Health + Wellness
These days, it seems that everyone is singing Pittsburgh's praises. Our Rust Belt neighbor to the east recently scored a Google corporate office. And last year, perennial Cleveland-basher Forbes Magazine named Pittsburgh the country's most livable city. Ouch. Clearly Pittsburgh is doing something right. Simply put: That city is light years ahead of Cleveland when it comes to bike-friendliness -- and bike-friendly cities are more attractive to young professionals, the creative-class folks who hold the keys to economic prosperity.
"Bioscience is one of the driving forces in Cleveland," said Baiju Shah, president and CEO of BioEnterprise. In case you need hard numbers to back up that claim, Shah noted that more than 600 healthcare related companies exist in the region.
Shah served as moderator for the 4th Annual Summit on Leadership, which was presented on March 10 by the Cleveland Business Leaders Committee of the Union Club.
What does Cleveland have that innovators in biomedicine and healthcare seek? According to Hiroyuki Fujita, founder, president and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED), it's the established presence of top-notch healthcare, research and educational institutions. "Cleveland is known throughout the world in the healthcare industry," he said. "With major players like Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University, it's a one-stop shop."
Backed by this level of support, entrepreneurs, inventors and researchers feel confident developing technologies and creating start-ups in Cleveland. "The surgeons at the Clinic take time to work with medical companies," said Patrick McBrayer, president and CEO of AxioMed Spine Corporation. "I have never seen a more nurturing group."
Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys, Inc., agreed. "Cleveland is a good place to establish a company and get things started. There's a lot more energy here than I anticipated."
And there's potential for much greater growth in the next 10 to 15 years, according to Geoffrey Thorpe, founder of NDI Medical. "People are leaving California for the first time, which means there's an opportunity for the Midwest to be competitive."
Sources: Baiju Shah, Hiroyuki Fujita, Patrick McBrayer, Gil Van Bokkelen
Writer: Diane DiPiero
Shah served as moderator for the 4th Annual Summit on Leadership, which was presented on March 10 by the Cleveland Business Leaders Committee of the Union Club.
What does Cleveland have that innovators in biomedicine and healthcare seek? According to Hiroyuki Fujita, founder, president and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED), it's the established presence of top-notch healthcare, research and educational institutions. "Cleveland is known throughout the world in the healthcare industry," he said. "With major players like Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University, it's a one-stop shop."
Backed by this level of support, entrepreneurs, inventors and researchers feel confident developing technologies and creating start-ups in Cleveland. "The surgeons at the Clinic take time to work with medical companies," said Patrick McBrayer, president and CEO of AxioMed Spine Corporation. "I have never seen a more nurturing group."
Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys, Inc., agreed. "Cleveland is a good place to establish a company and get things started. There's a lot more energy here than I anticipated."
And there's potential for much greater growth in the next 10 to 15 years, according to Geoffrey Thorpe, founder of NDI Medical. "People are leaving California for the first time, which means there's an opportunity for the Midwest to be competitive."
Sources: Baiju Shah, Hiroyuki Fujita, Patrick McBrayer, Gil Van Bokkelen
Writer: Diane DiPiero
cleveland hospitals are the safest around
A recent HealthGrades study names Cleveland as one of the top 10 U.S. cities with the safest hospitals. Toledo also made the list, along with Minneapolis-St. Paul, Boston, and Honolulu.
The study analyzed 40 million Medicare patient records from 2007 to 2009 and used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 13 patient safety indicators to identify the top performing hospitals in the nation. The patient safety indicators include incidents such as "foreign objects left in a body following a procedure, excessive bruising or bleeding as a result of surgery, bloodstream infections from catheters, and bed sores."
Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections are one of the most prevalent safety issues hospitals face. "HealthGrades found that patients treated at those hospitals performing in the top 5% in the nation for patient safety were, on average, 30% less likely to contract a hospital acquired bloodstream infection and 39% less likely to suffer from post-surgical sepsis than those treated at poor-performing hospitals. Nearly one in six patients who acquired a bloodstream infection while in the hospital died, the study found."
Due to the high frequency of preventable medical errors in U.S. hospitals, the federal government has proposed linking certain patient safety indicators to incentive-based hospital compensation, starting in 2014.
Read the rest of the prognosis here.
The study analyzed 40 million Medicare patient records from 2007 to 2009 and used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 13 patient safety indicators to identify the top performing hospitals in the nation. The patient safety indicators include incidents such as "foreign objects left in a body following a procedure, excessive bruising or bleeding as a result of surgery, bloodstream infections from catheters, and bed sores."
Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections are one of the most prevalent safety issues hospitals face. "HealthGrades found that patients treated at those hospitals performing in the top 5% in the nation for patient safety were, on average, 30% less likely to contract a hospital acquired bloodstream infection and 39% less likely to suffer from post-surgical sepsis than those treated at poor-performing hospitals. Nearly one in six patients who acquired a bloodstream infection while in the hospital died, the study found."
Due to the high frequency of preventable medical errors in U.S. hospitals, the federal government has proposed linking certain patient safety indicators to incentive-based hospital compensation, starting in 2014.
Read the rest of the prognosis here.
A proposed $7.5 million indoor cycling track in Slavic Village would be the only such facility of its kind east of the Rockies. The nonprofit organization Fast Track Cycling says the velodrome would attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts while helping to transform Cleveland into a greener, healthier city. Slavic Village supporters say, Bring it on.
The Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC) on the Cleveland Clinic campus has taken another step toward advancing cardiovascular technology with the addition of Irish medical device solutions provider Creganna-TactX. Specializing in the design of minimally invasive innovations, Creganna-TactX has opened its Cleveland office to support local medical device manufacturers while partnering with the Clinic to develop further advancements.
"Our key markets are in cardiovascular, periferovascular and neurovascular technologies," says Randall Sword, business development director for Creganna-TactX. "Our technologies are not readily available in the Cleveland area. Part of our mission is to support local businesses and hopefully grow a presence."
In addition to its headquarters in Galway, Ireland, Creganna-TactX has locations in Campbell, California; Marlborough, Massachusetts; Plymouth, Minnesota; and Singapore. The new Cleveland office "provides us access to the Clinic and their world-class physicians," Sword says. The Clinic's resources could offer input into development and manufacturing to benefit current customers while helping to evaluate new projects to meet future demands, according to Sword.
The Cleveland office will initially be staffed with one or two part-time employees. "We'd like to grow that as soon as possible," Sword says. "Our intention is to try to grow to a small lab that can work with the Clinic and their physicians and support local small businesses in development."
SOURCE: Randall Sword
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
"Our key markets are in cardiovascular, periferovascular and neurovascular technologies," says Randall Sword, business development director for Creganna-TactX. "Our technologies are not readily available in the Cleveland area. Part of our mission is to support local businesses and hopefully grow a presence."
In addition to its headquarters in Galway, Ireland, Creganna-TactX has locations in Campbell, California; Marlborough, Massachusetts; Plymouth, Minnesota; and Singapore. The new Cleveland office "provides us access to the Clinic and their world-class physicians," Sword says. The Clinic's resources could offer input into development and manufacturing to benefit current customers while helping to evaluate new projects to meet future demands, according to Sword.
The Cleveland office will initially be staffed with one or two part-time employees. "We'd like to grow that as soon as possible," Sword says. "Our intention is to try to grow to a small lab that can work with the Clinic and their physicians and support local small businesses in development."
SOURCE: Randall Sword
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
A packed house at Monday night's Local Food Cleveland meeting on raising backyard livestock demonstrated growing interest in raising chickens, bees and other animals in urban neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio.
When audience members at the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Tasting Room in Ohio City were asked by event organizer Peter McDermott if they currently were raising backyard livestock or were planning on it, approximately two-thirds raised their hands.
Two years ago, Cleveland City Council passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allowed city residents to raise and keep certain farm animals and bees. Other municipalities in Northeast Ohio also allow residents to keep backyard livestock. Presenters urged audience members to consult their local zoning code and contact their local zoning officials with questions.
The majority of livestock owners in Cleveland tend chickens (not roosters) for eggs or bees for honey, said McDermott, a Network Weaver with Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). While raising goats, pigs and other animals is also permitted in some places, those animals typically require more land than is available on urban lots.
Despite the growing interest in urban farming and backyard livestock in U.S. cities, many municipalities lag behind. Some zoning codes prohibit or strictly limit keeping chickens, bees and other animals, while others do not address the issue. Presenters urged audience members to educate themselves -- in many Northeast Ohio communities, despite assumptions to the contrary, raising chickens and bees is permitted in some form.
McDermott cited a plethora of benefits to keeping backyard livestock, including saving money on groceries, providing healthy, locally produced foods to residents, and income generation for owners who sell eggs and other products to neighbors or through local markets.
As the local foods movement in Northeast Ohio continues to expand, McDermott challenged audience members to consciously support the infrastructure needed to sustain it, including educating wary public officials at the state and local level.
"Studies show that local food is potentially a $15 billion economy in Northeast Ohio, and in recent years, we've seen a fifteen- to twenty-percent increase per year in local farmers' markets," said McDermott. "The question is, can the market for local foods support continued expansion? Our group is interested in accelerating the progress."
Source: Peter McDermott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When audience members at the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Tasting Room in Ohio City were asked by event organizer Peter McDermott if they currently were raising backyard livestock or were planning on it, approximately two-thirds raised their hands.
