Transforming supply chain operations with a digital strategy

Author's Biography

Sarah Charai is the Executive Director of Supply Chain Operations at Cleveland Clinic, where she leads strategic and operational initiatives to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care through an efficient, resilient and innovative supply chain. With a focus on operational excellence, Sarah leads a team of 525 caregivers that oversee the end-to-end flow of goods and services, aligning supply chain strategies with the organisation’s mission of putting patients first. Since joining Cleveland Clinic, Sarah has championed process improvements, strengthened vendor partnerships and implemented data-driven decision-making solutions to optimise inventory, distribution and logistics. She works closely with clinical leaders to ensure that supply chain solutions directly support patient care outcomes, safety and efficiency. Sarah has over 22 years’ experience in healthcare supply chain management, combining a background in both sourcing and operations with a deep commitment to service excellence. She is recognised for her ability to lead cross-functional teams, foster collaboration and build adaptive systems capable of responding to the rapidly changing demands of healthcare. Beyond her operational role, Sarah is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and driving innovation that improves both caregiver support and patient experience. Her leadership reflects the values of quality, integrity, teamwork and continuous improvement. Sarah is an active member of industry organisations dedicated to advancing supply chain best practices in healthcare.

Geoffrey Gates is the Senior Director of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Technology for Supply Chain and Support Services at Cleveland Clinic, where he leads a multidisciplinary team spanning the US and the UK. With nearly two decades’ experience in healthcare operations, Geoffrey oversees data management, analytics, technology deployment and innovation initiatives that support Cleveland Clinic’s global footprint. Since joining Cleveland Clinic in 2018 as Materials Management Director, Geoffrey has played a pivotal role in transforming supply chain operations. He led the successful consolidation of five enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems into a single cloud-based platform across Ohio, Florida and Nevada, and supported the launch of new hospitals in the UK and Ohio. His team also standardised food service technology and introduced cutting-edge solutions such as pharmacy drone delivery, inventory management automation and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven procurement tools. His strategic vision emphasises resilience, transparency and collaboration with suppliers to create end-to-end visibility across the supply chain. Prior to Cleveland Clinic, Geoffrey held multiple leadership roles at Cardinal Health, including Director of Operations and Process Improvement Consultant, where he earned his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Geoffrey holds a bachelor of science in business management from Purdue University and a master of science in global supply chain management from Indiana University. His leadership continues to shape the future of healthcare logistics, driving innovation and efficiency in one of the world’s leading medical institutions.