Meet Michael Lawson

Michael Lawson provides strategic and operational senior leadership as president of OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Bone and Joint Center at Grant, other outpatient clinics and Emergency Medical Services across the OhioHealth system. He also has matrixed oversight of OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital, the OhioHealth Freestanding Emergency Department Network and OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus. In addition, he is a member of OhioHealth’s finance and staffing review corporate committees.

Lawson is the executive sponsor of the medical campus transformation strategic initiative and the diversity, inclusion and equity committee. He is also responsible for partnering with OhioHealth executive leadership to develop a market-based strategic plan for the surrounding south Columbus communities that OhioHealth serves.

Michael has over 30 years of healthcare management, operations and strategic program development experience. He joined OhioHealth in 2009 as Grant’s chief operating officer. He was named president in 2013. In his various roles as president, he served as hospital and market president, partnering with medical staff and leadership to improve quality, safety and patient care, support philanthropy, promote efficient operations and provide senior leadership for the development, operation and strategic oversight of hospitals, Freestanding EDs and ambulatory facilities.

Michael began his career at the Cleveland Clinic in 1985 performing chest X-rays. From 1994 to 2001, he transitioned into administration and held progressive management positions that advanced from an administrator role to senior level vice president positions responsible for service line, hospital-based and health system operations. From 2006 to 2013, he gained experience serving as right-hand to hospital presidents in roles such as the vice president of operations and chief operating officer at the Cleveland Clinic and then at OhioHealth. Since 2013 to present, strategically he has held the president role responsible for hospital and corporate executive duties and responsibilities.

Michael has published several books and articles on healthcare and leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University and received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Cleveland State University.

Michael serves as a board member advisor for Franklin University.  He is a member of the national organization called Executive Leadership Council. Previously, he served on the boards for the Med-flight and Med-care, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Westerville Endoscopy Center, Eastside Surgery Center and Downtown Endoscopy Center. He is a member of the national Executive Leadership Council, American College of Healthcare Executives, Medical Group Management and National Association of Health Service Executives.

He personally created scholarship and health education funds to support chronic disease management and assist nurses and support service frontline staff in their continuing education.  He enjoys investing, traveling, reading, publishing, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.