Two years ago, Cleveland City Council passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allowed city residents to raise and keep certain farm animals and bees. Other municipalities in Northeast Ohio also allow residents to keep backyard livestock. Presenters urged audience members to consult their local zoning code and contact their local zoning officials with questions.
The majority of livestock owners in Cleveland tend chickens (not roosters) for eggs or bees for honey, said McDermott, a Network Weaver with Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). While raising goats, pigs and other animals is also permitted in some places, those animals typically require more land than is available on urban lots.
Despite the growing interest in urban farming and backyard livestock in U.S. cities, many municipalities lag behind. Some zoning codes prohibit or strictly limit keeping chickens, bees and other animals, while others do not address the issue. Presenters urged audience members to educate themselves -- in many Northeast Ohio communities, despite assumptions to the contrary, raising chickens and bees is permitted in some form.
McDermott cited a plethora of benefits to keeping backyard livestock, including saving money on groceries, providing healthy, locally produced foods to residents, and income generation for owners who sell eggs and other products to neighbors or through local markets.
As the local foods movement in Northeast Ohio continues to expand, McDermott challenged audience members to consciously support the infrastructure needed to sustain it, including educating wary public officials at the state and local level.
"Studies show that local food is potentially a $15 billion economy in Northeast Ohio, and in recent years, we've seen a fifteen- to twenty-percent increase per year in local farmers' markets," said McDermott. "The question is, can the market for local foods support continued expansion? Our group is interested in accelerating the progress."
Source: Peter McDermott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Michele Iacobelli Buckholtz has treasured memories of going to lunch with her dad in Little Italy. He grew up here when it was an Italian neighborhood with markets on nearly every corner. She soaked up the old neighborhood during these childhood visits.
Today, Buckholtz is recreating the tradition of the small Italian market -- with a contemporary twist. She recently renovated an historic storefront at Murray Hill Road and Paul Avenue in Little Italy. It reopened as the Murray Hill Market, which is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and carries fresh produce and groceries.
Patrons of the Murray Hill Market can expect something new with each visit. The specials change daily, based on fresh ingredients and the chef's whim. Some favorites appear consistently, however. Buckholtz offers meatball subs every Thursday, relying upon her mother's recipe of course.
Little Italy has changed since Buckholtz's father grew up here -- there are fewer Italian families now, more students and empty nesters. The small, corner markets have all but disappeared. Yet with the growth of University Circle and sharp condos sprouting up in Little Italy, demand exists for a contemporary market, Buckholtz says. She considers it part of her mission to provide fresh, healthy foods to area residents and employees, an amenity she says is lacking at other neighborhood stores.
The Murray Hill Market is also spicing up the food offerings in Little Italy. Although Italians are no longer the predominant ethnic group here, the restaurants along Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads still offer mostly Italian fare. While Buckholtz specializes in Italian foods, she also offers an array of other ethnic foods, including Jewish and French pastries, Middle Eastern dishes, and Puerto Rican rice and beans.
Source: Murray Hill Market
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Last October, Cleveland's ViewRay unveiled a research radiation therapy system to the medical device community. Now comes word that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted ViewRay clearance for its radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery software, a key element of the radiation therapy system.
This is a critical step toward FDA approval of the system, according to Gregory M. Ayers, M.D. and Ph.D., president and CEO of ViewRay. "It's exciting to see such progress with a product we believe will offer an advancement in radiation therapy," he says.
Combining MRI and radiotherapy delivery, the system provides a continuous MRI during radiation treatment. This helps doctors to see exactly where the radiation is going and to deliver precise treatment.
A recent $20 million Series C financing will help ViewRay in the final stages of development for commercial distribution. For now, the ViewRay system is only used in non-human settings.
A team of physicians and researchers leads the privately held medical device company. ViewRay is currently in growth mode and building its staff in quality assurance, software engineering, clinical science and sales.
SOURCE: Gregory M. Ayers
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
This is a critical step toward FDA approval of the system, according to Gregory M. Ayers, M.D. and Ph.D., president and CEO of ViewRay. "It's exciting to see such progress with a product we believe will offer an advancement in radiation therapy," he says.
Combining MRI and radiotherapy delivery, the system provides a continuous MRI during radiation treatment. This helps doctors to see exactly where the radiation is going and to deliver precise treatment.
A recent $20 million Series C financing will help ViewRay in the final stages of development for commercial distribution. For now, the ViewRay system is only used in non-human settings.
A team of physicians and researchers leads the privately held medical device company. ViewRay is currently in growth mode and building its staff in quality assurance, software engineering, clinical science and sales.
