A Family Legacy of Good Brain Health
Because Cleveland Clinic’s Brain Study seeks to analyze the brains—as well as bodies—of thousands of adults as they age, its success hinges on the involvement of volunteer participants.
Meet Bonnie Festi, an enthusiastic 67-year-old participant who lives in Jackson Township, Ohio. Having retired two years ago from working as a project manager, she now devotes time to creating artwork, her favorite mediums being acrylic paints and mixed media. She’s also a passionate rock concertgoer who travels far and wide to see her favorite bands.
A few things drew Bonnie to enroll in the Cleveland Clinic Brain Study—chief among them, the remarkable brain health history of her family. She grew up around numerous relatives who remained mentally sharp as they aged. Her grandmother lived to be 95, and most of Bonnie’s great-aunts lived into their 90s, with one of them living to 103. “They were all quilting and playing cards into their old age,” Bonnie recalls. Her mother retained her cognitive abilities until her 90s, living till almost 96, and her father continued reading, watching sports and following the stock market until he passed away just shy of his 95th birthday.
Amid the longevity and mental acuity in her family life, Bonnie experienced a tragic loss when her oldest sister, Kathyleen, died of glioblastoma, a brain cancer, in her mid-40s. The diagnosis was a heartbreaking anomaly in a family blessed with excellent health.
Given this family backdrop, Bonnie was eager to enroll in Cleveland Clinic’s Brain Study. She’s now in her third year of participation. Speaking about her experience in the study navigating different mental exercises, she says, “I think it’s fun and interesting because I like to do puzzles. I like to figure things out.” Bonnie seeks opportunities to challenge herself daily. She plays bridge and strategy games that stimulate her to think, always trying to best her previous scores.
What is the Cleveland Clinic Brain Study?
The study annually collects a wide range of data from each participant through various means. Memory assessments entail recalling words read aloud and faces that appear on a screen. Balance and gait are evaluated as participants walk back and forth down a corridor. Their voices are recorded as they describe an illustration aloud. And participants’ noses are put to work as they embark on a series of smell tests reminiscent of scratch n’ sniff. The comprehensive evaluation provides investigators with biomarkers to track long-term.
Lisa Ellison, Research Administrator with the Cleveland Clinic Brain Study, notes the invaluable role of volunteer participants: “What is going to make the difference is the people who are willing to donate their time and their energy. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the participants.”
The study is continually accepting new participants, aiming to welcome a total of 20,000 who will be assessed once yearly for up to 20 years. As of May 2025, there are over 3,700 active enrollees who hail from all over the state of Ohio and, remarkably, from 48 states.
While the team will share research findings with the public as they emerge, the final outcomes of this study—earlier diagnoses and improved treatment options for neurological diseases—will likely emerge beyond the lifetimes of today’s participants. Lisa explains: “What we’re here for is future generations. This research may not be of direct benefit to those who are currently participating, since the information we are collecting today will be used to support future neurological research. It’s very altruistic.”
Bonnie is on board with paying it forward, helping to advance scientific research by contributing her time and energy to the groundbreaking study. With her spunky, can-do attitude, she says, “If I can offer something, let’s do it.”
Interested in participating in the Cleveland Clinic Brain Study? Learn more here.
Cardiac Expert Developing New Device to Aid Heart Condition
Even when he’s not physically in the operating room, Jose Navia, MD, is still mentally scrubbed in and looking for new ways to enhance the heart health of his patients.
“I come to work every day thinking of ideas on how to improve the lives of my patients,” says Dr. Navia, a renowned cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and Vice Chief of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Florida. “It's so important for the physician to improve the patient’s quality of life and prolong their life.”
Dr. Navia applied for a Catalyst Grant to develop a device aimed at treating dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that stretches out your heart muscle, causing it to become abnormally large. It starts in the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber, and weakens blood flow to the rest of your body. Alongside a team of engineers and researchers, Dr. Navia is developing a transcatheter device intended to reduce the size of the heart in patients with this condition.
“This would be an elegant solution that is minimally invasive,” says Dr. Navia, the S. Donald Sussman Distinguished Chair in Heart and Vascular Research. “Usually, the patient doesn’t want to have a big surgery. This transcatheter approach would decrease the trauma the patient experiences and increase long-term survival.”
Many people with dilated cardiomyopathy may initially feel fine, showing no signs of the condition. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms begin to emerge and intensify. These can range from chest pain and a persistent cough to dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath. Severe complications include cardiac arrest, blood clots and heart failure.
“It’s crucial to move the field of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery forward and any innovation that fixes a complex problem,” says Dr. Navia. “It makes the lives of people better. We’re extremely happy and honored to be awarded the Catalyst Grant.”
