Our Leadership

A family-medicine physician with MetroHealth for nearly three decades, Dr. Alexander became the System’s top executive in October 2024.

Prior to that, she served as MetroHealth’s Interim Chief Physician and Clinical Executive, in charge of leading the health system’s entire clinical enterprise. She took on that role after 14 years as Chair of Family Medicine.

Besides caring for patients – her first love professionally – Dr. Alexander founded MetroHealth’s nationally recognized School Health Program, which partners with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and other school systems to bring in-school clinics, mobile units and other services to students and their families. She also sparked the creation of MetroHealth’s medical outreach to the homeless. And she served as President of the System’s Medical Staff from February 2022 to February 2024.

A native of Youngstown, she earned her medical degree at The Ohio State University College of Medicine & Public Health. She completed her residency in family medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia as well as fellowships in family medicine and obstetrics and academic medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s St. Margaret and Mercy hospitals, respectively.

Benkowski guides MetroHealth's strategic planning process for transforming the delivery of health and wellness services in Northeast Ohio. He also oversees MetroHealth's strategic partnerships, affiliations, marketing and business intelligence.

Benkowski joined MetroHealth in July 2024. A veteran healthcare strategy and operations executive, he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategy, for Hennepin Healthcare, a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center and safety-net health system in Minneapolis. Previously, he served in leadership roles at Intermountain Health in the Denver market and OhioHealth in Columbus.

Benkowski received master’s degrees from Ohio University, and bachelor’s degrees from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisc.

Bicak oversees all aspects of MetroHealth's physical locations at MetroHealth’s Main Campus and throughout the region, from planning and construction to space optimization and facilities management.

Bicak joined MetroHealth in August 2023. He has over 35 years of experience in the field of planning, design and construction, including developing and working with talented teams to create high-quality facilities. In his most recent role as Vice President, Facilities, for Sinai Chicago Health System, he provided executive oversight of the planning design and construction associated with the $100 million, multi-year plan for reorganization and re-investment of the system’s existing facilities.
Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Campus Development, for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he oversaw the planning, design and construction of the Prentice Women's Hospital, which opened in 2007.

Bicak received a master’s degree from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Brown is responsible for the creation and implementation of the System’s comprehensive strategic fundraising program.

Brown joined The MetroHealth System in 2001. She previously served as Vice President of Development and Director of Development. Prior to joining MetroHealth, Brown was a senior development officer at Cleveland Clinic; director of development for the Northeast Ohio Chapter for The Multiple Sclerosis Society; and membership program manager with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.

Brown received a master’s degree from Cleveland State University and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio.

Dr. Bruce is an accomplished physician and public health leader with extensive experience in designing and implementing public health interventions across the United States and globally. His work integrates translational and operational research to strengthen system design and improve care delivery.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bruce has maintained a consistent focus on improving clinical outcomes for underserved communities and reducing barriers to high-quality care. As Chief Operating Officer, he provides strategic and operational leadership across the System, supporting initiatives that drive operational performance, enhance patient safety and experience, and ensure the delivery of the highest-quality care — pillars of MetroHealth’s mission and long-term vision. Prior to joining MetroHealth in 2022, Dr. Bruce was Associate Chief of Clinical Affairs in the Department of Medicine at Boston Medical Center. 

Dr. Bruce is currently a Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has also held academic appointments at Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Dr. Bruce earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Houston Christian University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Bruce holds a Master of Arts in Philosophical Theology from Yale Divinity School, a Master of Science in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from the Yale School of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dr. Chae leads the continued elevation of MetroHealth’s academic and research mission. In this role, he coordinates the joint mission of MetroHealth and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in medical education and research.

 A faculty member at MetroHealth since 1994, Dr. Chae also has appointments as Senior Associate Dean for Medical Affairs and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. He also served as the Chair of the academic department of PM&R at CWRU.

At MetroHealth, Dr. Chae previously served as Chair of the clinical department of PM&R, Co-Director of the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute, Medical Director of the Neuromusculoskeletal Service Line and Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs. He also served as Chair of the academic department of PM&R at CWRU.

Throughout his career, Dr. Chae has made notable contributions as a clinician, educator, inventor, scientist and leader. He has authored over 135 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and books and has been awarded 34 patents. In 2011, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Dr. Chae received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and a master’s in biomedical engineering from Dartmouth College. He received his medical degree and clinical training in PM&R from Rutgers University’s New Jersey Medical School.

In this role, Dr. Chehade leads MetroHealth’s innovation and strategic initiatives, keeping the system at the forefront of patient care, population health, digital health and value-based care. In addition, he serves as the organization’s No. 2 leader and as senior executive adviser to the President and CEO. He also oversees and manages the system’s various related entities and business partnerships.

Dr. Chehade, a urologist by training and a veteran healthcare executive, joined The MetroHealth System in August 2016. He has held numerous leadership roles throughout his career including Chief Clinical Transformation Officer and Senior Vice President of Population Health at MetroHealth; Chief Executive Officer and Market President at HealthSpan Physicians; and Executive Medical Director and Chief Medical Informatics Officer and Chief of Urology at the Ohio Permanente Medical Group.

