MetroHealth Appoints Chair of Surgery

The MetroHealth System has named Natalie Joseph, MD, as Chair of its Department of Surgery.

A nationally respected surgical oncologist and longtime MetroHealth leader, Dr. Joseph will oversee a department that plays a critical role in delivering complex surgical care across Northeast Ohio, including supporting MetroHealth’s status as the region’s premier Level I Adult Trauma Center.

“Dr. Joseph is an exceptional surgeon, educator and leader whose commitment to our patients and our mission is evident in everything she does,” said David Stepnick, MD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Chief Clinical Officer at MetroHealth. “The Department of Surgery is central to many of MetroHealth’s most critical services, including trauma care, surgical innovation and physician training. We are excited to have Natalie leading the department as we continue advancing those efforts."

Dr. Joseph has been a member of the MetroHealth medical staff for nearly 18 years. In addition to serving as Interim Chair, she has held several leadership roles, including Interim Executive Director of the Cancer Institute, Director of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Director of the Center for Breast Health. She is also Past President of the Medical Staff.

Her career has been defined by a commitment to caring for patients facing not only complex medical diagnoses but also the social and economic challenges that can affect health outcomes.

“What has always inspired me about MetroHealth is the people,” Dr. Joseph said. “Our caregivers understand that a diagnosis is often only one part of a patient’s story. We care for the whole person, and that commitment to serving our community is what has kept me here throughout my career.”

As Chair, Dr. Joseph will help lead a department that supports MetroHealth’s broad clinical, academic and research missions. The Department of Surgery includes specialists across multiple disciplines, including bariatric surgery, vascular surgery, surgical oncology and plastic and reconstructive surgery. It also serves as a key component of MetroHealth’s trauma program, which cares for thousands of patients each year as the region’s most experienced trauma center.

“Dr. Joseph brings a collaborative leadership style, deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to advancing academic medicine,” said John Chae, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at MetroHealth and Senior Associate Dean for Medical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “She is uniquely positioned to help strengthen our surgical programs while ensuring that MetroHealth remains a destination for exceptional patient care, medical education and research.”