Research & Publications †
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Biographical Sketch
Richard P. Kratche, MD, is Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic's Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Kratche came to Cleveland Clinic in 1995 as an associate staff physician. Subsequent positions include acting chair of the Department of Family Medicine and vice chair of the Division of Regional Medical Practice. Board-certified in family medicine, Dr. Kratche is particularly interested in leadership, sports medicine, wellness and electronic medical systems.
Dr. Kratche completed his medical degree at The Ohio State University in Columbus and then did a family practice residency at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J. He returned to Ohio following a fellowship at Columbia University in New York City. He volunteered at the Cleveland Free Clinic for several years.
A fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Kratche has been selected for the “Best Doctors in America” list every year since 2000. He has been listed in “Who’s Who in America,” the Global Register’s “Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals” and “America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals.” In addition to many teaching awards at Cleveland Clinic, he was named “International Health Professional of the Year” in 2005.
Specialty Interests
Leadership, sports medicine, wellness
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.
To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. The Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists
receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, the Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.
As of 4/5/2013, Dr. Kratche has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.
Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers’ discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.
* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.