Image source: The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity website
Both a CEO and a doctor, Dr. Toby Cosgrove presides over the prestigious Cleveland Clinic and was once a cardiac surgeon. However, he struggled mightily in college because of his dyslexia.
While at Williams College, he was faced with rigorous coursework but learned the values of perseverance and a strong worth ethic. Though dyslexia was not a known disability, he went undiagnosed and continued to work out throughout school.
However, in medical school, he continued his work ethic, and because of his perseverance, left medical school with an excellent resume. Cosgrove went on to be a cardiac surgeon, performing hundreds of surgeries a year and gained international renown before joining the Cleveland Clinic.
Cosgrove was appointed CEO of the Cleveland Clinic in 2004 and has made outstanding expansions to the Clinic, making it one of the leaders in medicine in the world. He credits his success as CEO to his creativity, which was a result of his dyslexia.
"We’re not very good at the scholastic stuff, but we see other things that are different," he said. "And that's a big advantage."
Currently, Cosgrove is continuing his work at the Clinic by expanding resources to local high schools, nursing homes, and hunger centers in the Cleveland area, hoping to pique others’ interests while making an impact in the medical field.
To read his full biography, visit The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity website.