David Sylvan

Bio

David Sylvan was appointed Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of University Hospitals, a comprehensive health system with annual revenues of $5.4 billion, 21 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices located throughout 16 counties, in October 2023. He is also President of UH Ventures, the innovation and commercialization arm of University Hospitals.

As Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Mr. Sylvan's responsibilities span core operations, industry partnerships, technology transfer, commercialization, investments, business development and strategic initiatives. Collaborating with UH leaders and the broader ecosystem, his team propels system growth through fresh business ventures and program expansions. He also identifies, evaluates and recommends opportunities for acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and more.

As President of UH Ventures since 2020, Mr. Sylvan and his team leverage UH Ventures’ design and process expertise alongside the Strategy & Planning platform, accelerating UH’s position as the premier healthcare provider in Northeast Ohio. This role places him at the forefront of UH's efforts to drive system-wide transformation, streamline clinical operations and expand its impact on healthcare delivery and wellness. Mr. Sylvan is directly responsible for strategic planning, spearheading innovative initiatives, identifying disruptive healthcare trends and aligning them with UH's mission. His team fosters a culture of innovation and integrates advanced technology solutions to ensure patient care excellence, enhance caregiver experiences and maintain financial sustainability.

Mr. Sylvan has over 35 years of diverse corporate experience, including a 15-year capital markets and investment banking tenure with Keybank Capital Markets, leading derivatives’ structuring and trading, and public finance teams across the country. Prior to that, he worked eight years at sports marketing giant, IMG. Mr. Sylvan started his career in public accounting with Deloitte in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr. Sylvan serves on various boards, either as a member or advisor, including Ohio Life Sciences, Axuall, Inc., Unify Labs, Farmers National Bank of Canfield, BioEnterprise, Hospice of The Western Reserve at University Hospitals, LLC, and Hawken School. He serves as interim CEO and Board Member for Paradigm, a Singapore-based FinTech firm.

Mr. Sylvan was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the top 113 Healthcare Leaders in 2022.

Mr. Sylvan is an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University’s (CWRU) Weatherhead School of Business in the department of Design & Innovation, where he mentors and coaches students and practitioners throughout their professional journeys. He is also a frequent panelist and contributor at industry-specific forums.

Mr. Sylvan received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Law from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the CWRU Weatherhead School of Management.