Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove: Failure Is an Important Lesson in Leadership

Pioneering heart surgeon says failure is bad only if you don't recover from it

November 23, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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Toby Cosgrove, president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation and one of U.S. News's partner hospitals, says he has never been afraid to make mistakes, viewing them as a crucial step in the path to success. Cosgrove got his first taste of leadership as an Air Force surgeon in Vietnam, and he now holds 30 patents for devices that make heart surgery safer. "Most of those came from mistakes that I have made and things that didn't work," says Cosgrove.

Listen Now: Cleveland Clinic CEO on Leadership

The U.S. News podcast series, Leadership for the Next Decade, explores the ideas, innovations, and solutions that will inspire America and provide a blueprint for progress in the coming millennium. Moderated by U.S. News Editor Brian Kelly, the podcasts feature exclusive interviews with leaders across the spectrum, from education, business, art, science, and medicine to government, public service, and philanthropy.

America's Best Leaders 2009

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We just had a Dr. at Cleveland Clinic,tell us we should stop expecting them to prolong my mother's life.He also told us that he spoke for the whole hospital.On the wall in the G.building it says that a patient is the most important person in the institution.IT WRITTEN BY:William Lower.CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

lovie ward of OH 4:01PM September 03, 2012

One question for Jesse and Don (above)...

What have YOU done with your life?

Sitting comfortably and criticizing is easy. Try something hard, like Dr. Cosgrove does every day.

YelangZiDa of FL 5:13PM February 02, 2011

in this crasy world,doctors only think about how to make more money wothout improve their skill.what a pity

jesse of NY 10:15PM November 28, 2009

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