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Cleveland Clinic Statement, June 3, 2020

Cleveland Clinic fully supports the City of Cleveland and applauds the efforts of Council Members Blaine Griffin and Basheer Jones in issuing an Emergency Resolution to address racial disparities in our communities. Helping others to heal is our mission and caring for the community is a priority. Our organization will actively participate in the working group established by this Resolution to promote racial equity in the City of Cleveland. There is no place for racism in our world.

According to the National Academy of Medicine, medical care is estimated to account for only 20% of a person’s health. The other 80% is known as Social Determinants of Health: life expectancy, infant mortality and maternal mortality, mental health, smoking, drug and opioid use, obesity, housing, lead poisoning, crime, literacy and other factors.

“Cleveland Clinic is committed to ending long-standing structural racism that results in health disparities,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic. “Paying attention to racism and taking action as clinicians will guide our pursuit of true equality, justice and care for our patients and community. We will consider our own role in promoting change by serving as a trusted partner to the communities we serve and giving voice to our caregivers.”