is proud to announce
DR. TOMISLAV MIHALJEVIC
as the recipient of the 13th Annual Maltz Heritage Award for being a force of positive change in the community
Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic will be presented with the 13th Annual Maltz Heritage Award on May 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art, honoring his exceptional leadership, vision, compassion, and global leadership in healthcare for everyone throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Founded with the mission to promote acceptance and inclusion of all people, the Maltz Museum presents exhibitions and programs that explore diverse stories around identity, culture, and connection. The Maltz Heritage Award is the Museum’s largest fundraising event of the year, enabling us to continue offering robust programming year round.
Dr. tomislav mihaljevic
Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic serves as the CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic, where he leads a globally integrated healthcare system dedicated to clinical excellence and innovation. As the inaugural holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, he oversees a sprawling network of facilities that spans from the main campus in Cleveland to locations worldwide. His leadership is defined by a steadfast commitment to making the Clinic the best place for care anywhere and the best place to work in healthcare.
Before ascending to his current role, Dr. Mihaljevic established a reputation as a world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon, having performed nearly 3,000 life-saving operations. He previously served as the CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, where he successfully managed the facility's opening and cemented its international standing in patient experience and research. His transition from a highly skilled surgeon to a global executive reflects a career-long dedication to the mission of caring for life and educating those who serve.
A native of Croatia and a proud U.S. citizen, Dr. Mihaljevic’s journey in medicine began with rigorous training in Zurich, Switzerland, followed by a historic residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He made history as the first foreign medical graduate accepted as an intern at that institution and later held a prestigious academic appointment at Harvard Medical School. Since joining the Cleveland Clinic in 2004, he has contributed extensively to medical literature, authoring or co-authoring over 140 peer-reviewed articles.
Beyond his clinical and administrative achievements, Dr. Mihaljevic is recognized for his profound sense of civic responsibility and his focus on health equity. He has championed critical public health initiatives within the Greater Cleveland community, specifically addressing urgent issues such as maternal health and local lead poisoning. His visionary leadership ensures that the benefits of advanced science are accessible to all, reflecting the core values of inclusion and humanity.
The Maltz Museum is proud to honor Dr. Mihaljevic with the 2026 Maltz Heritage Award for his transformative impact on both regional and global health. His dedication to an inclusive future and his unwavering compassion embody the very principles this award seeks to celebrate. By elevating the standards of medical care and community well-being, he continues to inspire a healthier, more equitable world for everyone.
Past award recipients include: Karen and Paul Dolan (2025), Joanie and Tom Adler (2024), Stewart Kohl and The Riverside Company (2023), Dee and Jimmy Haslam (2022), Carole F. Hoover and Vanessa L. Whiting (2021), Richard K. Smucker and The J.M. Smucker Company (2020), Beth E. Mooney (2019), Christopher Connor (2018), Audrey and Albert Ratner (2017), Barbara Snyder (2016), Milt and Tamar Maltz (2015), Sandy Cutler (2014), and Toby Cosgrove (2013)
Aaron Petersal
Executive Director,
Maltz Museum
Our sincere appreciation to the many donors who support the Maltz Museum’s commitment to building bridges of tolerance and understanding in our community
The Maltz Museum gratefully acknowledges the leadership and support of the following individuals and groups.
Tribute Committee Co-Chairs
Stewart Kohl, Beth Mooney and Larry Pollock.
Honorary Chairs
Joanie and Tom Adler, Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., Sarah and Alexander Cutler, Karen and Paul Dolan, Umberto Fedeli, Rochelle and Harley Gross, Stacie and Jeffrey Halpern, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Stephen H. Hoffman, Carole F. Hoover*, Norma Lerner, Audrey and Albert Ratner*, Richard K. Smucker, Lauren and Steve Spilman.
*Denotes Planning Committee. Current as of May 11, 2026.
