Cleveland Clinic Names New Chief Information Officer to Lead Digital IT Initiatives

Digital technology plays a key role in the organization's growth initiatives; Matthew Kull will lead IT strategy to enhance patient care through innovative technologies. 

To lead information technology strategy and help clinical partners and caregivers enhance patient care through innovative technologies, Cleveland Clinic has appointed Matthew Kull, MBA, CHCIO, as the health system’s chief information officer (CIO). Kull has served as interim CIO since November 2019.

Cleveland Clinic is engaged in a significant growth strategy, which heavily relies on technology to meet its goals. During 2018, Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, MD, set a five-year strategy to double the number of patients the organization serves. Last fall, the organization announced an initiative to expand access to its specialists via virtual care. The Clinic said that much of its future growth would rely on telehealth, and that it expects 50% of all outpatient visits to be conducted through virtual care in five years.

Kull joined Cleveland Clinic in 2018 as the associate chief information officer, and has been involved in the enterprise’s digital transformation, global business transformation, and electronic health record initiatives.

“Matthew has made great progress in helping us advance our digital strategy in his short time with Cleveland Clinic,” said William Peacock, chief of operations, in a news release. “His background in developing innovative and transformational technology strategies will be a great asset as we execute on our five-year strategy to care for patients across their lifetimes and double the number of patients served.”

“Digital technologies will play an important role to drive medical innovation and deliver world-class care to patients around the globe,” Kull said. “I am excited to continue working with our caregivers to align Cleveland Clinic’s clinical and digital strategies to help us meet the healthcare challenges over the next decade.”

Kull has more than 20 years of experience and previously served as senior vice president and chief information officer for Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas.

Earlier this year Cleveland Clinic created the executive position of chief research information officer, appointing Lara Jehi, MD, from within the system to create a bridge between research and patient data with clinical care.

In February, during the annual "State of the Clinic" address, Mihaljevic reported record financial growth during 2019 with operating income rising 47% to $390 million, and system revenues rising 18% to nearly $11 billion. Last November, the Cleveland, Ohio-based system, which has 18 hospitals around the world, received the largest gift in its history, a $261 million donation from the Lord Foundation.