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Toby Cosgrove

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Toby Cosgrove
Born
Delos Marshall Cosgrove

1940 (age 85–86)
Watertown, New York, U.S.
EducationWilliams College (BA)
University of Virginia (MD)
OccupationsCardiothoracic surgeon, corporate executive
Years active1975-present (active surgery until 2006)
SpouseAnita (divorced)
Children2 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] He 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]

  • 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 President and CEO (2004-2017)

[edit]

In 2004, Dr Cosgrove succeeded Floyd Loop as President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. [20] Over his 13-year tenure, annual revenue grew from #3.7 billion to $8.5 billion, and annual patient visits increased from 2.8 million to 7.1 million. [21] The number of employee caregivers grew from 32,000 to 53,000. [22]

Under Cosgrove's term, the Cleveland Clinic's ares of expansion and innovation include:

  • Infrastructure and Regional Expansion: Cosgrove oversaw major capital projects on the main campus, including the 2008 opening of the Sydell and Arnold Millar Family Pavilion and Glickman Tower, which added 1 million square feet and 100 beds. [23] Regional operations expanded through the 2015 integration of Akron General, the 2016 opening of Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital, the 2017 debut of the 377,000-square-foot Taussig Cancer Center, and the opening of a 60-bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Beachwood, Ohio.[23]
  • Global Initiatives: International and out-of-state operations grew through the 2007 opening of Cleveland Clinic Canada in Toronto, the 2009 launch of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, and the 2015 opening of the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi [23][24].
  • Institute-Based Reorganization: Beginning in 2006, Cosgrove restructured the organization from traditional departments into 27 disease- and organ-system specific institutes [23]. This model integrated clinical practices, research, and education across multidisciplinary teams centered on patient conditions. [25]
  • Patient Experience and Quality Initiatives: Under the "Patients First" initiative, Cosgrove established the Office of Patient Experience and instituted compulsory empathy training for caregivers [26]. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) patient satisfaction scores reached the top 8% of domestic hospitals by 2013. [27]
  • Employee Wellness and Preventive Health: Cosgrove and his administration implemented wellness policies across the health system, including campus-wide smoking prohibitions and the removal of trans fats from dining menus[28] [29][30]. Drug screening that began with anesthesiologists in 2008 [31] grew into organization-wide screening of all employees in 2016 with the goal of a drug-free workplace. [32]
  • Philanthropy and Research Funding: At the conclusion of his tenure in 2017, Cosgrove launched the Cosgrove Transformation Campaign, securing over $50 million dedicated to research, medical education, and patient experience programs. [33]


Cosgrove was offered the position of Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by President Barack Obama in 2014, but declined.[34][35] He was interviewed for the same position by president-elect Donald Trump in December 2016.[34][35] At that time Cosgrove joined a business forum assembled by president-elect Donald Trump to provide strategic and policy advice on economic issues.[36]

Personal life

[edit]

Cosgrove was previously married to Anita, with whom he shares two adult daughters.[37] 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. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 1 2 3 "Cleveland Clinic CEO and Pres. Toby Cosgrove '62". How's You Get There?. Williams College. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ Melanie Evans (May 1, 2017). "Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove to Retire". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. 1 2 Whelan, David (Jan 9, 2013). "Five Lessons in Transparency from Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove". Forbes.
  7. 1 2 3 Philanthropy, Cleveland Clinic. "Heart and Soul". magazine.clevelandclinic.org. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
  8. ↑ Stone, Austin V.; Stubbs, Allston J. (2015-11-20). "The Cleveland Clinic Way". Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery. 2 (4) hnv068. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv068. ISSN 2054-8397. PMC 4732366.
  9. ↑ "2026 Delos M. Cosgrove: Medicine Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards". Research.com. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
  10. ↑ "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 (inactive 28 September 2026). ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2026 (link)
  11. ↑ "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 (inactive 28 September 2026). ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2026 (link)
  12. ↑ "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 (inactive 28 September 2026). ISSN 0022-5223. Archived from the original on 2024-04-14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2026 (link)
  13. ↑ Cosgrove, Delos M.; Sabik, Joseph F (1996). "Minimally Invasive Approach for Aortic Valve Operations". Ann Thorac Surg. 62 (2): 596–597. doi:10.1016/0003-4975(96)00418-3. PMID 8694646.
  14. ↑ 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. PMID 1280411. Archived from the original on 2024-04-13.
  15. ↑ "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 (inactive 28 September 2026). ISSN 0003-4975. Archived from the original on 2024-04-13.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2026 (link)
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Delos M. Cosgrove Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
  18. ↑ US6951555B1, Suresh, Mitta; Giannoble, Jill Wright & Cosgrove, Delos M., "Catheter having integral expandable/collapsible lumen", issued 2005-10-04
  19. ↑ Cosgrove, Delos M (May 26, 2004). "Apparatus and methods for occluding a hollow anatomical structure". Google Patents.
  20. ↑ Brie Zeltner, The Plain Dealer (2017-05-01). "Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove steps down: A look back at his tenure (timeline, photos)". cleveland. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  21. ↑ "Cleveland Clinic, University of Utah Health announce CEO departures | Healthcare Dive". www.healthcaredive.com. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  22. ↑ Pauer, David; O’Donnell, Michael P. (2020-01-01). "What Factors Were Most Important to the Success of the Cleveland Clinic Employee Wellness Program?". American Journal of Health Promotion. 34 (1). SAGE Publications Inc: 106–112. doi:10.1177/0890117119887857b. ISSN 0890-1171.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Cleveland Clinic History: 2000s - Expanding Our Footprint". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  24. ↑ "Cleveland Clinic History: 2010s - State-of-the-Future Healthcare". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  25. ↑ Young, James B.; Cosgrove, Delos M. (2012-05). "Commentary: Change we must: putting patients first with the institute model of academic health center organization". Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges. 87 (5): 552–554. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e31824d5960. ISSN 1938-808X. PMID 22531586. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ↑ Cosgrove, Toby (July 1, 2016). "One Question that Changed Our Organization (Video)". Cleveland Clinic | Consult QD.
  27. ↑ Merlino, James I.; Raman, Ananth (2013-05-01). "Health Care's Service Fanatics". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  28. ↑ "Sage Journals: Discover world-class research". Sage Journals. doi:10.1177/0890117119887857b. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  29. ↑ "Success in Action". Center for American Progress. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  30. ↑ Spector, Kaye (2010-07-24). "Sugar-sweetened food, beverages no longer will be sold at the Cleveland Clinic". cleveland. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  31. ↑ "Blog - The Ethics of Physician Drug Test: Why It's a Bad Idea". Bioethics Today. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  32. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/graduate-medical-education/conditions-employment-benefits-book-2023-24.pdf?la=en
  33. ↑ "Cosgrove Transformation Campaign Raises Over $50 Million for Innovation, Research, Education, Patient Experience". Cleveland Clinic Newsroom.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. 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.
  35. 1 2 Koff, Stephen (December 20, 2016). "Trump interviews Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove for VA job". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ Nisen, Max (December 25, 2012). "Big Changes Are Coming For The US Healthcare System". Business Insider. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
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