Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital Receives $11 Million Grant from the Brentwood Foundation for Medical Education

South Pointe Hospital will receive an $11 million grant from the Brentwood Foundation over the next decade to train physicians for work in Northeast Ohio, diversify the medical profession and improve access for the community served by the hospital.

The grant honors the legacy of Roger F. Classen, D.O., who promoted osteopathic medicine at South Pointe for more than 45 years. Following previous Brentwood Foundation gifts to the hospital, this grant makes the foundation the largest donor to a Cleveland Clinic regional hospital in Northeast Ohio.

The $11 million grant includes $5 million for osteopathic education, $2 million for the Physician Diversity Scholars Program at South Pointe Hospital and $1 million to attract and retain physicians. The remaining portion of the grant will be used to endow South Pointe’s chief executive officer position and provide grants to community organizations that improve patient health.

The Brentwood Foundation grant will create positions designed to attract and retain talented and accomplished physicians and researchers by providing funding to support patient care, research and education at the hospital.

“This grant will help ensure quality faculty for years to come, said Margaret McKenzie, M.D., president of Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital. “Education is at the forefront of the work we do here, and this grant allows our leaders to be proactive in implementing infrastructure that will ensure that, long after we are gone, the focus on osteopathic medicine remains a part of the culture here.”

The strategic grantmaking fund created by this Brentwood Foundation gift will support community organizations that are finding ways to improve health, wellness, active living and nutrition. Projects may focus on increasing virtual visits to underserved communities or addressing multiple issues that challenge access to care.

Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital has also engaged with community stakeholders including local libraries, barbershops and gas stations to increase enrollment in programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. “We are focused on removing some of the social barriers to lifestyle choices that will improve the health of community members before they need to come to our hospital,” said Dr. McKenzie.

“This grant covers a lot of ground because we want to continue the Brentwood Foundation’s support of osteopathic medicine education at South Pointe Hospital, continue our support of the relationship with Cleveland Clinic, and continue our support of the regional communities,” said David H. Krahe, D.O., chair of the Brentwood Foundation Board of Trustees.