Cleveland Clinic's 2013 Medical Innovation Summit Examines Obesity, Diabetes and the Metabolic Crisis

CLEVELAND, Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic's 11^th Annual Medical Innovation Summit will bring together more than 1,000 executives, investors, entrepreneurs and clinicians Oct. 14 to 16, 2013, in downtown Cleveland to examine one of the most critical issues in healthcare today how to combat the obesity epidemic.

Industry leaders will discuss innovations in fighting obesity, a disease which costs the American healthcare system $147 billion per year, or about 10 percent of the national medical budget, and provide insight into the latest trends in the fast-growing metabolic markets. The meeting will be capped by a presentation of the "Top 10 Medical Innovations" that will have a breakthrough impact on healthcare next year.

"Continued advancement of our knowledge and capability through medical innovation is required if we are to have a meaningful impact on the epidemic of obesity and diabetes," said Thomas J. Graham, M.D., Cleveland Clinic's Chief Innovation Officer. "Cleveland Clinic's Medical Innovation Summit is the ideal forum to explore how technology and creative solutions to the obesity epidemic will be best implemented to improve the lives of patients on a global level."

Registration for the summit is now open. Speakers will explore:

• What impact has bariatric surgery for diabetes had on patients since being named No. 1 on last year's Top 10 Medical Innovations list?
• What can be done for those whose health insurance does not cover obesity and severe obesity? Why are the treatments not covered?
• How has obesity affected countries around the world and how are health leaders in those nations addressing the issue?
• How has the new healthcare environment affected the progress of medical innovation?

Cleveland Clinic will reveal its Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2013 at the close of the summit. Michael Roizen, M.D., Chief Wellness Officer, James Merlino, M.D., Chief Patient Experience Officer, and a panel of 10 of the Clinic's physician leaders will present the highly anticipated list.

Panel discussions will cover unique and innovative solutions on the market, including surgical weight-loss procedures, medications for diabetes and the impact of healthcare exchanges.

The 2013 Medical Innovation Summit agenda includes more than 50 top healthcare leaders, including the CEOs of some of the most important companies in the industry: George Barrett (Cardinal Health), Mark Bertolini (Aetna), John Brooks (Joslin Diabetes Center), Rick Chiricosta (Medical Mutual), Ravi Kalla (Symphony), Mark Knudson, Ph.D. (Enteromedics), Jack Lief (Arena Pharmaceuticals), Greg Sorenson, M.D. (Siemens), Lars Sorenson (Novo Nordisk), and Joe Swedish (Wellpoint).

Other featured speakers at this year's event are Maha Barakat, M.D., Ph.D. (Director General of the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi), former Senator Tom Daschle, Sean Hogan (IBM Global Healthcare and Life Sciences), Peter Orszag, Ph.D. (Citigroup), and Peter Tippett, M.D. (Verizon Communications).

Many top Cleveland Clinic physicians will participate in the discussions including, Steve Nissen, M.D., Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine; Philip Schauer, M.D., Director, Bariatric and Metabolic Institute; and Jim Young, M.D., Chairman of Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute.

"Obesity and diabetes go hand-in-hand, and of the 26 million Americans with type 2 diabetes, less than half have their diabetes under control. This puts a tremendous burden on the healthcare system," said Dr. Schauer. "The Medical Innovation Summit will be a place to tie together the latest research and technology and push forward the important discussion on how to best combat these diseases."

The summit is organized by Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the corporate venturing arm of Cleveland Clinic, which has developed 60 spin-off companies over the past decade.

This year's summit marks the opening of the Global Center for Health Innovation, a new forum for healthcare leaders to convene in downtown Cleveland.

Join the conversation on Twitter by following #MIS2013 and follow Cleveland Clinic Innovations for news about the summit.

About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. More than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, more than 75 Northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 16 full-service Family Health Centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and, currently under construction, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2012, there were 5.1 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 157,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 130 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.

Contact:
Joe Milicia, 216.312.0591, milicij2@ccf.org

Related Links:
Medical Innovation Summit home page
Medical Innovation Summit registration page

Video with caption: "Join more than 1,100 senior executives, investors, entrepreneurs and clinicians who will gather Oct. 14-16, 2013, in Cleveland to discuss investable innovations that will lead to more effective treatments for obesity and diabetes." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEUqiWMte4g

SOURCE Cleveland Clinic