Dr. Chehade received his medical degree, completed a residency and received a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Studies from The Medical College of Ohio. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Dr. Golob leads quality management across MetroHealth, ensuring safe and reliable processes are embedded into the delivery of healthcare. His oversight includes patient safety, quality assurance/accreditation, quality data analytics, patient experience, infection prevention and performance improvement. He focuses on the implementation of continuous quality improvement efforts and compliance with The Joint Commission regulatory standards.

Dr. Golob joined MetroHealth in 2004 as a trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist. He previously served as Chief Quality Officer, Inpatient Services; Medical Director of Patient Safety; Medical Director of the Surgical and Trauma Intensive Care Units; and Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Training Program.

Dr. Golob received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in healthcare systems engineering from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Mori leads MetroHealth’s professional nursing practice and provides executive oversight to ensure excellent patient care across the system.

Prior to joining MetroHealth in 2022, Dr. Mori was Director of APRN & Education at Wooster Community Hospital. Since 2010, she has taught nursing coursework as an Assistant Professor at the University of Akron.

She is the author of 17 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters and other publications and is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences. Dr. Mori serves as Associate Editor and Manuscript Reviewer for International Journal of Orthopaedic & Trauma Nursing and Manuscript Reviewer for Orthopaedic Nursing Journal.
She earned her PhD in nursing from Kent State University. She received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from the University of Akron.

Dr. Nagel is the Chief Executive Officer of the MetroHealth Community Health Centers, a public entity Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike, and the Interim Senior Vice President of the Community Health Enterprise at The MetroHealth System.

A seasoned healthcare executive, Dr. Nagel brings extensive experience in public health and health care administration, including enterprise growth initiatives and strategic system improvements. Her career has focused on designing and implementing large-scale initiatives that deliver measurable, positive outcomes in community and population health.
Before joining MetroHealth, Dr. Nagel served as Chief Administrative Officer at Care Alliance Health Center in Cleveland, an FQHC that annually serves nearly 10,000 individuals experiencing homelessness and residents of public housing. In that role, she oversaw daily operations across four sites, a mobile clinic and multiple community locations — managing primary medical, dental and behavioral health services; enterprise administration; external affairs; and care coordination to ensure mission fulfillment and compliance with federal mandates.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Nagel spent nearly a decade at Cleveland Clinic, holding roles in media relations and government relations, including serving as Director of Federal Affairs. She later served as the Senior Director of Public Health and Research, where she led the Clinic’s public health agenda and directed its Department of Public Health and Research.

Dr. Nagel is an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine and Weatherhead School of Management. She holds a Doctor of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with honors from Miami University.

Poulios leads government and regulatory affairs, communications, community engagement and community development for MetroHealth.

She joined MetroHealth in April 2019 with more than 20 years of experience working in state and federal government. Prior to joining MetroHealth, she served as Chief of Staff to an Ohio member of Congress, advising and managing public policy issues that came before the Energy & Commerce Committee. She also has extensive experience working on legislative initiatives pertaining to the healthcare industry.

Poulios received a master’s degree in public administration from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University.

Rose serves as a trusted adviser to the chief executive and an expert link between the System’s Board and executive team.

Rose has more than 20 years of service as a public policy executive. Before returning to MetroHealth in 2024, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Health Equity Ambassador to Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Government Relations for MetroHealth. 
She has also served as the Medicaid policy and budget analyst in the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, as a legislative liaison in Gov. Ted Strickland’s office, and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives.

A native of Cuyahoga County, Rose holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from The Ohio State University.

Southerington oversees the full spectrum of human resources functions for MetroHealth’s employees.

Southerington joined MetroHealth in 2018 as Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to that, she worked as the Vice President of Human Resources at the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland (now known as Step Forward) and Director of Human Resources for the City of Cleveland.

Southerington received a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University.

Dr. Stepnick heads MetroHealth’s clinical operation, overseeing all clinical programs and leading MetroHealth’s team of expert practitioners to ensure the highest quality care for patients and the community.

He joined MetroHealth in February of 2014 and was appointed chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in 2016. In 2024, he was named Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Clinical Officer.

Over the course of his 40-year career, Dr. Stepnick has edited two books and authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and invited reviews. 
A professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he currently serves as Senior Advisor to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s Continuing Medical Education Committee. He also is on the Executive Committee of the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Stepnick received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his residency in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at University Hospitals-Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine as well as fellowships in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck/microvascular surgery and facial plastic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Wellons oversees all legal affairs, including risk management and contracting functions, for the System. He serves as a senior adviser to MetroHealth's leadership team and supports the Board of Trustees as Corporate Secretary and Governance Officer.

With over two decades of experience in healthcare law and business, Wellons brings expertise in legal strategy, corporate governance and executive leadership. Prior to joining MetroHealth, he served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at a multistate behavioral healthcare network and spent 14 years as Senior Counsel at a nationally ranked academic medical center.

James earned his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law and holds a Certificate in Comparative Law from the University of Athens, Greece. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.