Summary
John T. Baker, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, is chief nursing officer (CNO) for Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital. Leading with quality, continuous improvement and patient and caregiver experience at the forefront, Dr. Baker oversees Union Hospital’s nursing team and practice. Previously, he was vice president of nursing and operations at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Lodi Hospital where he was responsible for clinical and operational management of nursing services, ancillary clinical areas and support services. He helped lead and develop Lodi Hospital’s strategic planning process and program prioritization, including goals and objectives, operating policies and cost-reduction initiatives. Prior to joining Lodi Hospital, Baker held positions at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital as nursing director for inpatient services and interim CNO. His leadership was significant in South Pointe’s attainment of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) coveted Magnet® designation.
With a quarter century of nursing expertise and experience, Dr. Baker 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. He also spent time as a quality director for Cleveland Clinic’s renown Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute. One of Dr. Baker’s notable career successes includes operationalizing a pediatric vascular access team and co-creating a vascular access algorithm to reduce attempts for intravenous therapy. 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. Dr. Baker served in the United States Army for six years, receiving honorable discharge in 1993. He is nurse executive advanced board-certified and a member of several nursing organizations and associations.
Education
- DNP, Chamberlain University College of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio, 2019
- MBA in Executive Healthcare, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 2011
- MSN in Nursing Administration, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 2007
- BSN, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 1998
Certifications
- Board-Certified Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Contact Information
Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital
659 Boulevard Street
Dover, Ohio 44622
330.364.0807, ext. 2407
bakerj10@ccf.org
Leadership
Dr. Baker is known for his passion to provide high quality nursing care and deliver patients exceptional care experiences. At Lodi Hospital, he led the establishment of services such as telemedicine for inpatient night coverage and a primary care virtual room, as well as the initiation of pain services. He is an avid proponent of workplace and caregiver engagement, as well as continuous improvement. As a leader, he aims to guide and supervise, while acting as a resource to nursing directors, managers, educators, clinical specialists and staff. He continuously collaborates with fellow leaders to ensure success in areas such as fiscal responsibility, personnel management, productivity and staff development. He values the importance of keeping nursing caregivers current in practice and policy and strives to continually ensure compliance with clinical standards and other regulatory requirements.
Clinical Practice & Teaching
Clinical Practice
Dr. Baker’s clinical area of expertise is in pediatric nursing.
Teaching
Dr. Baker strongly believes in coaching, mentoring and developing nursing professionals — from new registered nurses to tenured executives. At Hattie Larlham he served as a nursing training coordinator, where he provided training, continuing education and annual competency testing for approximately 50 nurses and 100 nurses’ aides. As he continued in his career, he worked to develop and mentor nursing leaders. While at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, for example, he coordinated and facilitated an ANCC nurse executive review course for 70 nurse leaders across the health system. In January 2022, he became a capstone mentor for the Northeast Ohio Medical University Masters of Leadership in Health Systems Science program.
Research & Publications
Throughout his career, Dr. Baker has delivered podium and poster presentations on topics including pediatric infection control, parents’ attitudes about the influenza vaccine and more. His work on improving infection control compliance using isolation signs was published in the American Journal of Infection Control in 2011. Additionally, in 2018, the Journal of Pediatric Nursing showcased his success in pediatric vascular access.
Professional Involvement
- Vice Chair, Content Expert Panel for Nurse Executive Advanced Certification, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Member, Akron Regional Hospital Association Board of Directors
- Member, Union Hospital Board of Directors
- Past Member, Akron General Medical Center Board of Directors
- Past Member, Lodi Community Hospital Ancillary Board
Honors & Awards
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
- United States Army, Active Service with Honorable Discharge, 1987-1993
