Cleveland Clinic and Heritage College, Cleveland share the belief that the best way to provide quality care to all patients is to have a healthcare team that can understand specific patient needs. We believe that mutual understanding can result in the best patient outcomes.
While the population of Northeast Ohio has continuously become more diverse in many ways, this growing diversity and what it requires to thrive are often overlooked. As an internationally recognized nonprofit provider of healthcare services, Cleveland Clinic is aware that our workforce must reflect the communities we serve if we are to effectively address healthcare disparities and improve outcomes in those communities.
Awareness of this issue prompted deeper investigation into our diverse patient base and the socioeconomic backgrounds of the physicians providing care. As a result, we seek to broaden the representation of our healthcare team to reflect our communities. One area of focus and growth is recruiting healthcare providers who have experienced the socioeconomic, educational and other disadvantages faced by many of our patients.
To address this significant need, Cleveland Clinic and Heritage College, Cleveland together support students who have experienced socioeconomic, educational or other disadvantage through their medical school journey and work with them to promote inclusion and higher standards within healthcare settings.
Celebrating and enhancing supportive healthcare relationships begin with fostering a new wave of physicians to fill the gap in understanding and trust. This can enhance appropriate access and the overall quality of care for a wider, more inclusive population of patients. This program will provide the incentives and support necessary for participants to thrive in the healthcare field. As a result, our healthcare communities at large will reap the benefits of a more inclusive physician population.
Program Structure
The Scholars Program is an integral and innovative component of Cleveland Clinic’s medical education efforts. It reflects a collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and Heritage College, Cleveland, aimed at providing favorable opportunities and enriched learning experiences for medical students who have experienced socioeconomic, educational or other disadvantages.
Meet the Steering Committee
Cleveland Clinic
Margaret McKenzie, MD, MS
OB/GYN & Women’s Health Institute, Center for Specialized Women’s Health
Executive Sponsor, Cleveland Clinic Physician Diversity Scholars Program
President, South Pointe Hospital
Shelly-Anne Rodriguez, MD
Anesthesia Institute, Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology
Chair, Cleveland Clinic Physician Diversity Scholars Program Steering Committee
Physician Director, Cleveland Clinic Physician Diversity Scholars Program
Allan Chiunda, MD, PhD, MPH
Imaging Institute, Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology
Director, Clinical Effectiveness, Initiatives & Innovations, South Pointe Hospital
Troy Woodard, MD
Head & Neck Institute, Department of Rhinology, Skull Base & Sinus Surgery
Surgical Director, Beachwood Ambulatory Surgical Center
Ohio University Heritage College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Isaac Kirstein, DO, FACOI Dean, Cleveland
Terra Ndubuizu, MBA Senior Director, Campus Administration
Tanisha King, PhD Chief Inclusion Officer
Shannon Josie, MEd Assistant Director, Office of Inclusion