Cleveland’s Moment: Building a Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem That Thrives on Collaboration
Healthcare innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s built at the intersection of medicine, entrepreneurship, education, and collaboration—where people from different worlds come together to tackle the challenges that no one can solve alone.
In many ways, Cleveland has all the right ingredients to become a national leader in healthcare innovation. The city is home to world-class hospitals, top-tier research institutions, and a growing community of entrepreneurs. But what’s missing isn’t ambition—it’s connection.
The future of healthcare innovation in Cleveland won’t just depend on groundbreaking technology or new research breakthroughs. It will depend on how well we connect the incredible talent that already exists here: physicians, entrepreneurs, educators, and institutions working together toward a shared vision.
I’ve been fortunate to experience this from multiple perspectives—as a partner at Encore Venture Labs, a physician at University Hospitals, and an educator at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Across these roles, I’ve seen both the potential for transformation and the barriers holding it back. The question now isn’t whether Cleveland can lead the next wave of healthcare innovation—it’s how we get there together.
The Power of Connection in Healthcare Innovation
Cleveland’s healthcare ecosystem is filled with bright minds and bold ideas, but too often, the people behind those ideas are working in silos. Entrepreneurs developing med-tech, biotech, and digital health solutions frequently struggle to access the clinical expertise needed to refine and validate their innovations.
At the same time, physicians and healthcare institutions face their own challenges. Many healthcare professionals want to contribute to meaningful innovation, but there are few formal pathways that allow them to collaborate with startups without disrupting their clinical responsibilities.
This disconnect isn’t just inefficient—it’s a missed opportunity.
Through Encore Venture Labs, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when we break down these barriers. When founders, healthcare professionals, and institutional leaders come together, the result is more than just business growth—it’s real, measurable progress in patient care, operational efficiency, and systemic change.
Physicians as Innovators: Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders
Physicians have a front-row seat to the challenges that need solving in healthcare. Every day, they encounter inefficiencies, outdated systems, and patient care gaps that could be addressed through innovation. Yet, traditional medical education rarely prepares them to engage with the business or entrepreneurial side of the healthcare system.
That’s why I’ve been working with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine to develop a Business of Medicine course—an initiative aimed at giving physicians the tools they need to take an active role in driving healthcare innovation. This course will explore topics such as healthcare economics, physician entrepreneurship, and career development.
The goal isn’t to turn physicians into entrepreneurs overnight but to help them recognize their ability to drive systemic change—whether that’s by partnering with innovators, launching their own ventures, or leading transformative initiatives from within their own institutions.
Cleveland’s Opportunity to Lead the Future of Healthcare Innovation
Cleveland has always been a city defined by resilience and reinvention. From its industrial roots to its thriving arts scene, the city has consistently adapted to new challenges—and now, it has the opportunity to do the same in healthcare innovation.
The potential is already here: institutions like University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic are at the forefront of patient care and research; organizations such as Jumpstart, Project Medtech, and Health Tech Corridor are fostering meaningful collaborations between entrepreneurs and healthcare experts; and academic leaders at Case Western Reserve University are preparing the next generation of physician-innovators.
The missing piece isn’t talent or ambition—it’s connection. The next step is creating an environment where collaboration becomes the foundation of Cleveland’s healthcare innovation ecosystem, enabling ideas to evolve into real-world solutions that improve patient care, streamline systems, and drive meaningful change.
The future of healthcare won’t be shaped by individuals working in isolation—it will be built by communities sharing ideas, resources, and expertise. Cleveland has the opportunity to lead this movement by fostering partnerships between its greatest assets: entrepreneurs, physicians, educators, and institutions.
The foundation is already here. The question isn’t whether Cleveland can lead the future of healthcare innovation—it’s how far the community can go when it works together.
