James Merlino, MD, is the Executive Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer at The Joint
Commission. In this role, Dr. Merlino focuses on the transformation of The Joint Commission's
services utilizing data and innovation to advance health care safety and quality worldwide.
Previously, he served as the Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Cleveland Clinic overseeing
enterprise strategy, business development, safety, quality, experience, and continuous organizational
improvement. Earlier, he also served as Chief Experience Officer and Associate Chief of Staff at
Cleveland Clinic, vice-chair of the Digestive Disease Institute, and was a practicing staff colorectal
surgeon. Prior to Cleveland Clinic, he served as the Chief Transformation Officer for Press Ganey
Associates.
Dr. Merlino is recognized as an expert in health care strategy, improving safety, quality, and patient
experience, and has extensive experience both domestically and internationally. He is a renowned
speaker with over 400 invited presentations including on strategies to redefine care around the needs
of the patient. He has led C-suite strategic sessions with more than 70 of the largest and most
successful health care organizations in the U.S., and regularly coached CEOs, C-suite leaders and
health care boards on health care strategy and cultural change.
Dr. Merlino was named to HealthLeaders Magazine's list of "20 people who make health care better"
in 2013 and has consistently been on Becker's list of top 50 experts in health care safety, and was
recognized by Beckers as a top Chief Transformation Officer. He has been widely published in
academic papers and released his first book, "Service Fanatics: How to Build Superior Patient Experience the
Cleveland Clinic Way" in 2014. He is a co-editor of the best-selling safety book "Zero Harm: How to
Achieve Patient and Workforce Safety in Healthcare," released in 2018. He has also received numerous
awards in health care.
Dr. Merlino is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives, American Society of
Colon and Rectal Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and American Medical Association.
Dr. Merlino earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Baldwin-Wallace College,
Berea, OH, and his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in
Cleveland, OH. He completed his general surgery training at University Hospitals of Cleveland and
his colorectal surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. He was also an Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ) fellow.