Host Committee
Warren Anderson, Mitchell Balk, Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., Fran and Jules Belkin, Ms. Joanie Berger and Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk, Susan Bichsel, Ph.D., Dr. Laura Bloomberg, Kip Bollin, Amy Brady, Reneé and Kerry Chelm, Jill and Paul Clark, Margot James Copeland, Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis*, Julie and Jeff Cristal, Jennifer and Grant Dinner*, Matt and Jessica Dolan, William M. Elliott, Jr., Michael Ellis, Randy Fine, Michael Frank, M.D., James* and Miki Gomez, Tosin Goje, M.D., Cathy and Larry Goldberg, Jennifer and Jordan Goldberg, Lorin and Alan Gottlieb, Christopher Gorman, William Griswold, Ph.D., Cari and Gary Gross, Lawrence Hatch, Rebecca and J. David Heller, Tony Helton, Andrea Hogben, Alan Jaffa, Michelle and Richard Jeschelnig, Eric W. Kaler, Ph.D., Steve Karklin, Kerry and Daryl Kertesz, David King, Ed.D., Sue* and Jonathan Krantz, Nancy and Keith* Libman, Gail and Kenneth B.* Liffman, John Paul Lucci, Richard Marabito, Elaine and Beno Michel, M.D., Alan R. Miciak, Ph.D., Amy and Marc Morgenstern, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. and Edwina Moss, Stuart Muszynski, Amy and Larrie Nadler, Lawrence E. Oscar, Patrick M. Pastore, Kim Meisel Pesses and Paul Pesses, Richard W. Pogue, Julia and Larry* Pollock, Susie and James* Ratner, Mindy and Bob Rich, Ileen and Irving Rosner, Barbara and Alan Rosskamm, Erika and Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria, David Schafer, Kyla and Mitchell Schneider, Sharon Sobol Jordan, Ellen and Joe Thomas, Susan and Dean* Trilling, Joyce and Eric Wald, Dan and Molly Walsh, Neil Waxman and Pam Tobey, Terri and Ron Weinberg, Thomas M. Welsh, Paul and Suzanne Westlake, Tony White, Danielle and Jeffrey Wild, Judy and Steven Willensky, Anne Marie and Renny Wolfson, Margaret W. Wong, Alison and Jason Wuliger, Sandy and Tim Wuliger, Dan* and Ellen Zelman, Brooke and Adam Zelwin, Lewis Zipkin.
*Denotes Planning Committee. Current as of May 11, 2026.
Maltz Museum Board of Trustees
Reneé Chelm, Chair
Milton Maltz, Chair Emeritus
Tamar Maltz, President
Keith Libman, Vice President
James Gomez, Treasurer
Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, Secretary
Grant Dinner, Immediate Past Board Chair
Gina Cheverine
Joe Cimperman
Lois Goodman
David Katz
Kerry Kertesz
Susan Krantz
Kenneth Liffman
Darrell McNair
Kim Meisel Pesses
Larry Pollock
Albert Ratner
James Ratner
Erica Starrfield
Felton Thomas, Jr
Allison Wuliger
Daniel Zelman
Adam Zelwin
The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., Trustee Emeritus
Adele Silver, Honorary Trustee
Ex Officio
Gail Greenberg,
Friends of the Maltz Museum
Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk,
Congregation Mishkan Or
Erika Rudin-Luria,
Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Aaron Petersal,
Maltz Museum
Our Presenting Sponsors
Milton and Tamar Maltz
Our Platinum Sponsors
Grant and Jennifer Dinner
Norma Lerner & The Lerner Foundation
Audrey and Albert Ratner
Richard K. Smucker
Our Gold Sponsors
Irving and Gloria Fine Foundation and Family
Larry and Cathy Goldberg & Jordan and Jennifer Goldberg
Rochelle and Harley Gross Philanthropic Fund
Carole F. Hoover
Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Foundation
Beth Mooney
Julia and Larry Pollock
Rich Family Foundation
Sandra and Tim Wuliger Foundation
The Weinberg Family
Our Silver Sponsors
Warren Anderson, Benesch, Reneé and Kerry Chelm, Cleveland Foundation, Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, Sarah and Alexander Cutler, Cuyahoga Community College, DLR Group, Dollar Bank, The Fedeli Group, Eric and Joyce Wald, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, John Carroll University, Jones Day, McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman, The NRP Group, Oatey Foundation, PNC Bank, PwC, Susan and James Ratner, RPM International, Wellspring Family Office, Dan and Ellen Zelman Foundation.
Our Bronze Sponsors
Joanie and Tom Adler, Alan and Barbara Rosskam Philanthropic Fund, Jules and Fran Belkin, Amy Brady, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, Bober Markey Fedorovich, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Paul and Jill Clark, Cohen & Co., Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., Julie and Jeff Cristal, Matt and Jessica Dolan, The Evergreen Cooperatives, The Glenmede Trust Company, N.A., Lorin and Alan Gottlieb, Richard and Michelle Jeschelnig, Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC, Elaine and Beno Michel, M.D., Amy and Marc Morgenstern, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. and Edwina Moss, Kim Meisel Pesses and Paul Pesses, Richard Pogue, Kyla and Mitchell Schneider, Squire Patton Boggs, Joe and Ellen Thomas, Thompson Hine LLP, Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton, Susan and Dean Trilling, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Ursuline College, Values-in-Action Foundation, Neil Waxman and Pam Tobey, Zinner & Co.
The Maltz Museum is supported by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and the Ohio Arts Council.