access. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and holds Magnet® Recognition for excellence in nursing. In addition to offering numerous medical specialties, Hillcrest provides comprehensive cardiac and cancer care. The hospital is a designated Baby Friendly USA® hospital with full labor and delivery services, as well as a Level III NICU. A leader in patient care, Hillcrest Hospital is ranked within the Top 5 in the Cleveland-area and in the state according to US News & World Report.

The Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital Board of Trustees is a non-fiduciary component of Cleveland Clinic’s governance structure, which is advisory to the Board of Directors in its oversight of the hospital’s operations and affairs, including responsibility for ensuring that the hospital is organized and at all times operated consistent with its charitable mission and status within an Ohio nonprofit corporation and tax-exempt charitable organization. The Board is comprised of community leaders who serve as volunteers and are not compensated for their services, and also includes two physicians who are members of Cleveland Clinic’s professional staff.