Cleveland Clinic Akron General Lodi Hospital Welcomes New Nurse Executive

Experienced nurse leader John T. Baker, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, has been named Vice President of Nursing and Operations at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Lodi Hospital.

Providing community-based healthcare since 1920, Lodi Hospital is a designated 25-bed critical access hospital that offers services such as acute and skilled care, occupational care, radiology, emergency care and more.

In his new position, Baker is responsible for clinical and operational management of nursing services, ancillary clinical areas and support services. Among his duties, he will help lead and develop Lodi Hospital’s strategic planning process and program prioritization, including goals and objectives, operating policies and cost-reduction initiatives.

“We are thrilled to welcome John to Cleveland Clinic’s executive nurse leader team and to Lodi Hospital,” says Cleveland Clinic Executive Chief Nursing Officer Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC. “Throughout his tenured career, he has proven to be a highly effective leader who is committeed to Cleveland Clinic, our caregivers and our patients. His patient-centered mindset and passion for high-quality nursing care will no doubt serve our Lodi Hospital community very well.”

Two decades of experience and expertise

Bringing more than 20 years of nursing experience to the table, Baker has worked for multiple healthcare organizations, departments and nursing units.

He began his nursing career at Hattie Larlham, caring for children with severe developmental disabilities. For nearly 10 years, he served the pediatric patient population at Akron Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

Among other management and leadership positions, he spent time as a quality director for Cleveland Clinic’s renown Heart and Vascular Institute. And, most recently, he served as nursing director for inpatient services and interim chief nursing officer at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital, where he played a significant role in the hospital’s attainment of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet® designation.

A service-first leader

With passion and vision, Baker’s leadership style is one that positions him as a mentor and resource to team members – from nursing directors and managers to educators, clinical specialists and staff.

He is known for his dedication to creating environments where caregivers can excel and patients can receive superior healthcare. Baker is an avid proponent of workplace and caregiver engagement. He values the importance of caregiver development, such as ensuring caregivers are current in both practice and policy. And, he is heavily invested in areas like personnel management and productivity.

Continuous improvement is also a top priority for Baker – as is fiscal responsibility and compliance with clinical standards and other regulatory requirements.

Baker is a member of several professional nursing associations and organizations and is currently serving as vice chair of ANCC’s Content Expert Panel for Nurse Executive Advanced Certification. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Chamberlain College, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and a Master of Business Administration degree from Kent State University.

Baker served in the United States Army for 6 years, receiving honorable discharge in 1993.