Helping to provide care to residents in need
Kate Brown has spent her career building relationships to provide stellar health care to those who need it most. As MetroHealth’s vice president for foundation and system philanthropy, she plays a key role in the medical organization that led the way for the creation of health care services for the underserved nearly two centuries ago and continues to serve Cleveland’s most vulnerable population today.
“MetroHealth is a valued resource that provides a unique set of services to our community,” Brown says. She notes that the staff and volunteers with whom she works have a clear purpose and understanding of MetroHealth’s mission of building a healthier community.
Founded in 1837, MetroHealth first focused on the diseases and ailments associated with poverty. Many Clevelanders could not afford an in-home visit from a physician and MetroHealth provided centralized care, including early vaccinations against smallpox. Its mission has not changed over the decades and today MetroHealth leads the way in providing high-quality, affordable care to Clevelanders.
A Cleveland native, Brown attended Miami University for her undergraduate studies and then returned to Cleveland to launch her career. In the early 1990s, she decided to pursue her master’s of public administration at CSU while working full time.
“One thing I appreciated during my time at CSU was having the chance to work with such a fine group of professionals and faculty. It exposed me to things about our city I might not have discovered on my own,” she says.
After graduation, Brown served as president of the Cleveland State Alumni Association and is proud that MetroHealth maintains many connections to her alma mater through student internships and other programs. She was named to her current role in 2006.
Brown has continued to look to CSU as a resource for her own professional development, too. When she needed to grow her skills for a new role at work, she enrolled in an accounting class at CSU.
“You receive such a fine education at CSU,” she says. “I am proud to be a part of it.”
When Brown talks about her work and her city, she notes the alignment taking place across the region.
“Cleveland has a collective sense of purpose today that is very positive, driving a lot of the endeavors taking place in our city,” she notes.
A proud Clevelander, a proud Viking — and someone making a difference for those in need.
