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Cleveland Clinic announced the appointment of Vickie Eaton Johnson as the global health system’s inaugural Chief Community Officer, effective today.
Johnson joined Cleveland Clinic in 2014 as senior director of Government and Community Relations. In that role, she facilitated the development of a five-year community health strategic plan and coordinated community conversations with Cleveland Clinic’s CEO in neighborhoods surrounding the system’s main campus.
“Vickie has been at the forefront of several major Cleveland Clinic community initiatives, such as attracting Meijer, a regional grocery store operator, to the Fairfax neighborhood, which has long been considered a food desert,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., Cleveland Clinic CEO and President, and holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair.
“The work Vickie has done and will continue on a broader scale shows our commitment to the communities we serve in Northeast Ohio and our other locations across the globe,” Mihaljevic said. “Vickie is the right person to develop and implement an overarching strategy that can be tailored to local neighborhoods to bring about meaningful change for our patients wherever they live.”
In addition to northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic has locations in southeast Florida, Las Vegas, Toronto, London and Abu Dhabi.
As Chief Community Officer, Johnson will be a member of the executive team and lead community strategy for the entire organization, including the development of collaborative relationships with community partners, healthcare professionals, government agencies and elected officials.
“I am incredibly honored to serve Cleveland Clinic in this new role, and I look forward to expanding the support we offer to each of the communities we touch,” said Johnson. “With the support of our community partners and leaders, we can work together to bring meaningful change that will result in a healthier community for all.”
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic, Johnson was executive director of the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. from 1997-2014. She also served in the City of Cleveland’s Department of Community Development.
Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin has collaborated with Johnson at Cleveland Clinic and at the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. “Vickie and I have worked together on several community projects through the years, and I am pleased with what we’ve been able to accomplish by sharing the same goals. With that foundation and her personal passion for serving others, I know Vickie will have a tremendous impact in her broader role.”
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Baldwin Wallace College, and a master’s degree in public administration from Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in urban studies and public affairs, also from Cleveland State. She expects to complete that degree later this year.
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. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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