Melissa Kline joined The MetroHealth System in 1998. As Senior Vice President-System Chief Nurse Executive, she oversees nursing practice and policies, nursing education, evidence-based practice, nursing quality, shared governance, and emergency preparedness. Dr. Kline also serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the MetroHealth campus and is the JoAnn Zlotnik Glick Professor of Community Health Nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Kline began her career at MetroHealth as a Clinical Nurse on the Progressive Cardiac Care Unit and then the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She has served in many leadership capacities including Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, Director of Nurse Staffing Operations, Director of Nursing Operations and Professional Development, and Associate Chief Nursing Officer. In January 2016 she was named Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. In January 2018 she became Vice President - Patient Care Service and Chief Nursing Officer. In January 2019 she was named Senior Vice President - Patient Care Service and Chief Nursing Officer. She has served in her current role since January 2022.

Dr. Kline is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership (OONL), The Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She currently serves as the President for OONL. Dr. Kline also sits on the boards of The MetroHealth Foundation and Journey Center for Safety and Healing. She is the Chair of the Board at The Center for Health Affairs. Dr. Kline was appointed to the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® Commission on Magnet in 2017.

A member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Dr. Kline was a 2016 nominee for the Ohio March of Dimes Nurse of the Year for Nurse Leadership and was a 2016, 2017, and 2018 nominee for the Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership (OONL) Nursing Leadership Award.

Dr. Kline is an author and speaker on nursing leadership topics. She also has teaching experience at the doctoral level.

Education

Certification

Julia joined The MetroHealth System in 2022 and brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to the organization. She oversees nursing and respiratory throughout the inpatient setting focused on patient and family centered care. Julia is responsible for clinical operations, fiscal and resource management, and nursing practice across the inpatient settings. She cultivates a positive working culture and mobilizes teams with integrity and compassion to elevate organization performance.

Julia practiced bed-side nursing for 20 years as a critical care nurse, followed by roles as supervisor, manager, and Chief Nursing Officer over the past 12 years. She is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership, The Greater Cleveland Association for Nursing Leadership, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. 

Education

DNP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

MBA, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, Ohio

BSN, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.

Certification

Certified in Nursing Executive Practice, American Organization for Nursing Leadership Credentialing Center

Jeffrey Beers joined The MetroHealth System in December 2022. As Director of Nursing Ambulatory Operations, Jeffrey is responsible for clinical nursing practice and operations for Ambulatory Clinics at the main MetroHealth Campus.

Beers has more than 35 years of nursing and healthcare experience. He began his healthcare career as an orderly while attending nursing school. Jeffrey has served as a Clinical Nurse, Nurse Manager, Hospital Supervisor, Operations Director, and SVP of Operations at area health systems.

Beers belongs to the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership.

Education

Certification

Jennifer Bocci joined The MetroHealth System on Monday, March 6, 2023, as Director of Ambulatory Nursing for Cancer Center and Parma Medical Center. As Director of Nursing, she is responsible for clinical operations for Oncology at Main Campus, Parma and Cleveland Heights as well as ambulatory clinical operations at the Parma Medical Center. Jennifer is passionate about high quality equitable care as well as easy access to care.

Jennifer worked at University Hospitals with operational and clinical oversight of Primary Care, Radiation Oncology and Dermatology. She also previously served as Director of Operations at Mercy Health Physicians where she was responsible for the clinical, financial, and business operations for Primary Care and Specialty Care practices. In addition to extensive leadership experience, Jennifer has many years of nursing experience in Ambulatory practices, Skilled Nursing and Urgent Care.

Jennifer graduated from Cleveland State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Business Administration, and Case Western Reserve University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership as well as the American Nurse Association and has her Nurse Executive Board Certification.

EDUCATION

CERTIFICATIONS

Jill Evans joined The MetroHealth System in 2003. As Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Clinical Informatics, she serves as the strategic liaison for health information technology efforts across the organization representing nursing and clinician needs; develops clinical systems strategies to meet clinical and operational needs; develops the vision for clinical informatics; develops application implementation strategies; and leverages technology integration for clinicians to improve patient outcomes and operational excellence.

