Toby Cosgrove
Toby Cosgrove | |
|---|---|
| Born | Delos Marshall Cosgrove 1940 (age 85–86) Watertown, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Williams College (BA) University of Virginia (MD) |
| Occupations | Cardiothoracic surgeon, corporate executive |
| Years active | 1975-present (active surgery until 2006) |
| Spouse | Anita (divorced) |
| Children | 2 adult daughters |
Delos Marshall "Toby" Cosgrove (born 1940) is an American cardiothoracic surgeon, corporate executive, and a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He served as the president and chief executive of the Cleveland Clinic from 2004 until 2017. He is a pioneer in heart valve reconstruction and an inventor holding 31 patents for devices for improving cardiac outcomes[1].
Early life
[edit]Toby Cosgrove was born in 1940[2] in Watertown, New York and graduated from Williams College,[3] where he majored in history.[4] He received an MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.[3] He was an intern at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Boston Children’s Hospital, and Brook General Hospital in London, U.K.[3]
Military Service
[edit]During the Vietnam War, Cosgrove served as a surgeon in the United States Air Force in Da Nang, Vietnam[2][3] as the chief of the US Air Force Casualty Staging Flight [2]. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.[3] and the Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal for medical services given to Vietnamese Civilians. [2]
Surgical Career, Innovations, and Patents
[edit]Dr. Cosgrove joined the Cleveland Clinic in 1975 [4] From 1989 to 2004, he served as the Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery [3][5]. Under his 15-year leadership as chairman, he pioneered transparent clinical metrics, advanced minimally invasive surgical programs, and increased its operational capacity[6][7][8].
While leading the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cosgrove initiated public reporting for procedural volumes, morbidity statistics, and mortality metrics beginning in the mid-1990s [6][7].
During his active surgical career, Cosgrove performed over 22,000 surgical procedures [1]
- Valve Repair Specialization: Cosgrove improved techniques in heart valve repair, particularly mitral valve reconstruction, and preserving native heart structures rather than replacing them whenever possible [1] [7]
- Academic Contributions and Publications: Cosgrove is an author of over 414 peer-reviewed publications[9], publishing extensively in core surgical literature, including The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (JTCVS)[10] [11][12]and The Annals of Thoracic Surgery [13][14][15]..
- Patent Portfolio and Areas of Innovation: Cosgrove holds 31 patents.[1] [16] His innovations include:
- Minimally Invasive Surgical Devices: Specialized clamps, tissue retraction mechanisms, and low-profile instruments designed to minimize surgical trauma [1][17]
- Valvular Repair and Annuloplasty: Advanced heart valve holders, suture-guiding templates, and flexible annuloplasty rings engineered to prevent suture looping and support native valve reconstruction [1][17]
- Perfusion and Cannulation Systems: Specialized venous return cannulae with enhanced drainage features, low-velocity aortic infusion components, and low-prime cardiopulmonary bypass circuits utilizing vacuum-assisted venous drainage [1][17][18]
- Tissue Occlusion and Ablation Systems: Clamping devices and delivery templates designed to securely occlude structures like the left atria appendage with tissue-engaging surfaces that promote healing and cellular ingrowth [1][17][19]
Cleveland Clinic (2004-2017)
[edit]In 2004, Cosgrove was named President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic following Floyd Loop.[20]
Cosgrove has served as the president of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery in 2000.[3] He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Heart Association.[3] He also became a member of the Institute of Medicine in 2013.[3]
Cosgrove was offered the position of Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by President Barack Obama in 2014, but he turned it down.[21][22] He was interviewed for the same position by president-elect Donald Trump in December 2016.[21][22]
In December 2016, Cosgrove joined a business forum assembled by president-elect Donald Trump to provide strategic and policy advice on economic issues.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Cosgrove was previously married to Anita, with whom he shares two adult daughters.[24] He is dyslexic.[4]
Works
[edit]- Cosgrove, Toby (2014). The Cleveland Clinic Way: Lessons in Excellence From One of the World's Leading Healthcare Organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9780071827249. OCLC 862041447.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tenacity, a 'Prepared Mind' and Other Secrets of a Surgical Innovator". Cleveland Clinic ConsultQD. December 14, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Fann, James I.; Moon, Marc R. (2016). "Historical perspectives of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery: Delos M. Cosgrove, MD (1940-)". The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 152 (6): 1471–1474. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.08.006. PMID 27597749.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D." The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. Yale University. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Cleveland Clinic CEO and Pres. Toby Cosgrove '62". How's You Get There?. Williams College. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- ↑ Melanie Evans (May 1, 2017). "Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove to Retire". The Wall Street Journal.
