Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership

Northeastern University

Tenacity Inc.

St. Clements Shrine

Inner City Tennis Clinics (ICTC)

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit, multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education.

Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 as a group practice with the mission of providing “Better care of the sick, investigation into their problems and further education of those who serve.” 

Each year thousands of patients travel to Cleveland Clinic from every state in the nation and more than 132 countries around the world. In 2011, Cleveland Clinic recorded 5.1 million patient visits. 

Cleveland Clinic serves the community by building partnerships with community members and providing numerous health and wellness programs including free health screenings and education. Cleveland Clinic is committed to serving its surrounding neighborhoods and helping people make positive health and wellness choices. In 2011, its community benefit contribution totaled $552.2 million, including $145.6 million in charity care.

A leading medical innovator, Cleveland Clinic counts among its major medical breakthroughs coronary artery bypass surgery, the first near-total face transplant in the United States and the discovery that bariatric surgery controls diabetes.

Cleveland Clinic health system includes eight community hospitals, 16 full-service family health centers, a children's hospital for rehabilitation and one affiliate hospital. Cleveland Clinic facilities can be found throughout Northeast Ohio, as well as in Florida, Nevada, Canada, and Abu Dhabi.

Today, with more than 1,400 beds on Cleveland Clinic main campus and 4,450 beds systemwide, Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest and most respected hospitals in the country. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals, and its heart and heart surgery program has been ranked No. 1 since 1995.

Cleveland Clinic

Joseph Patrnchak joined the Cleveland Clinic Health System in December 2007 as Chief Human Resources Officer. During Joe’s tenure the Clinic has implemented a new “people strategy,” with major initiatives in such areas as Serving Leadership, Talent Management, Total Rewards, and Caregiver Wellness & Wellbeing. Results have included a significant increase in employee engagement, with a corresponding improvement in patient satisfaction.

Prior to joining the Clinic, Joe served as Chief HR Officer and Senior Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. At BCBSMA, he played a central role in strategic planning; established a new HR value proposition, operating model and e-HR strategy; led implementation of the first company-wide performance management and leadership development system; and launched innovative work-life, career development and employee health programs.

Prior to joining Blue Cross Blue Shield, Joe served as Vice President of HR for Compaq Computer Corporation Global Customer Services Division and held a number of vice president positions at Digital Equipment Corporation. He has lived in Chicago, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, and was a resident of Boston, MA for over twenty years.

Joe holds an MS in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development from American University in Washington, DC, and a BA in Sociology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University Kellogg School, Advanced Executive Program and a graduate of the Insead University, Fontainebleau France, International Management Program. 

While at Northwestern, Joe played linebacker on the football team with his identical twin brother. He also served as President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, and was a member of the All Big Ten Academic Team. 


Employee Engagement

Service Culture

Employee Health Plan and Wellness

Organizational Language as A Lever to Build Caregiver Culture

Serving Leadership

Total Rewards and Recognition

Cleveland Clinic Profile

Building an Engaged Workforce

Changing the Employee Culture to Impact the Patient Experience

Engagement at Cleveland Clinic

Implementing Servant Leadership at Cleveland Clinic

Serving Leadership: an Organizational Imperative

Mr. Patrnchak shares specific initiatives toward engagement, from employee health plan and wellness benefits to caregiver recognition, and how employee engagement has helped drive patient satisfaction. He also shares the impact of organizational language as a lever to drive culture, using “caregiver” as an example. Mr. Patrnchak’s presentation provides a practical template for effective cultural development.

Jeff Durr

Senior Managing Consultant

Dr. Kent M. Keith

President Emeritus, CEO

Chief Human Resources Officer

View this excerpt from Joseph Patrnchak speaking on employee engagement at Cleveland Clinic.

Joseph M Patrnchak, MS: Employee Engagement

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