She leads a clinical informatics team to design and optimize systems design to meet the needs of a large group of inter-disciplinary end users, including physicians, nurses, ancillary, clinical and administrative staff. She also oversees the development and delivery of clinical information systems training programs for all clinical disciplines across the System.

Evans began her career at MetroHealth as a Clinical Nurse in the Emergency Department.  She has held many different nursing/nursing leadership roles during her career including Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Department, Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Stepdown Unit, Manager, Nursing Informatics and Director, Clinical Informatics.

In 2021, Evans was named to her current position and has helped lead the System in the initial achievement of HIMSS Stage 7 EMRAM and O-EMRAM designations (2014) and both successful revalidations in 2017 and 2020.

Evans is member of American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA), Ohio Chapter of ANIA, the Ohio Nursing Informatics Organization (ONIO) and a member of the Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS) and the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Committee.

Education

MSN, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minn.

BSN, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.

Diploma, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center School of Nursing, Youngstown, Ohio 

Certification

Informatics Nursing - Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Jodi Finney joined The MetroHealth System in 2022. As Director of Nursing, Behavioral Health, she is responsible for the clinical operations throughout inpatient behavioral health at the MetroHealth Behavioral Health Hospital at Cleveland Heights. She has a passion for staff and patient safety and is responsible for ensuring the highest quality of through enhancing staff development and quality improvement initiatives.

Finney has 15 years of behavioral health experience. She started her career working with Autism Spectrum Disorder clients in the outpatient setting. When she became a nurse, she began working on a pediatric inpatient behavioral health unit. She served as a charge nurse, nurse manager and participated in the process of opening a free-standing behavioral health hospital. Prior to joining MetroHealth, she was Director of Behavioral Health Services for the adult population at an academic-based psychiatric care center. 

Finney is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Education

MSN, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio

BSN, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio

BA, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio

Certification

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, National Association of Healthcare Quality

Kimberly Green, MSN, RN, C-EFM joined The MetroHealth System in 2015. As Vice President Women and Children’s Services she is responsible for the business, professional, and clinical activities in women and children’s services at the system level. Passionate about her work, Kimberly is deeply committed to leading the vision and strategy that will promote meaningful initiatives, deliver quality care, and yield positive outcomes.

Green also serves as the Program Administrator for Nurse Family Partnership, a grant funded nationally acclaimed social program aimed at improving the health, and wellbeing for a first-time mother and her child until the age of two.

Green is a senior healthcare executive with extensive range of clinical, leadership, and operational capabilities. With the passion and focus on excellent customer service and outstanding clinical outcomes, Green is responsible for promoting the highest quality and performance improvement initiatives, management of fiscal resources, regulatory oversight, maintaining strong community collaborations, eradication of health care disparities, and assuring a safe environment for patients and staff.

Green is a member of numerous professional nursing organizations and serves on several boards, including the Executive Board for First Year Cleveland.  She has been the recipient of several leadership awards acknowledging her clinical expertise and dedication to the nursing profession. Kimberly is a certified nurse and has presented at nursing conferences as well as co-authored an article in a national professional nursing journal.

Education

Certification

Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring, National Certification Corporation

Mark Kohler joined The MetroHealth System in 1998. As Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Network Operations West, his areas of responsibility include nursing and site operations at MetroHealth’s Brooklyn, Brunswick, Middleburg Heights, Medina, Rocky River, State Road Family Practice, Westlake and West Park locations.

Kohler brings over 24 years of nursing experience and has served as Clinical Leader, Practice Coordinator, Nurse Manager, and Site Operations Manager.

His clinical and leadership background includes management of fiscal resources, quality and performance improvement initiatives, and regulatory oversight.

Education

MSN, Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
BSN, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
ADN, Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH

Certification

Certified Nurse Manager Leader, American Organization for Nursing Leadership

Kimberlee Legarth joined The MetroHealth System in 2000.  As Director of Nursing, she is responsible for clinical operations throughout the Medical, Surgical and Psychiatric in-patient units at the main campus and Cleveland Heights and Parma locations. Her dedication to exemplary customer service and positive patient outcomes commits her to ensure expert clinical practice, quality safety and performance improvement initiatives and promoting a safe environment for patients and staff.

