When “You’re Fine” Isn’t Fine
If you know Ann McBrien, you know she’s a dynamo. A partner for 40 years to her husband, Ed; she is also the mother of Kate, 35, and Matt, 29. A retired entrepreneur and consultant, she broke barriers as the first woman to serve as vice president of sales for Procter & Gamble’s global healthcare division—and still finds time to volunteer, run, play golf and pursue pickleball.
So, when Ann began feeling tired in 2020, it seemed like a cause of concern. “I had known I had a genetic heart valve issue from the time I was in my early 20s,” recalls the 66-year-old. “When I reached my 50s – we were living in Chicago at the time – my doctor told me I should start getting it checked annually.”
In 2015, Ann and her family made the move to Hilton Head, South Carolina where she diligently kept up with her annual echocardiograms. But by 2020, something changed. “I just wasn’t feeling great,” she says. “I had no energy and even going out for a walk left me tired.”
A Phone Call Changes Everything
Suspecting a worsening of her heart condition, Ann knew she had to be frank with her cardiologist. But she found herself disappointed by his response. “He told me, ‘You don’t need an echocardiogram; you’re fine. You’re just getting old.’”
While it took a month of self-advocating, Ann eventually got her echocardiogram. As she feared, the results showed the need for immediate surgery.
The road to treatment continued to be bumpy, leaving Ann both frustrated and a little panicked. When her appointment with an out-of-state cardiac surgeon was abruptly cancelled, a dear friend reached out with lifesaving advice: You should be at Cleveland Clinic, she told Ann. After all, it’s the best hospital for heart care.
Ann’s friend was also a friend of Charlie Miner, a retired managing director of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “I’m going to call Charlie and see what he can do,” the friend promised.
“Cleveland Clinic called me the very next morning,” Ann recalls. “And I was in tears. I said oh, my gosh, you care about me. You care! After all I had gone through up to that point, I just couldn’t believe it.”
After that call, events moved swiftly. Within days, she received a call from the office of Eric Roselli, MD, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery in Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Roselli’s staffer assured Ann that the doctor would review her medical records and would soon be back in touch to discuss the next steps.
“Actually, I was on the golf course, with friends, when Dr. Roselli’s nurse called back – it was in early November – and she said Dr. Roselli could perform my surgery on Nov. 23! I stood right there bawling. I was dumbfounded; it was just incredible.”
A Gift to Support Research
While complex, the surgery – an aortic valve and root replacement – was a complete success, and Ann is now back to her old self, playing tennis, pickleball, golf and running. In fact, in October 2025, at the age of 65, she completed – with her daughter Katie – her first Chicago Marathon. “It still brings tears to my eyes,” Ann says. “We left the starting line together and crossed the finish line together: What a gift.”
Since her surgery, Ann has extended her support to Cleveland Clinic, where she and Ed have become members of the Cornerstone Society. She hopes her generosity can be used for continued research to make surgery, such as the one she had, “easier and better in the future.”
Ann also has a personal investment in the future of cardiac surgery. “I shared some of my same genetic heart valve issues with Katie and Matt,” she says. “Both of them are very healthy now, but they will need to be checked for the rest of their lives.”
Following her surgery, Dr. Roselli told Ann that, thus far, she was one of only a handful of patients on whom he had performed the challenging aortic root and valve replacement surgery, a major cardiac intervention that involved cutting, replacing and moving several coronary arteries to prevent a fatal rupture.
“I’m healthy now,” Ann says. “And Dr. Roselli is a rock star. He truly is. He saved my life and I can’t thank him enough.”
Reflecting on why she cares so deeply about supporting Cleveland Clinic, “They care. That place runs like a well-oiled machine: They call you back, they follow up; they treat you like you’re somebody,” she says. “They really care and I’m so grateful for that.”
Immersive Boot Camps Inspiring Future Nurses
The demand for nurses continues to rise, making the future of healthcare dependent on the next generation stepping forward. At Cleveland Clinic, the Center for Nursing Career Exploration is opening that door early by giving young people in the community the chance to experience nursing in a meaningful, hands‑on way.
