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SearchProgram features fireside chat with civil rights icon the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr.
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Today, Cleveland Clinic paid tribute to the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a virtual celebration for caregivers and community members.
Since 1992, Cleveland Clinic’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration has honored Dr. King’s enduring influence and his vision of strengthening communities through unity and service.
The event was co-hosted by Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, and Vickie Eaton Johnson, executive vice president and Chief Community Officer of Cleveland Clinic.
This year’s program emphasized the power of community collaboration in addressing social drivers of health, such as housing, food and education. The theme was inspired by Dr. King’s 1968 sermon, The Drum Major Instinct, where he said: “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
“For 34 years, this celebration has been one of our most cherished traditions. It’s a moment to reflect on the profound impact of Dr. King’s life and legacy,” said Dr. Mihaljevic. “He was a champion of human dignity advocating that every person was deserving of the opportunity to live a healthy, purposeful life. Through his example, he taught each of us about the power we hold to make a difference.”
The program featured a fireside chat with Dr. Mihaljevic and the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., a dear friend of Dr. King and pastor emeritus of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland. A nationally recognized theologian, pastor and civic leader, the Rev. Dr. Moss formed a close bond with the King family while attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. He later became a trusted advisor to Dr. King, working alongside him in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to advance nonviolent social change. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has received eight honorary doctorates, authored multiple works, advised U.S. presidents, and was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in 2007.
During the conversation, the Rev. Dr. Moss highlighted a lesser-known but deeply relevant aspect of Dr. King’s legacy – his growing focus on public health and the overall quality of life within communities.
The Rev. Dr. Moss explained: “Dr. King was speaking to this throughout his life, and especially toward the end of his life…the need for rebuilding and revitalization, the need for intentionally bringing into all of our communities, the best in education, the best in healthcare, the best in the quality of life …in housing, and in building, and in rebuilding. And toward the end of his journey, he was working on, as we know, the ‘Poor People's Campaign.’ The dynamics of that campaign may not be well known but it was a campaign that involved African Americans, the inner city, the Appalachian community, the Hispanic community, and poor communities without regard to race, color or religion.”
This year marks what would have been Dr. King’s 97th birthday. Though his life was tragically cut short at the age of 39 in 1968, his vision for using collective action to drive meaningful change in communities continues to inspire.
“As an anchor institution, we have a responsibility to uplift the communities we call home – because we cannot thrive if those around us are in need,” said Johnson. “That’s why we’ve made housing one of our key community priorities. Over the past few years, we’ve invested more than $60 million to expand access to safe quality housing for families right here in Cleveland.”
Most recently, Cleveland Clinic made the lead gift toward supporting the $28 million expansion of the Hitchcock Center for Women, which provides a comprehensive range of services to support women in addiction recovery, with a strong focus on keeping families together.
Other efforts include:
The event also included a piano rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by a Cleveland Clinic musician-in-residence.
To watch the full program, visit: clevelandclinic.org/2026mlkcelebration.
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 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