Legarth began her nursing career at MetroHealth as a Licensed Practical Nurse on the Trauma Unit. She then pursued her Associate Degree in Nursing and began working as a Registered Nurse. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she transitioned into the role of Assistant Nurse Manger on the Trauma Unit and later advanced to the role of Nurse Manager of the Orthopedic Unit. She was instrumental in implementing the inpatient unit at MetroHealth Parma Medical Center. In 2021 she was promoted to Director of Nursing.

Legarth is a member of the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership (GCONL) as well as the National Association of Catholic Nurses (NACN-USA). She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, awarded a MetroHealth Nursing Excellence Award for Leadership, and has been a nominee for the Ohio March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award as a rising star and for leadership.

Education

MSN, Cleveland State University

BSN, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

AD, Lorain Community College, Elyria, Ohio

LPN, Cleveland Central School of Practical Nursing

Certification

Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board

Matthew Nelson joined MetroHealth in 2023 as the Director of Nursing for MetroHealth’s acclaimed Rehabilitation Institute’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) located in the historic Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. The institute specializes in rehabilitation of stroke, spinal cord, and brain injury populations. In his current role, Matt oversees inpatient nursing care and operations within the IRF, as well as collaborating with the medical, therapy and admissions teams at the IRF to optimize for quality care and growth initiatives. Matt’s core values include compassion, advocacy, responsiveness, and team-orientation.

As a dual licensure Nurse and Physical Therapist, Matt has had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings over the past 2 decades in healthcare. He began his career in bedside nursing, specializing in Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. He went on to work as a Hematology-Oncology Clinical Trials Coordinator, then took on the role of Physician-Nurse partner in ambulatory care. Upon obtaining his Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Matt joined a practice that provided rehabilitation care in schools, skilled nursing facilities, homes, and career-developmental centers. He went on to become the Clinical and Administrative Director of the practice, a role in which he served for more than 5 years. Matt is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American Physical Therapy Association and the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. He has previously been certified in falls prevention, end of life nursing care, chemo and immunotherapy provision, human subjects research and Medical Spanish.

Education

Certifications

Candace Mori joined The MetroHealth System in 2023 as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nursing Excellence. She brings more than 20 years of nursing experience to the organization. She oversees the Nursing Excellence Department focusing on nursing research, education, professional development, and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Mori has a passion for improving and sustaining quality patient care with evidence base practices.  Candace cultivates a spirit of inquiry for nursing research and embraces the necessary infrastructure to guide evidence-based practice implementation, dissemination, and sustainability.

In 2020, Dr. Mori placed first in the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses Research track for her poster presentation Understanding the Experience of Osteoporosis Risk in Bariatric Surgical Patients. She also received the Nan Hilt Writers Award from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses in 2018. Dr. Mori has had several quality improvement initiatives including Remote Patient Monitoring-WCH Patient Link Program, Sleep Bundle- Improving Patient Sleep and Noise on the Units, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery- Joints, Breast, GYN, and Nurse Driven Protocol to Remove Urinary Catheters.

Dr. Mori has invested her time in educating future nurses from surrounding colleges and universities. She has been academic faculty for 13 years. Candace has taught at the BSN, MSN and DNP level. She has also been at the bedside with nursing students leading clinical rotations. She continues to increase academic partnerships at MetroHealth and develop unique ways to offer learning opportunities for students interested in nursing.

She is a current member of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership, Ohio Registered Nurses, Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership-Greater Cleveland Chapter, and Northeast Ohio Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Education

Certifications

Mary Jo Murray joined the MetroHealth System in the Spring of 2022. Mary Jo has experience in Medical and Surgical units and well as Perioperative Services, Intensive Care and Telemetry. She also has experience in the Ambulatory Setting.

Mary Jo has national and international experience. She spent over 25 years with the Cleveland Clinic. While at Lutheran Hospital, she had the highest patient satisfaction, employee engagement, and physician satisfaction scores during her tenure. Murray left Lutheran Hospital after accepting the opportunity to relocate to the United Arab Emirates to open Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. There, she welcomed the challenge of recruiting and educating nurses from all over the globe to the mission and vision of the Cleveland Clinic to build her dedicated team. In Abu Dhabi, she ran the Clinics with the most demand while maintaining the highest employee engagement scores and lowest patient cancellation rates. She is dedicated to employee engagement and satisfaction which she believes drives innovation and quality.