SOURCE: Gregory M. Ayers
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Malik Moore is excited about the $2 billion worth of development that is planned or underway in the Flats and adjacent neighborhoods. At the same time, however, as the area is redeveloped as a hub for entertainment, housing, offices, industry and recreation, he wants to ensure that residents' voices are being heard.
"As this neighborhood grows, we want the residents to grow with it," said Moore, Executive Director of the Downtown Cleveland YMCA, at last week's forum on mapping out the future of the Flats. Over 350 people attended the event.
The YMCA has formed a partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Starting in March, the nonprofit will offer several new initiatives to residents of Lakeview Terrace, a public housing project in the Flats, including the REACH program, an effort to address health disparities among low-income and minority groups. A college readiness program will also be offered to Cleveland Municipal School District students.
"Lakeview Terrace is located in the shadow of Ohio City, an area that has seen redevelopment," said Moore in a recent interview. "As we look at ways to redevelop the Flats, we need to build bridges between communities."
Moore says that the Y's programs will help to lessen the physical and social isolation experienced by Lakeview Terrace residents. "Through broadening the social network these youth have available to them, we can reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors," he said.
Although the proliferation of new condos and townhouses in the Flats make clear that demand for housing exists here, more than one speaker cited the area's crumbling infrastructure and lack of neighborhood amenities as quality of life barriers.
While competing interests between industry, entertainment, recreation and housing have long stymied the Flats' redevelopment, speakers at the forum challenged the audience to work together to revitalize one of Cleveland's oldest neighborhoods.
Source: Malik Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"As this neighborhood grows, we want the residents to grow with it," said Moore, Executive Director of the Downtown Cleveland YMCA, at last week's forum on mapping out the future of the Flats. Over 350 people attended the event.
The YMCA has formed a partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Starting in March, the nonprofit will offer several new initiatives to residents of Lakeview Terrace, a public housing project in the Flats, including the REACH program, an effort to address health disparities among low-income and minority groups. A college readiness program will also be offered to Cleveland Municipal School District students.
"Lakeview Terrace is located in the shadow of Ohio City, an area that has seen redevelopment," said Moore in a recent interview. "As we look at ways to redevelop the Flats, we need to build bridges between communities."
Moore says that the Y's programs will help to lessen the physical and social isolation experienced by Lakeview Terrace residents. "Through broadening the social network these youth have available to them, we can reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors," he said.
Although the proliferation of new condos and townhouses in the Flats make clear that demand for housing exists here, more than one speaker cited the area's crumbling infrastructure and lack of neighborhood amenities as quality of life barriers.
While competing interests between industry, entertainment, recreation and housing have long stymied the Flats' redevelopment, speakers at the forum challenged the audience to work together to revitalize one of Cleveland's oldest neighborhoods.
Source: Malik Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
LA times calls cle 'tale of optimism and renewal'
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times examines the debate surrounding Cleveland's economic renewal.
"Cleveland has weathered this recession much better than past slumps, as local industries have retooled and reinvented themselves. Old shops and factories have embraced new technologies. And for the first time in a while, there are grounds for optimism," the article states.
During his recent visit to Cleveland for the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, President Obama pushed the idea of public investment. "The American economy should update itself Cleveland-style," he believes, "and the federal government should nudge it along with smartly placed investments."
Republicans such as House Speaker John A. Boehner, however, believe that Cleveland's success is due to innovation by business, and that government should help by cutting spending and taxes. Last week, the House proposed cutting $61 billion from the government's budget for 2011, including funds for local economic-development programs. President Obama's budget for 2012, on the other hand, increases investments in infrastructure, technology, and education.
"In Cleveland, the remaining steel mills have come to specialize in higher-end materials. Old plastics and glassware factories now make things such as cellphone heat-shields that compete with the best products coming out of Japan. A Lake Erie wind farm could soon stand just miles away from where the Cleveland Browns play football."
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals also contribute to the growing biomedical industry.
Obama believes the government should invest in these private businesses as well as medical and scientific research and education programs to create a more technically educated workforce. He also pledges to decreases taxes for many corporations and reform the corporate tax code to promote a more level playing field.
Republicans, however, argue that government spending will only inhibit growth and hinder the creation of new jobs. They support cutting federal spending and encouraging private-sector investment.
Read the rest here.
"Cleveland has weathered this recession much better than past slumps, as local industries have retooled and reinvented themselves. Old shops and factories have embraced new technologies. And for the first time in a while, there are grounds for optimism," the article states.
During his recent visit to Cleveland for the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, President Obama pushed the idea of public investment. "The American economy should update itself Cleveland-style," he believes, "and the federal government should nudge it along with smartly placed investments."
Republicans such as House Speaker John A. Boehner, however, believe that Cleveland's success is due to innovation by business, and that government should help by cutting spending and taxes. Last week, the House proposed cutting $61 billion from the government's budget for 2011, including funds for local economic-development programs. President Obama's budget for 2012, on the other hand, increases investments in infrastructure, technology, and education.
