Northeast Ohio Medical University Promotes Stilliana to Vice President for Government and External Affairs

Northeast Ohio Medical University has appointed John J. Stilliana, M.A., as the University’s new vice president for government and external affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

The appointment is a promotion for Stilliana, who currently serves as the University’s director of state government and external affairs. In this role, he initiated the concept of instituting an opioid curriculum to be shared among Ohio’s seven medical schools. The concept was adopted by the Ohio Council of Medical Deans. Stilliana helped secure state capital funding amounting to $2.1 million in 2016 and $2.8 million in 2018.

Stilliana has had extensive experience in government affairs, working for elected officials and in politics for over 20 years. He started his career in state government as a campaign manager for the Republican challenger‘s congressional campaign in Ohio’s former 17th District in 1998.

“John is a proven leader with in-depth government and community relations expertise,” noted Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED. “His knowledge, strategic approach and vision will support the University’s mission moving forward.”

Prior to his arrival at Northeast Ohio Medical University, Stilliana held various positions in U.S. and county government, including working with U.S. Sen. George Voinovich as well as with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. He began his tenure at NEOMED in February 2011 as the associate director of governmental relations. In this capacity, he was responsible for government relations on the state level and regularly met with legislators and staff on issues relating to NEOMED and higher education.

Stilliana led an initiative to have Bio-Med Science Academy be recognized as a state certified STEM+M school. He was also instrumental in obtaining recognition by Ohio’s governor for Bio-Med Science Academy as one of the top seven schools in the state.

Stilliana earned a B.A. in history and political science at Youngstown State University and an M.A. in history from Cleveland State University. He will succeed Richard Lewis, vice president for external affairs, who announced in August that he planned to retire, effective Dec. 31, 2018.

About Northeast Ohio Medical University

For more than 40 years, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has worked in collaboration with its educational, clinical and research partners to successfully train health professionals and medical researchers who serve and impact the region and beyond. The University trains students in a team-based, interprofessional environment and offers Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees, in addition to master’s and doctoral degrees and research opportunities in other medical areas. www.neomed.edu.

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