MetroHealth Appoints Chair of Department of Medicine

CLEVELAND – The MetroHealth System has appointed John Vargo, MD, MBA, MPH, as Chair of its Department of Medicine. Dr. Vargo joins MetroHealth after more than three decades at Cleveland Clinic, where he held several clinical, leadership and research roles.

As Chair, Dr. Vargo will lead MetroHealth’s Department of Medicine, which encompasses a range of specialties, including:

• Endocrinology
• General Internal Medicine
• Hospital Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Cardiology
• Palliative Care
• Nephrology
• Rheumatology
• Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep
• Hematology/Oncology
• Cancer Biology

“Dr. Vargo brings an exceptional blend of academic rigor, clinical expertise and research leadership that will strengthen our mission of advancing patient care and innovation,” said David W. Stepnick, MD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Clinical Officer. “His outstanding reputation with patients and colleagues speaks to his commitment to compassionate, collaborative medicine. I am confident he will be an engaged leader who inspires excellence across our department.”

Dr. Vargo earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Montefiore Hospital. He then pursued fellowships in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cleveland Clinic, where he also trained in Advanced Endoscopy.

Following a three-year service commitment in the U.S. Navy at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center – where he served as Director of Endoscopy and consultant in gastroenterology for the U.S. Capitol – Dr. Vargo returned to the Clinic.

Dr. Vargo’s leadership roles at the Clinic included Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vice Chair of the Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, President of the Medical Staff and member of the Board of Governors. Most recently, he served as Director of Enterprise Endoscopy Operations, Director of Endoscopic Research and Innovation and Head of Advanced Endoscopy.

“I have tremendous respect for the clinicians and caregivers who make MetroHealth such a trusted resource for our community, and it’s an honor to join this team,” Dr. Vargo said. “MetroHealth’s mission to provide exceptional care to every patient resonates deeply with me, and I look forward to working collaboratively to advance clinical excellence, research and education while keeping patients at the center of everything we do.”