Upon her return from the Middle East, Mary Jo worked as an interim leader in various positions, including Interim Director of Critical Care, during COVID, Director of Medical and Surgical Units, Director of Special Projects and Director of Operations. She has Union and Non-Union experience.

As Director of Nursing Operations, Murray is involved with improving throughput, chairing the value analysis committee, forming a medical emergency response team for public emergencies, staffing, scheduling, and general clinical operations.

Mary Jo is a member of the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Westwind Condominium Association.

EDUCATION:

MsCHM, Swiss Business School, Lucerne, Switzerland
BSN, Ohio University, Athens, OH
BA, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH
ADN, Fairview School of Nursing, Cleveland, OH

CERTIFICATION:

Nurse Executive-Board Certified

Aisha Parnell joined The MetroHealth System in 2015. She was promoted to Director of Nursing for Correctional Medicine in 2021. In this role, she is responsible for leading a dedicated team of nurses, medical assistants, and paramedics to provide the highest quality of care to the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center.

Prior to becoming the Director of Nursing, Parnell worked as a clinical nurse, nursing supervisor, nurse manager and Associate Director of Nursing. Her other nursing experience includes hospice and palliative care. 

Parnell was instrumental in achieving National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation for the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. She is passionate about the delivery of high-quality nursing care within the correctional setting and strives to impact recidivism one patient at a time.

Education

MSN, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Downers Grove, Ill.

BSN, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

ADN, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland

BA, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio

Patricia (Patty) Pawlak joined The MetroHealth System in 1989 as a clinical nurse. In her current role as Director of Nursing, she is responsible for the clinical operations of the Intensive Care Units and monitored units on Main Campus. Critical services include surgical, trauma, burns, pulmonary and cardiac ICU/telemetry. Patricia and the Critical Care Nurse Managers are committed to nursing excellence by exceeding quality and safety standards within their units.

Pawlak began her career in general medicine unit. In in 1995 she transferred to the Medical ICU as a clinical nurse. During her years in the MICU, she served in many roles: clinical nurse, Patient Care Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Assistant Nurse Manager and eventually, Nurse Manager. Patty was also on the task force that developed and implemented the Rapid Response Team and was the first nurse in critical care to take on that role. Pawlak ensured that her patients received the highest level of care and played a large part in making sure the MICU ran more efficiently with a focus on Teamwork and Accountability. As a Nurse Manager, Patricia feels her greatest accomplishment was navigating the Medical ICU staff through the trials and tribulations brought on by the Covid pandemic. Keeping the staff focused, supported, and united was a test of her leadership abilities. In August of 2023, she was promoted to Director of Nursing for Critical Care.

Pawlak is a member of the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership as well as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Education

Certifications

Kathleen Rizer joined The MetroHealth System in 2012. Rizer assumed the position of VP/Associate Chief Nursing Officer for the Ambulatory Care Enterprise in 2023. As VP/ACNO, Ambulatory Care Enterprise, she is responsible for the operations of the Ambulatory Care Enterprise.

With the focus on excellent customer service and outstanding clinical outcomes, Rizer is responsible for management of fiscal resources, strategic development, quality and performance improvement initiatives, regulatory oversight, clinical operations and insuring a safe environment for patients and staff.

Rizer previously served as Director of Nursing of the Cleveland Heights region. Rizer joined MetroHealth as the Nurse Manager, Heart and Vascular Services at MetroHealth. Her prior experience and leadership roles at other healthcare systems include Nursing in Critical Care, Invasive Cardiology and Electrophysiology, and Executive Director of the Heart Lab at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown.

Education

MSOL, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
BSN, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Diploma in Nursing, St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Youngstown, OH

Certification

Nurse Executive-Advanced, Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Laura Schmidt joined MetroHealth in 2013. As Director of Nursing for Emergency Services Emergency Services, she is responsible for nursing across the Main Campus Emergency Department; Community Emergency Departments-Brecksville, Cleveland Heights, and Parma; Life Flight; and Forensic Nursing. Laura is committed to the emergency services staff and is proud of the Lantern Award that the Main Campus Emergency Department in 2023.

