Rep. Fudge Pays Tribute to Dr. Toby Cosgrove

Описание: Remarks as prepared for delivery in honor of Dr. Toby Cosgrove
January 17, 2018

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Toby Cosgrove, an innovative leader and the recently retired president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic Hospital System. I am fortunate to know Dr. Cosgrove personally and privileged to call him friend.

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. That was certainly true of Toby Cosgrove. Toby was an accomplished sailor in his youth. That was his path until he saw a photo of a neighbor in the operating room. That photo inspired Dr. Cosgrove to become a surgeon. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

After medical school, Dr. Cosgrove served our nation in Vietnam as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded a Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal for his service during the war. Dr. Cosgrove joined the Cleveland Clinic staff in 1976.
Dr. Cosgrove was a world renowned heart surgeon for nearly 30 years. He performed more than 22,000 operations and pioneered the first minimally invasive heart valve surgery. Throughout his remarkable career, he acquired 31 registered patents.

Dr. Cosgrove took the helm of Cleveland Clinic in 2004 and made the health of Clinic employees a priority. Some of his wellness initiatives included: implementing a smoking ban on all campuses, ensuring healthier food options in cafeterias, and opening weekly farmer markets.

During his tenure, Dr. Cosgrove focused on enhancing patient outcomes and a better patient experience. Dr. Cosgrove is credited with instilling a vision and culture that has led to the Cleveland Clinic being described as a “role model of health care delivery.” He coined the phrase “Patients First” and made headlines by hiring America’s first Chief Experience Officer to ensure caregivers were meeting the medical, physical, and emotional needs of patients.

Dr. Cosgrove led the expansion of Cleveland Clinic’s footprint to over 100 locations in Northeast Ohio, including 10 regional hospitals and 21 family health centers. Under his leadership, the Cleveland Clinic has become Ohio’s largest employer. Total visits increased to 7.1 million, and research funding grew to $260 million. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes facilities in Florida, Nevada, Canada, Abu Dhabi, and a new London facility scheduled to open in 2020.

Dr. Cosgrove stepped down at the end of 2017. In tribute, the Cleveland Clinic community came together to raise over $50 million for The Cosgrove Transformation Campaign to honor his career and legacy. The Cosgrove Transformation Campaign will help ensure Cleveland Clinic remains a world leader in innovation, research, education, and improving the patient experience.

On behalf of the people of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, I thank Dr. Cosgrove for his years of innovative leadership at Cleveland Clinic and his commitment to improving the health and wellness of those we serve. There is no question that Dr. Cosgrove’s impact will continue to be felt for decades to come.

I yield back the balance of my time."