Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon and one of the most influential healthcare leaders of recent decades, serving as former President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic from 2004 to 2017. Under his leadership, the Cleveland Clinic grew into an integrated health system with over $8 billion in revenue, expanding across the United States, Canada, the Middle East, and soon Europe, consistently ranked among the world's top hospitals for cardiology and cardiac surgery. His tenure was defined by a patient-centered strategy, reorganizing care into disease-specific institutes, clinical excellence, and a strong culture of innovation.
Born in 1940 in Watertown, New York, he graduated from Williams College with a degree in history and earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, followed by residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Brook General Hospital in London. As a U.S. Air Force surgeon during the Vietnam War, he led a casualty care and evacuation unit in Da Nang and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. Diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, he often highlights how his determination and practical mindset led him to surgery, where he developed international expertise in valve repair.
Joining the Cleveland Clinic in 1975, Toby Cosgrove became Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 1989, performing over 20,000 operations and establishing the institution as a global leader in cardiovascular care. A prolific inventor, he holds more than 30 patents for surgical devices and techniques, blending clinical practice, research, and technological innovation. As CEO, he introduced the “Patients First” motto, implemented an organ- and disease-based care model, expanded access through same-day appointments, telemedicine, and virtual visits, and led major fundraising and investment campaigns to grow the Cleveland Clinic domestically and internationally.
Since stepping down from operational leadership, he continues advising the Cleveland Clinic as Executive Advisor and serves on numerous boards and strategic committees in healthcare, medical technology, and digital health. He also advises companies and institutes driving healthcare transformation, particularly in telemedicine and organizational innovation, and remains a highly sought-after international speaker on healthcare leadership, care quality, patient experience, and the future of hospital systems.