Gary Fingerhut has left the Cleveland Clinic after the FBI told the hospital system that he made financial transactions that violated the hospital system's internal policies.
Fingerhut—who served as executive director of the clinic's innovation and business development unit—allegedly engaged in “financial transactions involving one of our spin-off companies,” according to a statement from the clinic issued Wednesday, July 8.
The FBI is not making inquiries about the clinic itself, according to Vicki Anderson, special agent with the FBI's Cleveland division. However, she said she couldn't confirm nor deny whether the FBI is formally investigating Fingerhut, adding that the FBI doesn't comment on “possible ongoing investigations.”
Clinic spokeswoman Eileen Sheil would not confirm whether Fingerhut was fired.
For now, the chairman of Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Dr. Thomas Graham, will serve as executive director of the unit while the clinic searches for Fingerhut's replacement.
Fingerhut's cell phone went directly to voicemail. He did not immediately return a voicemail left for him.
Cleveland Clinic Innovations has commercialized dozens of technologies developed within the hospital system and is widely considered to be a leader in health care innovation.
Fingerhut's expertise is in information technology. Under his leadership, Innovations has placed a much stronger focus on commercializing IT-related products.
Fingerhut joined Innovations as its general manager for IT commercialization four years ago. He was chosen to replace Chris Coburn as executive director in 2013.
He previously served as cofounder and general manager of Axentis, a Cleveland company that made regulatory compliance software.