"In Cleveland, the remaining steel mills have come to specialize in higher-end materials. Old plastics and glassware factories now make things such as cellphone heat-shields that compete with the best products coming out of Japan. A Lake Erie wind farm could soon stand just miles away from where the Cleveland Browns play football."
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals also contribute to the growing biomedical industry.
Obama believes the government should invest in these private businesses as well as medical and scientific research and education programs to create a more technically educated workforce. He also pledges to decreases taxes for many corporations and reform the corporate tax code to promote a more level playing field.
Republicans, however, argue that government spending will only inhibit growth and hinder the creation of new jobs. They support cutting federal spending and encouraging private-sector investment.
Read the rest here.
In 2010, MetroHealth
began testing a surgical solution for high blood pressure, became the
only Ohio hospital chosen to participate in the Major Extremity Trauma
Research Consortium to benefit injured servicemen and women, launched
MetroExpressCare to address the needs of urgent care patients, and
provided resources for the identification of the first gene associated
with age-related cataracts.
All the while, the hospital system has kept its eye on sustainable business practices that resulted in a budget surplus last year. MetroHealth currently has about 6,000 employees.
Revenue over expenses for MetroHealth in 2010 totaled $27 million, and operating income decreased from $37.7 million in 2009 to $23.8 million last year. These numbers are in keeping with the health system's goal of maintaining sustainable business practices, which, according to MetroHealth CEO and president Mark Moran, means being able to support the hospital's mission of providing high-quality and affordable care.
Throughout 2011, MetroHealth will be addressing challenges that include a continuing decline in inpatient volumes and rising charity care. The total cost of charity care provided by MetroHealth last year was up $9 million over the previous year.
SOURCE: MetroHealth
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
All the while, the hospital system has kept its eye on sustainable business practices that resulted in a budget surplus last year. MetroHealth currently has about 6,000 employees.
Revenue over expenses for MetroHealth in 2010 totaled $27 million, and operating income decreased from $37.7 million in 2009 to $23.8 million last year. These numbers are in keeping with the health system's goal of maintaining sustainable business practices, which, according to MetroHealth CEO and president Mark Moran, means being able to support the hospital's mission of providing high-quality and affordable care.
Throughout 2011, MetroHealth will be addressing challenges that include a continuing decline in inpatient volumes and rising charity care. The total cost of charity care provided by MetroHealth last year was up $9 million over the previous year.
SOURCE: MetroHealth
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
A drug that has shown promise in the treatment of cardiovascular disease
will now be evaluated for effectiveness in healing wounds, thanks to a
joint capital investment. SironRX Therapeutics has received a $500,000
investment from Cleveland Clinic and JumpStart Ventures.
The money will allow SironRX to continue evaluations on its lead drug,
JVS-100, which contains an engineered version of a naturally occurring
molecular factor called Stromal cell-Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1). SDF-1
promotes tissue repair.
"This investment will allow SironRX to make significant progress toward initiation of a Phase II clinical study evaluating the potential for JVS-100 to accelerate dermal wound repair and reduce scarring," says Rahul Aras, CEO of SironRX. "JVS-100 is already being evaluated for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and it is exciting to broaden the scope of therapeutic potential for this drug."
SironRX is an offshoot of Juventas Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company developing regenerative therapies to treat life-threatening diseases. Juventas licensed JVS-100's intellectual property from Cleveland Clinic in 2007. Aras also serves as CEO of Juventas.
SOURCE: Rahul Aras
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
"This investment will allow SironRX to make significant progress toward initiation of a Phase II clinical study evaluating the potential for JVS-100 to accelerate dermal wound repair and reduce scarring," says Rahul Aras, CEO of SironRX. "JVS-100 is already being evaluated for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and it is exciting to broaden the scope of therapeutic potential for this drug."
SironRX is an offshoot of Juventas Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company developing regenerative therapies to treat life-threatening diseases. Juventas licensed JVS-100's intellectual property from Cleveland Clinic in 2007. Aras also serves as CEO of Juventas.
SOURCE: Rahul Aras
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Dr. Cathy Whitehouse founded The Intergeneration School (TIS), a charter school on Cleveland's east side, as a place that values children as independent learners.
"TIS takes a lifespan, developmental approach to education," she says. "We're all on a learning journey, and we should honor the uniqueness in each learner."
TIS just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. In that time, it has become one of the highest-performing schools in Cleveland, consistently earning "Excellent" marks from the State of Ohio.
This year, Whitehouse and her staff will attempt to replicate TIS's success when they open a charter school on Cleveland's near west side. The Near West Intergenerational School (NWIS), a tuition-free, public school, is slated to open in August.