Catalyst Grants, funded annually by thousands of donor gifts, are awarded to caregivers with innovative ideas to improve lives at Cleveland Clinic and beyond. Dr. Navia received a $37,500 Catalyst SPARK award, which includes mentoring, project management and education from the Cleveland Clinic Proof of Concept office to support inventors from idea to invention.
“I think it's a tremendous opportunity to have this jumpstart,” says Dr. Navia. “There are a lot of people with good ideas, but they don't have the funding to really move the needle. So, philanthropy is extremely important to this endeavor. In the end, this is for the patient, and that’s priceless.”
Florida Heart Surgeon is a Philanthropic Hero, Too
Edward Savage, MD, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and regional medical director for supply chain and surgical operations at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, has been a pivotal figure in the organization's growth and transformation. From establishing robust cardiothoracic surgery programs to championing philanthropic efforts, Dr. Savage's journey reflects his dedication to Cleveland Clinic and to advancing patient care.
From Weston to the Treasure Coast
Dr. Savage joined Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in August 2009. His decision to relocate from St. Louis to Florida was motivated by Cleveland Clinic’s stellar reputation and the vast potential offered by a population of six million across Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Seven years ago, Dr. Savage expanded his role to include Cleveland Clinic Martin, where he was tasked with enhancing the heart program. Since then, he has played a critical role in building the busiest thoracic program in Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region.
Supporting Martin Health: A Commitment to Community
Dr. Savage's philanthropic journey began several years ago. Reflecting on his decision to support Cleveland Clinic Martin, he shares, "I have benefitted tremendously from working for this organization, both in terms of satisfaction and opportunity. When my kids were out of college, I decided that now that I am in a position to do so, I should start supporting programs that I ask others to support.” His utilization of philanthropic funds has helped secure state-of-the-art equipment, including an ION robotic bronchoscopy machine for lung biopsies.
Encouraging Others to Give
A donor at the Barstow-Reed Society level, Dr. Savage encourages others to support Cleveland Clinic Martin and leads by example. "Martin is a vital organization that serves a lot of people in the community, many of whom are self-pay patients,” he said. “If we’re going to ask people to give, we should show them that we are personally investing in the organization.”
When participating in donor tours of the hospital, he emphasizes the importance of philanthropy in attracting top-tier physicians and providing them with the tools they need to excel. “I also tell donors what we’ve accomplished. Our commitment to quality and continuous improvement sets us apart from other hospitals in the area.”
Thrive With Pride: Health and Wellness Fair Celebrates Five Years
Certain healthcare services are key to early detection, intervention and even prevention. However, some members of our community may have limited access or no access at all to these essential services. This sparked a caregiver at Cleveland Clinic to create an annual health and wellness day, now in its fifth year, geared toward uninsured and underinsured LGBTQ+ individuals.
Ty Stimpert, a Program Manager at Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, started the Thrive with Pride event where health screenings and services, like mammograms, HIV/STI testing, vaccinations and more are provided at no cost at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
“It really started from the ground up,” says Ty. “This idea has blossomed into a full-fledged annual event that's now part of the Pride in the CLE’s programming, so I am very proud of that.”
With the help of a Catalyst Grant, he has been able to expand upon this much-needed event by offering additional screenings, like pulmonary function testing, vision tests and oral cancer exams. Transportation barriers for attendees coming from B. Riley House, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and other community partners have also been successfully addressed.
“You can get all of these things done in one place on one day, which is incredibly convenient, especially for folks who have to work every day, have crazy schedules or don’t have transportation,” says Ty.
Catalyst Grants are funded annually by thousands of gifts of all sizes from donors. The competitive grants are awarded to caregivers with ideas to improve the lives of Cleveland Clinic patients, the organization and communities around the world. Ty was awarded $7,500.
“Providing these services is so important,” says Ty. “It's what I do every day, and I'm very passionate about it. I'm really grateful to feel supported by Cleveland Clinic, by my management and by the Catalyst Grant program as well.”
Thrive with Pride continues to evolve each year, focusing on addressing social determinants of health, which are the personal, social and environmental factors that shape one’s health and well-being. The event connects individuals to primary care services and is becoming more accessible and inclusive to all participants, including those who are Spanish-speaking or people with disabilities.
“At this event, specifically, I appreciate seeing the interconnectedness between the community and Cleveland Clinic―I don't get to see that in a lot of places,” says Ty. “Thrive with Pride is one of the most palpable spaces to witness what meaningful partnership and visibility can look like.”
This year’s Thrive with Pride takes place on June 25 from 1-7 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