Through the Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camp, middle and high school students learn what it’s like to be a nurse, from performing a head-to-toe assessment, to hearing a heartbeat for the first time or drawing blood from a simulation arm. During the boot camp, participants rotate through five stations led by Cleveland Clinic nurses, where they learn through interactive simulations and real‑life scenarios that build clinical skills and the empathy, communication and emotional intelligence essential to nursing.
“Students really get to see what it's like to be a nurse,” says Theresa Russo, Program Manager, Nursing Education and Professional Development. “After a day packed with hands-on learning, the boot camp wraps up with the creative ‘Escape Your Shift’ activity. In this final challenge, students put everything they learn into practice, working together just like real nurses to solve problems and manage a simulated shift. The activity was designed to help them see how all their new skills come together in a fast-paced, team environment, giving them a true taste of the demands and rewards of nursing.”
Nursing leaders at Cleveland Clinic support the boot camp by engaging and sharing their own career journeys with students. Throughout the boot camp, they develop real-world skills, like CPR, hand hygiene and spotting stroke symptoms — practical knowledge they can use and share in their communities.
“Students discover what B.E. F.A.S.T. means, the acronym for stroke warning signs, at boot camp,” says Linda Gardner, DNP, MEd, RN, Senior Director, Nursing Education and Professional Development. “We make sure everything they learn is practical and relevant, not just for the classroom but for their everyday lives. When they leave, they take B.E. F.A.S.T. magnets home as a lasting reminder and a tool to help them teach others how to spot stroke symptoms. The knowledge they gain here keeps making an impact, long after boot camp ends.”
In 2025, eight boot camps were held, welcoming 250 participants from nearly 100 different schools. The boot camps took place at multiple Cleveland Clinic locations across Northeast Ohio, all made possible through a Catalyst Grant awarded to Dr. Gardner, Theresa and Cheryl Causey, MSN, RN, Education Manager, Nursing Education and Professional Development.
“The Catalyst Grant has equipped us with essential resources to advance program development and has promoted continuous engagement among our student participants,” says Dr. Gardner. “Through expanded outreach and enhanced educational opportunities, the grant has enabled us to contribute significantly to the advancement of the nursing pipeline. The benefits to future nurses are substantial, and we look forward to further progress in this initiative.”
The team hopes that the participants who are educated through these boot camps will one day walk back through Cleveland Clinic’s doors as nurses. The interest in the Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camp exists, but what’s needed now is the funding to keep that momentum alive.
Together, We’re Bringing More Care Closer to Home
Dear Friends and Partners,
Thank you for your continued support of Cleveland Clinic in Florida and for the role you play in advancing healthcare across our region. Your generosity is helping drive meaningful progress—particularly in one of our most critical priorities: physician recruitment.
Over the past year, we have welcomed a significant number of new physicians across a wide range of specialties. This momentum reflects both the growing needs of our communities and Cleveland Clinic’s ability to attract outstanding clinical talent committed to our mission. As a result, more patients are gaining access to high-quality, specialized care close to home.
This progress is the result of thoughtful strategy and strong clinical leadership. I am especially grateful to Sarah Vogler, MD, MBA, our market Chief of Staff, who has been instrumental in guiding physician recruitment across the Florida market. Together with our physician leaders, Dr. Vogler ensures that each recruitment effort strengthens our care teams, supports long-term growth and upholds the standards our patients expect.
Looking ahead, our focus remains on building for the future. We have ambitious plans to continue growing our physician workforce in key specialties aligned with the needs of our region. These physicians are more than additions to our roster—they are caregivers and innovators who choose Cleveland Clinic in Florida because of its culture, values and commitment to excellence.
Your philanthropic support makes this progress possible. It enables us to attract exceptional physicians, expand programs and ensure our teams have the resources needed to deliver world-class care. Together, we are shaping the future of medicine in Florida.
Thank you for your partnership and your continued belief in our mission.
With appreciation and optimism,
Conor P. Delaney, MD, PhD
President
Cleveland Clinic Florida Market
