Thomas J. Strauss
President & CEO, Summa Health System
Thomas J. Strauss is president and chief executive officer of Summa Health System, one of the largest organized delivery systems in Ohio. Strauss leads the strategic direction of the 2,000-bed health system, which is the largest employer in Summit County.
Through Strauss' direction and leadership, Summa operates Akron City, St. Thomas, Cuyahoga Falls General, Barberton and Wadsworth-Rittman Hospitals, and maintains an affiliation agreement with Robinson Memorial Hospital.
Summa also operates six community health centers; SummaCare Inc; Summa Physicians Inc; Summa Health Network; Summa Enterprise Group and the Summa Foundation.
Prior to joining Summa Health System in 1999, Strauss was the president of Meridia Health Services in Cleveland. For ten years, he held a number of leadership positions with Meridia, including the leadership for the system's eight service lines, president of the eastern region, president of Meridia South Pointe Hospital, president of Meridia Suburban Hospital and president of Meridia Institute/Meridia Health Ventures.
Strauss also has experience in private industry and has held several positions with Baxter Health Corporation, formerly American Hospital Supply Corporation, prior to his tenure at Meridia. His responsibilities at Baxter included: vice president of Caremark Homecare, Inc.; zone director for Travacare Home Therapy; area operations manager for American Abbey Homecare and branch manager of American ContinueCare. A pharmacist by trade, Strauss was the assistant director of patient care modules at Allegheny General Hospital prior to joining Baxter in 1983.
Strauss earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1978. He then completed his residency in pharmacology at Mercy Hospital.
A committed community member, Strauss is a member of the Akron Regional Hospital Association, the Greater Akron Chamber, the Cleveland Health Network, the United Way of Summit County, Akron Tomorrow, and the Ohio Hospital Association's CEO Committee on Advocacy and Policy.
He and his wife, Susan reside in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and have three sons.
Akron will be established as a national leader in biomaterials and medicine and will develop a reputation for excellence in biomedical research, education, clinical services, and commercialization.