- 1 2 Whelan, David (Jan 9, 2013). "Five Lessons in Transparency from Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove". Forbes.
- 1 2 3 Philanthropy, Cleveland Clinic. "Heart and Soul". magazine.clevelandclinic.org. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ Stone, Austin V.; Stubbs, Allston J. (2015-11-20). "The Cleveland Clinic Way". Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery: hnv068. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv068. ISSN 2054-8397. PMC 4732366.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link) - ↑ "2026 Delos M. Cosgrove: Medicine Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards". Research.com. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Recurrent mitral regurgitation after annuloplasty for functional ischemic mitral regurgitation". The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 128 (6). 2004-12-01. doi:10.1016/j.jtcv. ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19.
- ↑ "Tricuspid valve repair: durability and risk factors for failure". The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 127 (3). 2004-03-01. doi:10.1016/j.jtcv. ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18.
- ↑ "Survival after valve replacement for aortic stenosis: Implications for decision making". The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 135 (6). 2008-06-01. doi:10.1016/j.jtcv. ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-14.
- ↑ Cosgrove, Delos M.; Sabik, Joseph F (1996). "Minimally Invasive Approach for Aortic Valve Operations". Ann Thorac Surg. 62: 596–597.
- ↑ Cosgrove, Delos M.; Heric, Blaine; Lytle, Bruce W.; Taylor, Paul C.; Novoa, Roberto; Golding, Leonard A.R.; Stewart, Robert W.; McCarthy, Patrick M.; Loop, Floyd D. (December 1992). "Aprotinin therapy for reoperative myocardial revascularization: A placebo-controlled study". The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 54 (6): 1031–1038. doi:10.1016/0003-4975(92)90066-D. ISSN 0003-4975. Archived from the original on 2024-04-13.
- ↑ "Comparison of Saphenous Vein and Internal Thoracic Artery Graft Patency by Coronary System". The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 79 (2). 2005-02-01. doi:10.1016/j.athorac. ISSN 0003-4975. Archived from the original on 2024-04-13.
- ↑ "Toby Cosgrove, M.D., Announces His Decision to Transition from President, CEO Role". Cleveland Clinic. Archived from the original on 2026-04-13. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 4 "Delos M. Cosgrove Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ US6951555B1, Suresh, Mitta; Giannoble, Jill Wright & Cosgrove, Delos M., "Catheter having integral expandable/collapsible lumen", issued 2005-10-04
- ↑ Cosgrove, Delos M (May 26, 2004). "Apparatus and methods for occluding a hollow anatomical structure". Google Patents.
- ↑ "Honoring Delos…". The American Association for Thoracic Surgery | AATS. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 Jacobs, Jennifer; Pettypiece, Shannon (December 20, 2016). "Trump VA Contenders Said to Include Cleveland Clinic's Cosgrove". Bloomberg Politics. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- 1 2 Koff, Stephen (December 20, 2016). "Trump interviews Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove for VA job". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- ↑ Bryan, Bob (2 Dec 2016). "Trump is forming an economic advisory team with the CEOs of Disney, General Motors, JPMorgan, and more". Business Insider. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ↑ Nisen, Max (December 25, 2012). "Big Changes Are Coming For The US Healthcare System". Business Insider. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- 1940 births
- Living people
- American chief executives in the health care industry
- United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
- American cardiac surgeons
- Cleveland Clinic people
- People with dyslexia
- Medical doctors with disabilities
- University of Virginia School of Medicine alumni
- United States Air Force officers
- Williams College alumni
- Members of the National Academy of Medicine
- Presidents of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery