Toby Cosgrove

Toby Cosgrove, MD, is an American Vietnam War veteran, former heart surgeon, and the former CEO and current Executive Advisor of Cleveland Clinic. He is a Strategic Advisor to Care Centrix, a Senior Advisor of Innova Health Partners, and a Member of the Board of Directors of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, American Well, Hims & Hers, and View. Cosgrove began his tenure at Cleveland Clinic in 1975 and has held various positions, including chairman of its Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, since 1989. As a thoracic surgeon till 2006, he performed over 22,000 procedures during his career. He also worked for Google Cloud and currently serves as an advisor for several healthcare organizations. As an expert on health issues, he is a frequent commentator in national and international media.

As the CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic from 2004 through 2017, Cosgrove led the $8 billion organization to new heights of achievement and efficiency, seeing it ranked the #2 hospital in America (U.S. News). With his strong leadership and vision, he was able to improve outcomes and patient experience and strengthen the organization's finances. In his current role as Executive Advisor, he is working with Cleveland Clinic leadership on strategies for national and international growth. Furthermore, Cosgrove had the honor of being offered the position of Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by President Barack Obama in 2014, which he respectfully declined.

Cosgrove graduated from Williams College and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He trained at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brook General Hospital in London. In 1967, he served as a surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was also a president of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery in 2000 and is an active member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Heart Association. His medical expertise extends beyond practice, as he is also the author of the book "The Cleveland Clinic Way: Lessons in Excellence From One of the World's Leading Healthcare Organizations."

In December 2016, joining a business forum assembled by President-elect Donald Trump, Cosgrove provided strategic and policy advice on economic issues. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. In 2016, he was a Fortune Businessperson of the Year (No. 14). Three successive presidents of the United States have sought his insights on healthcare issues. Despite his dyslexia, he has made a significant impact in the field of healthcare and continues to do so.