The seeds for NWIS were planted when the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents seeking to create a new school in their community, contacted Whitehouse. "They said to me, 'We don't want to move, but we don't know where our kids will go to school. Can you help us?'" says Whitehouse. "TIS was a good match for them."
Before it opens, NWIS must sign a sponsorship agreement, find a location and enroll enough kids. Yet Whitehouse says she is "delighted" that NWIS has gotten this far. "Among the many things that we can do to transform Cleveland, making sure that every family has access to free, high-quality education is one of them," she says.
TIS has received a planning grant from the State of Ohio, and is applying for a second grant to help pay for start-up costs. Whitehouse has asked the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) to sponsor NWIS, and hopes to lease a CMSD building.
"When TIS started, they wouldn't even talk to us," says Whitehouse. "There's been a wonderful change. They saw what we were doing and said, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'"
TIS is a member of the Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of top-performing, urban charter schools that recently won a $2 million grant from the Charter School Growth Fund, a national foundation that supports innovative charter schools.
In addition to NWIS, Citizens Academy plans to open a 6th-8th grade middle school this fall. Two more Breakthrough charter schools are slated to open in 2012.
Source: Cathy Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"TIS takes a lifespan, developmental approach to education," she says. "We're all on a learning journey, and we should honor the uniqueness in each learner."
TIS just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. In that time, it has become one of the highest-performing schools in Cleveland, consistently earning "Excellent" marks from the State of Ohio.
This year, Whitehouse and her staff will attempt to replicate TIS's success when they open a charter school on Cleveland's near west side. The Near West Intergenerational School (NWIS), a tuition-free, public school, is slated to open in August.
The seeds for NWIS were planted when the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents seeking to create a new school in their community, contacted Whitehouse. "They said to me, 'We don't want to move, but we don't know where our kids will go to school. Can you help us?'" says Whitehouse. "TIS was a good match for them."
Before it opens, NWIS must sign a sponsorship agreement, find a location and enroll enough kids. Yet Whitehouse says she is "delighted" that NWIS has gotten this far. "Among the many things that we can do to transform Cleveland, making sure that every family has access to free, high-quality education is one of them," she says.
TIS has received a planning grant from the State of Ohio, and is applying for a second grant to help pay for start-up costs. Whitehouse has asked the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) to sponsor NWIS, and hopes to lease a CMSD building.
"When TIS started, they wouldn't even talk to us," says Whitehouse. "There's been a wonderful change. They saw what we were doing and said, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'"
TIS is a member of the Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of top-performing, urban charter schools that recently won a $2 million grant from the Charter School Growth Fund, a national foundation that supports innovative charter schools.
In addition to NWIS, Citizens Academy plans to open a 6th-8th grade middle school this fall. Two more Breakthrough charter schools are slated to open in 2012.
Source: Cathy Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
For years, the trend in Ohio City was for young couples to buy homes, live there a few years, and then flee to the suburbs when they had kids. Thanks to a close-knit group of pioneering parents, that story may soon have a different ending. With hopes for a new public charter school becoming a reality, many young parents see a future that doesn't include a home in suburbia.
Many young professionals living in the city eventually become parents, trading in their preoccupation with trendy bars for a newfound obsession with play dates, baby gates and high-quality schools.
Yet in any urban area, finding a good school can be tricky. Like the Clash song, a refrain echoes in their heads: "Should I stay or should I go?"
A new study says that for many Cleveland residents, quality public schools could make the difference between choosing to stay and moving to the suburbs.
Recently, a team of researchers at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs surveyed 271 residents of Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway and downtown regarding their opinions of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
Of those surveyed, 51 percent said they were either parents of young children or were planning to have kids in the future. Sixty five percent of this group said they were eventually planning to move out of Cleveland or "weren't sure" of their plans. An "excellent" or "effective" public school in their neighborhood could influence them to stay, they said.
"Retaining and growing the local property tax base, which feeds the public school system, will depend on the ability of these neighborhoods to attract and maintain middle-class residents," says Angie Schmitt, who recently earned a Master's degree in Urban Planning from CSU's Levin College and is one of the study's authors.
She adds, "Failing schools encourage residential turnover within this population, creating a cycle of concentrated poverty that further handicaps urban schools."
The study outlines reform efforts taking place in Cleveland, including the creation of the Near West Intergenerational School, a new charter school that aims to launch this year.
Source: Angie Schmitt
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet in any urban area, finding a good school can be tricky. Like the Clash song, a refrain echoes in their heads: "Should I stay or should I go?"
A new study says that for many Cleveland residents, quality public schools could make the difference between choosing to stay and moving to the suburbs.
