The Sisters of Charity Health System has named Charles Garven, M.D. as its new chief medical officer to provide clinical leadership for its ministries, including Regina Health Center, Light of Hearts Villa, St. Vincent Charity Health Campus and the newly named St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center on E. 22nd Street in Cleveland, following its transition to an outpatient health care facility.

Dr. Garven, who joined the Sisters of Charity Health System in 2021 as a community health consultant, is a family physician who has also worked with Cleveland Clinic in several leadership roles, including as founding medical director for Rockport Family Medicine for Lakewood Hospital; lead physician at Cleveland Clinic Family Medicine, Rockport; and vice president of medical operations at the former Lakewood Hospital. He also brings critical experience leading outpatient health care services and working with free and charitable clinics, including with Neighborhood Family Practice and as the medical director at NorthCoast Health.

“In addition to his outstanding service as a family physician, Dr. Garven brings invaluable experience as a leader devoted to the mission of healing and serving underserved communities,” said Janice G. Murphy, MSN, FACHE, president & CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, Dr. Garven earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and continued with his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, licensed by the Ohio Medical Board, and is a member of American Academy of Family Physicians and Northeast Ohio Academy of Family Physicians. He currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at CWRU’s Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, where he precepts residents at the Center for Family Medicine.

“I am honored to serve the Sisters of Charity as chief medical officer as we embark on this new era of health care, building on their nearly two centuries of healing ministry in Cleveland,” said Dr. Garven. “We are focused on providing high quality outpatient care for the members of our community, with the goal of improving health outcomes.”

As chief medical officer, Dr. Garven’s responsibility includes leadership and oversight of patient safety, physician leadership development, clinical care quality and standards, and urban medicine planning and initiatives. This role is important to the success of all Sisters of Charity Health System ministries, including St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center, the former St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. The newly re-named facility will provide outpatient care, including primary care, same-day and walk-in visits for adults, occupational health, an outpatient pharmacy, outpatient behavioral health services, outpatient addiction treatment at Rosary Hall, and Psychiatric Emergency Services (formerly the Psychiatric Emergency Department). Patients can also receive occupational health services and urgent care services at the St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center campus in Solon.

Additionally, Bradley W. Rauh has been named chief administrative officer for St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center. Rauh most recently served St. Vincent Charity Medical Center as executive director of strategic initiatives, and played a critical role in helping transition the facility from a traditional acute care hospital into an outpatient health care services provider.

Bringing significant health care executive experience to the role, he previously served as chief operating officer and vice president of physician strategy of Southwest General Health System; chief operating officer, regional hospitals and president, Clinic regional physicians for the Cleveland Clinic; and vice president, business development for the MetroHealth System. Rauh earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Hillsdale College. He has served on the boards of Cleveland Health Network Managed Care Organization and Senior Citizen Resources. 

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

The Sisters of Charity Health System was established in 1982 as the parent corporation for the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Ohio and South Carolina. The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine is a congregation of women religious that, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The health system solely owns three health care ministries, six outreach organizations, and three grantmaking foundations that address causes and consequences of poverty.

The Sisters of Charity Health System includes the following ministries:

• In Cleveland, Ohio: Vincent Charity Community Health Center (formerly St. Vincent Charity Medical Center), St. Vincent Charity Health Campus, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, Joseph & Mary’s Home, Building Healthy Communities, Regina Health Center and Light of Hearts Villa.
• In Canton, Ohio: Early Childhood Resource Center and Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton.
• And across South Carolina: Healthy Learners, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, and South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families.

More information about the Sisters of Charity Health System is at sistersofcharityhealth.org.