World-Renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon Thomas Graham, MD, to Lead Northwell’s Strategic Alliances and Partnerships Efforts

Preeminent hand surgeon, health care executive, inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas Graham, MD, has joined Northwell Health. Dr. Graham, whose clinical practice is a premier destination for the care of professional athletes and entertainers with hand and wrist problems, will serve as Northwell’s senior vice president of strategic alliances and partnerships.

Dr. Graham previously served as the Cleveland Clinic’s first chief innovation officer, as well as vice-chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also was the chief of the Congressionally-designated National Hand Center in Baltimore and served on the faculty of Johns Hopkins. His appointment reflects his range and experience, with more than 50 worldwide patents to his name and a track record as an entrepreneur – having co-founded several medical device companies. His career as an innovator was detailed in the best-selling book, Innovation the Cleveland Clinic Way.

“Northwell Health’s culture of innovation allows us to continually develop and implement new solutions that improve the quality of care and the patient experience while also pursuing new business opportunities that benefit the health system financially,” said Michael J. Dowling, Northwell Health’s president and CEO. “To support those efforts, I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Graham.”

Dr. Graham will assume the role previously held by Anthony Ferreri, Northwell’s recently-retired chief affiliation officer, and work closely with Kevin McGeachy and Mark Schiffer, MD, in Northwell’s Strategic Alliances Division. His clinical practice will be housed at the New York Hand & Wrist Center located at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital as well as Lenox Hill Hospital. In addition to his care of athletes, Dr. Graham specializes in complicated reconstruction after trauma, complex elbow disorders and congenital hand surgery.

“I am privileged to join Northwell Health at a time when our leadership role in health care transformation is well-established yet dynamic,” said Dr. Graham. “While building one of the nation’s largest integrated health systems, Northwell has demonstrated the unique characteristics necessary to become the ‘best partner in modern medicine,’ which is defined by our relationships with patients, physicians, other providers and the communities we serve.”

Dr. Graham graduated from Williams College. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, followed by a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Graham completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Indiana Hand Center and underwent training in elbow surgery at Mayo Clinic. He also completed a two-year Executive Management Program in Healthcare Administration, jointly sponsored by Cleveland Clinic and the Weatherhead School of Business of Case Western Reserve University.