Champion of Philanthropy: Dr. Justin Mistovich

Dr. Justin Mistovich approaches his job as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon much as he would approach taking care of a tree – problems won’t be fixed by plucking one leaf, but rather by applying care at the roots. It’s a philosophy that takes him beyond the clinic and the operating room, out into the community to cultivate support for The MetroHealth Foundation.

For this reason and many more, Dr. Mistovich has been named a Champion of Philanthropy by the Office of Strategic Philanthropy. This recognition honors colleagues who go above and beyond to support MetroHealth’s mission through advocacy, generosity and meaningful connections.

In his role as Division Director of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at MetroHealth, Dr. Mistovich sees children with many types of injuries, mostly sustained by playing sports. But, as much as he loves caring for these children and helping them heal, he does not want them to become repeat customers.

That is why he founded Stronger Generations, a program designed to help parents raise healthy, resilient and strong kids through education and positive lifestyle choices. 

“We started Stronger Generations because every kid growing up in a regular Cleveland family deserves a fair shake,” Dr. Mistovich said. “Access to not only great surgical care after sports injuries – or any injuries – is important, and something we excel at doing at MetroHealth.”

As a native of Youngstown, Dr. Mistovich was once one of those regular kids, so he understands the importance of having access to the resources needed to succeed.

“We’re committed to helping future generations thrive, live healthy, fulfilling lives, and have access to the resources they need to prevent injuries, stay healthy or get back on their feet successfully after a surgical recovery,” he said.

Growing up in the shadow of steel mills along Ohio’s eastern border, Dr. Mistovich now uses his passion and position to help raise money to level the playing field for all kids. He wants to aid in the Rust Belt revival.

His determination to make a difference and his belief in the missions of both MetroHealth and Stronger Generations are the foundation of his work outside the clinic and the operating room.

Dr. Mistovich urges his fellow MetroHealth employees to give back to the public safety-net hospital as a member of The MetroHealth Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Though it’s extra work, he says, it isn’t that hard.

“We are quiet heroes at MetroHealth,” Dr. Mistovich said. “A lot of the work that we do is simply unknown to the Greater Cleveland community. By sharing the mission and broad community impact Metro has had since 1837, it’s easy to get potential donors excited about how their funding can truly make a difference in this community.”

He cites as examples the School Health Program, which brings well-child visits, labs and pharmacy services directly to schools for kids, and the Food as Medicine program, which supplies healthy food for entire families in Cleveland.

For its part, Stronger Generations has a partnership with Beat the Streets in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood. The nonprofit is part of a national organization dedicated to mentoring and training Cleveland youth athletes, to open new doors for them and teach vital life skills through sports.

“We are providing sports physical therapy services to them, running injury prevention programs, giving talks on healthy eating and medical careers,” Dr. Mistovich said excitedly. “We also have provided athletic training coverage to their national competition, featuring 450 young athletes across the U.S., held right here in Cleveland.”

As an academic surgeon, he makes time for research, teaching and mentorship of medical students, residents and hospital committees. He also is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine Society.

To some, all those duties might sound exhausting, but they fuel Dr. Mistovich’s passion and enthusiasm.

“Having the opportunity to improve the wellness of our whole community through the work of the Foundation is a strong, core values-aligned mission for me,” he said. “Every surgery I do, every patient I see matters deeply. But what we can build for the betterment of our community through the work of the Foundation allows me to extend the impact of my work and time and supports the health and wellness of our region.” 

Dr. Mistovich finds it especially gratifying to work with a leadership team that “gets it” and shows so much appreciation for every dollar provided, as evidenced by MetroHealth President and CEO Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager’s handwritten notes to supporters following events.

That same team also knows how to stretch a dollar, he added.

“We are a nimble health system that really gets the most out of every dollar and can responsibly stretch resources without compromising patient care or safety,” Dr. Mistovich said. “The impact a donation can make for MetroHealth to transform not only our healthcare system, but also the health of our region, is, in my opinion, unmatched. The mission is strong. Philanthropic giving, no matter how big or small, makes a difference in our ability to improve our region’s health.” 

For more information, please contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 and gsanders@metrohealth.org.