Schmidt joined the Main Campus Emergency Department as a RN Clinical Nurse and served as a Charge Nurse and Quality Improvement Facilitator. She stepped into the Assistant Nurse Manager role in 2018, progressing to the Nurse Manager. She became the Director of Nursing in 2022. Prior to MetroHealth, she worked in the Cardiothoracic ICU at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

Schmidt belongs to the Emergency Nurses Association, American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), and the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership. She is also a 2023 AONL Nurse Director Fellow.

Education

Certification

Kelly Seabold joined The MetroHealth System in 2005. As Director of Nursing Ambulatory Operations, she is responsible for clinical efficiency, performance improvement and nursing practice at three community locations and five express care clinics throughout the Ambulatory Network. She is also responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of the newly established Medical Assistant Training Program designed to improve community access to education and healthcare careers.

Seabold began her career at MetroHealth as a Clinical Assistant in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.  After obtaining her nursing degree, she transitioned first into a Clinical Nurse role on the unit before becoming Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Stepdown Unit. In 2013, Seabold became Magnet Program Manager and helped lead the system in achieving its third and fourth Magnet Designations. In 2019, she was promoted to Director of Nursing Excellence which was further expanded to cover Regulatory Affairs and Accreditation in 2021.

Seabold is a member of American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership (GCONL), and The Ohio Organization of Nurse Executive (OONL), where she serves as a member of the Evidence Based Practice Committee.

Seabold was honored in 2018 with the OONL Aspiring Nurse Leader Award and recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Forty Under 40 Honoree.

Education

MSN, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN

BSN, Ohio University, Athens, OH

ADN, Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH  

Certification

Nurse Executive-Advanced, Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Nursing Professional Development Registered Nurse-Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Certified Professional in Heathcare Quality, National Association of Healthcare Quality

Michelle Simonelli joined The MetroHealth System in 1989. As Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Care Enterprise, her areas of responsibility include nursing and site operations at MetroHealth’s Ambulatory Heart and Vascular areas, as well as Cleveland Heights, Glenville, Bedford and Buckeye.

Simonelli brings over 34 years of nursing experience throughout her career at The MetroHealth System. She began her career as a Clinical Assistant on a Medical/Surgical unit, next transitioned into the role of a Registered Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and then advanced to the title of Nurse Manager for two Medical/Surgical Units. Additional leadership experience includes Manager of Nurse Recruitment in Human Resources and Manger of the Employee Health Clinic. In 2017, Simonelli transitioned to Ambulatory Site Manager at Beachwood and was promoted to Director of Nursing in 2023.

Simonelli is a member of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership.

Education

Certifications

Rochelle Smith joined The MetroHealth System, in 2017, as a Nurse Manager for a Medical/Surgical/Telemetry inpatient unit. In 2019, she assumed the role of Site Operations Manager for outpatient clinic in the Ambulatory Network. In May 2023, she was promoted to the position of Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Network Operations East, her areas of responsibility include nursing and site operations at MetroHealth’s Beachwood, Brecksville, Broadway, Gordon Square and Ohio City locations.

Rochelle brings nearly 20 years of nursing experience, including the last 13 years as a nurse leader. Her clinical and leadership background covers inpatient and outpatient. Rochelle is passionate about community outreach and health equity.

In 2021, Rochelle was the recipient of a MetroHealth Women at Metro “Shero” award for outstanding leadership for guiding the merger of two separate clinical practices. She was instrumental in guiding a combined team that had different care models into functioning as a cohesive unit. She belongs to the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership.

Education

Certifications

Debra Sparks joined The MetroHealth System in 2011. As Director of Regional Perioperative Services, she is responsible for the MetroHealth Main Campus and MetroHealth Parma Operating Room and PACU, MetroHealth’s Brecksville and W. 150th Street Surgery Centers, Pre-Surgical Evaluation, and the Central Sterile Processing Department.

Before joining MetroHealth, Sparks worked for 28 years in a post-anesthesia care unit, the operating room and as a nurse manager. 

Education

MSM, Indiana Weslyan University, Marion, IN

BSN, Indiana Weslyan University, Marion, IN

ADN, Indiana Central University (now known as University of Indianapolis), Indianapolis, IN

Certification

Certified Nurse Operating Room, The Competency and Credentialing Institution