Recently, a team of researchers at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs surveyed 271 residents of Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway and downtown regarding their opinions of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
Of those surveyed, 51 percent said they were either parents of young children or were planning to have kids in the future. Sixty five percent of this group said they were eventually planning to move out of Cleveland or "weren't sure" of their plans. An "excellent" or "effective" public school in their neighborhood could influence them to stay, they said.
"Retaining and growing the local property tax base, which feeds the public school system, will depend on the ability of these neighborhoods to attract and maintain middle-class residents," says Angie Schmitt, who recently earned a Master's degree in Urban Planning from CSU's Levin College and is one of the study's authors.
She adds, "Failing schools encourage residential turnover within this population, creating a cycle of concentrated poverty that further handicaps urban schools."
The study outlines reform efforts taking place in Cleveland, including the creation of the Near West Intergenerational School, a new charter school that aims to launch this year.
Source: Angie Schmitt
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Inspired by one of Mahatma Ghandi's famous mantras -- "we must become the change we wish to see in the world" -- Open Yoga Gallery, a yoga studio with a mission, will launch this weekend at 4736 Lorain Avenue in Ohio City.
"One of our goals is to get people onto the yoga mat for the first time," says April Arotin, the studio's founder. To that end, Open Yoga offers several classes per week that merely suggest a donation. During the opening weekend, the studio will offer free classes on Saturday from 12-6 p.m., as well as a free workshop for beginners on Sunday.
Open Yoga is a labor of love for Arotin, who lived in San Francisco before she moved back to Cleveland last summer. The studio is located in a storefront that was last used as an antique store -- 10 years ago. Arotin and the friends whom she corralled into helping her spent six months renovating the space.
To cut costs and keep with their green business practices, Arotin reused much of the existing space, cleaning the 1940s tile floor, for instance, rather than replacing it with shiny hardwood planks.
"Ninety percent of the furniture in our space is up-cycled," explains Arotin, meaning that it's been reclaimed from other spaces or purchased from thrift stores and refurbished. In addition, the studio has set an ambitious goal to produce zero waste.
To encourage walking, bicycling and carpooling, Open Yoga offers patrons a chance to win free classes if they choose alternative transportation. The 1,000-square-foot studio also functions as an art gallery, with local artists' work adorning the walls.
Although yoga is not often associated with inner city neighborhoods, Arotin wants to change this. "There's a perception that yoga is only for a specific demographic -- women with a lot of disposable income -- but we want to make it accessible," she says.
After all, yoga is not just about staying healthy and flexible; it's also about unlocking the potential for change. "Yoga helps us move our bodies in a way that we never thought possible," says Arotin, "and that can help us realize our true potential."
Source: April Arotin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"One of our goals is to get people onto the yoga mat for the first time," says April Arotin, the studio's founder. To that end, Open Yoga offers several classes per week that merely suggest a donation. During the opening weekend, the studio will offer free classes on Saturday from 12-6 p.m., as well as a free workshop for beginners on Sunday.
Open Yoga is a labor of love for Arotin, who lived in San Francisco before she moved back to Cleveland last summer. The studio is located in a storefront that was last used as an antique store -- 10 years ago. Arotin and the friends whom she corralled into helping her spent six months renovating the space.
To cut costs and keep with their green business practices, Arotin reused much of the existing space, cleaning the 1940s tile floor, for instance, rather than replacing it with shiny hardwood planks.
"Ninety percent of the furniture in our space is up-cycled," explains Arotin, meaning that it's been reclaimed from other spaces or purchased from thrift stores and refurbished. In addition, the studio has set an ambitious goal to produce zero waste.
To encourage walking, bicycling and carpooling, Open Yoga offers patrons a chance to win free classes if they choose alternative transportation. The 1,000-square-foot studio also functions as an art gallery, with local artists' work adorning the walls.
Although yoga is not often associated with inner city neighborhoods, Arotin wants to change this. "There's a perception that yoga is only for a specific demographic -- women with a lot of disposable income -- but we want to make it accessible," she says.
After all, yoga is not just about staying healthy and flexible; it's also about unlocking the potential for change. "Yoga helps us move our bodies in a way that we never thought possible," says Arotin, "and that can help us realize our true potential."
Source: April Arotin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
monster names cleveland one of hottest job markets
Job matching engine Monster.com recently announced the "Top 10 Hottest Markets for Job Seekers." Rankings were determined by the relative number of job openings for a given city's workforce. Cleveland came in at a promising #7, wedged between Minneapolis and Tampa. Topping the list are Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Boston.
Monster also identified some of the hottest occupations within these job markets, noting that most fall within the IT and healthcare industries. Healthcare support jobs such as nursing aides, orderlies, occupational therapist assistants, and dental assistants remain in high demand in Cleveland.
