January 14, 2022 / News Releases

Four Health Systems Collaborate to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and University Hospitals work together to present virtual program to honor civil rights leader

Media Contact

Jenna Homrock 216.386.9628

Working collaboratively, four of Cleveland’s health systems presented “2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration – Building Community Together,” a prerecorded program that was broadcast on Friday, Jan. 14.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who was recently sworn in as the city’s 58th mayor, was the featured speaker in the 40-minute program.

WKYC lead anchor Russ Mitchell moderated a CEO panel discussion with Akram Boutros, M.D., FACHE, President and CEO, The MetroHealth System; Cliff A. Megerian, M.D., FACS, CEO, University Hospitals Health System; Tomislav Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President, Cleveland Clinic; and Janice G. Murphy, MSN, FACHE, President and CEO, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.

Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others’?” Panel members discussed how Dr. King’s words from almost 60 years ago resonate today, and how we can work together to build a healthier community.

From time to time through the years, the Cleveland health systems have collaborated on various projects and initiatives. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, working together has been critical to address a myriad of issues facing patients and the community. Partnering to present a tribute to Dr. King is an extension of those relationships and the commitment to working together for the betterment of the community at large. 

The program also featured musical performances, an invocation and prayer, and an interfaith video.

To watch the program, visit ccf.org/2022mlkcelebration.

Media Contacts:

Cleveland Clinic: Jenna Homrock, homrocj2@ccf.org

The MetroHealth System: Joseph Frolik, jfrolik@metrohealth.org

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center: Maureen Nagg, Maureen.Nagg@Stvincentcharity.com

University Hospitals: George Stamatis, george.stamatis@uhhospitals.org

 

About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 70,800 employees worldwide are more than 4,660 salaried physicians and researchers, and 18,500 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 19 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2020, there were 8.7 million total outpatient visits, 273,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 217,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.

About The MetroHealth System
The MetroHealth System is redefining health care by going beyond medical treatment to improve the foundations of community health and well-being: affordable housing, a cleaner environment, economic opportunity and access to fresh food, convenient transportation, legal help and other services. The system strives to become as good at preventing disease as it is at treating it. The system’s more than 600 doctors, 1,700 nurses and 7,800 employees go to work each day with a mission of service, to their patients and to the community. As Cuyahoga County’s safety-net health system, MetroHealth plays an essential role in the region, caring for anyone and everyone, regardless of an ability to pay. Founded in 1837, MetroHealth operates four hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers throughout Cuyahoga County. The system serves more than 300,000 patients, two-thirds of whom are uninsured or covered by Medicare or Medicaid. MetroHealth is home to Cuyahoga County’s most experienced Level I Adult Trauma Center, verified since 1992, and Ohio’s only adult and pediatric trauma and burn center.

As an academic medical center, MetroHealth is committed to research and to teaching and training tomorrow’s caregivers. Each active staff physician holds a faculty appointment at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Its main campus hospital houses the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Lincoln-West School of Science & Health, the only high school in America located inside a hospital. Knowing that good health is about much more than good medical care, MetroHealth has launched the Institute for H.O.P.E.™ (Health, Opportunity, Partnership, Empowerment), which uses a coordinated, collaborative and strategic approach to help patients with non-medical needs such as healthy food, stable housing and job training. The MetroHealth Glick Center, a new 11-floor hospital, is under construction on the system’s main campus in Cleveland and is scheduled to welcome its first patients in October 2022. The billion-dollar project is the cornerstone of a wider neighborhood revitalization effort led by the system and its partners in the community. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.

About St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Cleveland’s first and only downtown hospital, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is the city’s faith-based, high-quality health care provider. Our distinguished doctors and caregivers are devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. Home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute and the Center for Bariatric Surgery, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has complete services in cardiovascular, emergency medicine, primary care, occupational health, behavioral health and addiction medicine. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has provided Care Beyond Medicine since 1865.

About University Hospitals
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 23 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Oxford University and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org.