Northeast Ohio's Health Care Systems Receive Top Civic Award

BEACHWOOD, OH — Medical staff from Northeast Ohio's three major hospital systems — the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System and University Hospitals — were named recipients of the Charles Eisenman Award.

The award, given by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, recognizes outstanding contributions to the Greater Cleveland community. The three health care systems will be honored Wednesday during the federation's 117th Annual Meeting.

Federation leaders said all three health care systems helped Northeast Ohio navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, eagerly collaborating with anyone who asked for help.

“We called on Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals to help educate our community,” said J. David Heller, Jewish Federation of Cleveland board chair. “We knew we were calling them amid sleepless nights, but every time we called on these three institutions, they said ‘Here I am. How can I help? What can I do?’”

“They didn’t see their responsibility and their job to the community as stopping at the real estate door where their institutions are located,” added Gary L. Gross, Federation’s Coronavirus Response Distribution and Oversight Committee chair. “Words cannot properly express our appreciation for what the hospital systems have done during the pandemic.”