"Healthcare has long been immune to the economic recession, especially given the skills shortage in that industry due to baby boomers' retiring, taking those skills with them in the process," the article finds.
The Monster study also indicates that retail is another hot job market in Cleveland.
Charles Purdy, career expert for Monster.com, encourages job seekers in these hot markets to take advantage of the rise in job openings. "Now is the time for qualified candidates to make their move into a better and more challenging role. This will be quite a luxury for some seekers who have struggled to seek more inspiring work in the past year or two. For them, 2011 will become 'their' year for surpassing the status quo, propelling their career a step or two forward."
Read the full report here.
Monster also identified some of the hottest occupations within these job markets, noting that most fall within the IT and healthcare industries. Healthcare support jobs such as nursing aides, orderlies, occupational therapist assistants, and dental assistants remain in high demand in Cleveland.
"Healthcare has long been immune to the economic recession, especially given the skills shortage in that industry due to baby boomers' retiring, taking those skills with them in the process," the article finds.
The Monster study also indicates that retail is another hot job market in Cleveland.
Charles Purdy, career expert for Monster.com, encourages job seekers in these hot markets to take advantage of the rise in job openings. "Now is the time for qualified candidates to make their move into a better and more challenging role. This will be quite a luxury for some seekers who have struggled to seek more inspiring work in the past year or two. For them, 2011 will become 'their' year for surpassing the status quo, propelling their career a step or two forward."
Read the full report here.
medical device incubator launches healthcare fund
NDI Medical, a
Cleveland-based medical device incubator, has launched a healthcare
venture fund for developing innovative neurodevice technologies. The NDI
Healthcare Fund will seek out products in large markets while focusing
on helping unmet health conditions.
NDI was formed in 2002 by entrepreneurs, scientists and medical and financial professionals. The NDI team develops high-growth companies that over the years have devised products to restore lost neurological function and reduce the effects of disease and injury. Its portfolio includes NDI Medical, Inc. Pelvic Health, which developed an innovative treatment for urinary incontinence; Checkpoint Surgical, which develops surgical devices to evaluate and preserve nerves and muscles; and SPR Therapeutics, which is working on neuromodulation therapies for chronic pain. In addition, NDI offers its portfolio companies assistance with regulatory affairs and quality systems, clinical affairs, research and financial services.
The NDI Healthcare Fund has already raised $8 million in funds from equity investments and a grant from the State of Ohio.
SOURCE: NDI Medical
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
NDI was formed in 2002 by entrepreneurs, scientists and medical and financial professionals. The NDI team develops high-growth companies that over the years have devised products to restore lost neurological function and reduce the effects of disease and injury. Its portfolio includes NDI Medical, Inc. Pelvic Health, which developed an innovative treatment for urinary incontinence; Checkpoint Surgical, which develops surgical devices to evaluate and preserve nerves and muscles; and SPR Therapeutics, which is working on neuromodulation therapies for chronic pain. In addition, NDI offers its portfolio companies assistance with regulatory affairs and quality systems, clinical affairs, research and financial services.
The NDI Healthcare Fund has already raised $8 million in funds from equity investments and a grant from the State of Ohio.
SOURCE: NDI Medical
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
According to BioEnterprise,
Cleveland continues to be a leader in the Midwest when it comes to
raising money for start-up healthcare companies. Last year, healthcare-related start-ups in Cleveland raised just over $135 million
in investments. Cleveland was third in the Midwest in start-up
allocations behind Chicago and Minneapolis, according to the Midwest
Healthcare Venture Report released by Cleveland's BioEnterprise, which
supports the growth of bioscience enterprises.
Cleveland-based start-ups benefited from the generosity of 64 national investors, according to the report. The area is also home to numerous healthcare investment companies, which contributed to local and out-of-region start-ups in 2010. These investors include Bridge Investment Fund, Primus Capital and Riverside, which completed 24 acquisitions in 2010.
Baiju Shah, president and CEO of BioEnterprise, says that the number of companies receiving investments has stayed high even through the recession. While 2010 was somewhat of a difficult year, Shah says that investment activity picked up toward the end of 2010.
Read the full prospectus here.
SOURCE: BioEnterprise
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Cleveland-based start-ups benefited from the generosity of 64 national investors, according to the report. The area is also home to numerous healthcare investment companies, which contributed to local and out-of-region start-ups in 2010. These investors include Bridge Investment Fund, Primus Capital and Riverside, which completed 24 acquisitions in 2010.
Baiju Shah, president and CEO of BioEnterprise, says that the number of companies receiving investments has stayed high even through the recession. While 2010 was somewhat of a difficult year, Shah says that investment activity picked up toward the end of 2010.
Read the full prospectus here.
SOURCE: BioEnterprise
WRITER: Diane DiPiero