Dr. Robert Falcone's Legacy: A Decade of Transformative Leadership at Columbus Medical Association
When it comes to healthcare leadership, few individuals can boast a legacy as impactful as Dr. Robert Falcone, the CEO of the Columbus Medical Association and its affiliates (CMAA). After eight years of dedicated service, Dr. Falcone is preparing to embark on a new journey. As Dr. Falcone prepares for his new path, he expresses his confidence in the continued growth of the CMAA.
“It all starts with the Columbus Medical Association,” says Dr. Falcone. “All the affiliates came from the CMA, from passionate physicians who had an idea that was unique and needed support to get it off the ground and get it moving.”
One of the key achievements highlighted by Dr. Falcone is the expansion and support provided to CMA affiliates in the last few decades. The Columbus Medical Association Foundation, a strong advocate for public good, has seen remarkable growth in its corpus, reaching $100 million while giving away $4 million annually. Dr. Falcone acknowledges the crucial role played by the foundation's board and leaders such as Dr. Mark Parnes and Jim Nichols in achieving this feat.
Dr. Falcone says, “The money provides seed funding for new organizations and provides operating support for our older organizations.”
The success stories extend to affiliate organizations like COTS, which, under his and Sherri Kovac’s dynamic leadership, have played vital roles in coordinating and improving patient care, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Patients got great care during the two-year period of our COVID pandemic.” Falcone explains. “I'm most proud of the fact that because we have such cooperation between our Columbus hospitals, we were able to stand up a field hospital for COVID in the Greater Columbus Convention Center in a matter of 14 days, 1000 beds, 14 days.”
Watch Dr. Falcone reflect on his time here as CEO
Dr. Falcone takes pride in contributing to the advancement of not just COTS, but other CMA affiliates such as Physicians CareConnection, Made for Medicine, and Physicians Leadership Academy.
“The collective effort of leaders, staff, volunteers, and external partners have played pivotal roles in making the Columbus Medical Association and its affiliates a beacon of excellence focused on the public good.” Dr. Falcone explains.
As he reflects on the transformative changes witnessed under his tenure, it becomes evident that Dr. Falcone’s vision and leadership has significantly shaped the landscape of healthcare in Central Ohio. From disaster planning to innovative programs like Doc to Doc and Women in Medicine, the future appears bright for CMAA.
In his own words, Dr. Falcone encapsulates the essence of his tenure, stating, "It's been a real pleasure to lead these organizations, and I look forward to seeing what's going to be next."
As the Central Ohio healthcare community bids farewell to a transformative leader, Dr. Falcone's legacy is etched in the successes and innovations that have positioned the Columbus Medical Association and its affiliates as a model for healthcare organizations nationwide.