CLEVELAND CLINIC RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY, EMPLOYEE LEADERS AT ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF CELEBRATION. - States News Service

CLEVELAND, OH -- The following information was released by the Cleveland Clinic:

Cleveland Clinic employees and community members will join in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Friday, January 13, 2012, at the InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center, 9801 Carnegie Ave., in Cleveland.

The program begins at 7:15 a.m. with an interfaith service led by the Rev. Christine Thompson, a Cleveland-based pastor for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and continues with a breakfast program at 8 a.m.

The morning includes a keynote address from the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., Pastor Emeritus of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, and the presentation of the Cleveland Clinic Lifetime of Service Award to the Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, who is retiring as Senior Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland to become the 12th President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is among the school's alumni.

Dr. McMickle is the second recipient of the award, which was established by Cleveland Clinic to honor and thank a serving leader who has exhibited extraordinary strength of spirit and remarkable efforts in their public service. Dr. Moss was the first recipient in 2011.

Dr. McMickle is widely known as a prophetic minister, scholarly lecturer and thought-provoking writer. He was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. He is author of 14 books, as well as 80 sermons and articles on topics such African-American heritage, marriage and cancer. At Antioch Baptist Church, Dr. McMickle led the congregation in organizing a special ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS and he chronicled his bout with prostate cancer in the book, Battling Prostate Cancer: Getting from 'Why Me' to 'What Next.'

'During his time in Northeast Ohio, Dr. McMickle has built a legacy of advocacy and caring in our community, marked by efforts that support individuals seeking better health and fulfillment,' said Cleveland Clinic CEO Delos M. 'Toby' Cosgrove, MD.

Cleveland Clinic's 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration will also include recognition of hospital employees who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the community.

More information about the Office of Diversity is available at www.ClevelandClinic.org/Diversity.

Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News and World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual 'America's Best Hospitals' survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals and 18 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 167,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.