Coburn leaving Cleveland Clinic Innovations

The man credited with turning the Cleveland Clinic into a technology commercialization powerhouse is leaving for Boston.

Chris Coburn will continue serving as head of Cleveland Clinic Innovations through May, according to information from the Clinic's public relations department. On June 1, he'll begin a new position at Partners Healthcare, a nonprofit academic hospital system with about 60,000 employees. It's unclear what position he'll hold, as he did not immediately return phone and email messages this afternoon from Crain's.

Cleveland Clinic Innovations has helped the hospital system spin off 55 companies that have raised $700 million from investors since Coburn became the organization's executive director in May 2000, according to Mr. Coburn's profile on the Clinic's website. The group also licenses Clinic inventions to other companies, bringing in millions of dollars each year.

In addition, Cleveland Clinic Innovations also is leading the Clinic's ongoing effort to form partnerships with other hospital systems and universities across the country. The organizations that have joined the Innovation Alliance aim to work together to innovate and improve the quality of care they deliver.

Cleveland Clinic Innovations has about 70 employees, according to Coburn's profile on the Clinic's website. A few employees work on site at institutions that have joined the Innovation Alliance, helping them increase their ability to innovate and commercialize technologies.

“Chris Coburn has done a tremendous job for Cleveland Clinic,” said spokeswoman Eileen Sheil. “We are sorry to see him leave and we wish him the very best in his new position.”

"Chris Coburn is leaving Cleveland Clinic Innovations" originally appeared on Crain's Cleveland Business.