Miami, Cleveland Clinic expand partnership with facility naming

Miami University’s newest hub for healthcare education and student wellness now carries the name of one of the world’s top medical institutions.

Cleveland Clinic will provide $44 million over 16 years under a naming rights agreement. Officials from the university and the world-renowned medical facility first announced the agreement in mid-September. A formal ribbon-cutting and signage unveiling for the Cleveland Clinic Health Sciences and Wellness building took place Oct. 15 on Miami’s Oxford, Ohio, main campus.

“The naming rights agreement is a continuation of our ever-growing partnership,” said Ande Durojaiye, Miami’s VP of strategy and partnerships. “With an aim at developing the talent to meet the state’s healthcare workforce needs, the Cleveland Clinic Health Sciences and Wellness facility serves as a symbol of Miami’s student-first philosophy and the Clinic’s commitment to patients.”

A bridge for students, innovation

The facility, built in 2023, spans 165,000 square feet and blends classrooms, simulation labs and clinics serving 1,300 students across multiple healthcare majors. Campus health services include Student Counseling, the Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Office of Student Wellness, offering preventative and educational resources.

Miami’s introduction to Cleveland Clinic came through alum Don Sinko, who recently retired as the medical network’s chief integrity officer.

Founded in 1921, Cleveland Clinic regularly ranks among the top medical institutions worldwide. The nonprofit academic medical center integrates patient care with research and education and has pioneered breakthroughs such as coronary artery bypass surgery and the first U.S. face transplant. 

With more than 82,000 employees, 23 hospitals and 280 outpatient facilities worldwide, the Clinic recorded over 15 million outpatient visits and 320,000 surgeries in 2024.

Durojaiye said the partnership gives Miami students real-world experience at one of the nation’s top healthcare systems while establishing a physical presence in northeast Ohio. This collaboration allows the school’s faculty, staff and students to engage directly with the Cleveland innovation district, he added.

“The Cleveland Clinic partnership not only enhances learning for our students,” Durojaiye said, “it positions Ohio as a global leader in healthcare innovation while creating opportunities for research and collaboration that will benefit the state and our students for years to come.”

Expanding opportunities to med professionals

Over the past year, the partnership has grown to meet student demand and state workforce needs, fueling collaborations in healthcare education, nursing and entrepreneurship.

In January, Miami and Cleveland Clinic launched Ohio’s first specialized degree programs and research experiences in quantum computing to cultivate scientific and entrepreneurial talent. Six months later, the State of Ohio awarded Miami $7 million to help establish the Ohio Institute for Quantum Computing Research, Talent and Commercialization, accessible to all Ohio higher education institutions.

“At Cleveland Clinic, we are committed to leveraging quantum and high-performance computing to transform biomedical research,” said Dr. Serpil Erzurum, chief research and academic officer for Cleveland Clinic. She added that the Miami initiative is helping to prepare the workforce of tomorrow and fostering collaboration across medicine, education and technology.

“Through our educational partnership with Miami University, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem to attract, develop and retain top talent,” she continued.

Miami University