Passport Health Communications, Inc. is pleased to announce that Dr. Floyd Loop, a highly-regarded healthcare pioneer, has recently joined the company's Board of Directors.

Dr. Loop retired as chairman and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in October 2004 after 15 years of service and currently serves as a consultant to the Foundation. Founded in 1921, the Foundation integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education in a private, nonprofit group practice. Under Dr. Loop's leadership, The Cleveland Clinic grew in revenue from $674 million in 1989 to $3.6 billion in 2004. The Cleveland Clinic Health System is comprised of 14 family health centers, five ambulatory surgery centers, and 12 hospitals.

"We are honored to have Dr. Loop join Passport's leadership team," confirmed Jim Lackey, CEO and Chairman. "It is rare to find an individual that has so successfully coupled exceptional business acumen with a lifelong passion for healing. Dr. Loop will be instrumental to Passport's delivery of healthcare solutions through technology."

Dr. Loop practiced cardiothoracic surgery for 30 years, including more than 12,000 open-heart operations, and headed the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic from 1975 to 1989. He is a member of numerous academic societies related to specialty medicine. He has chaired the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery. From 1999 to 2002, he was a commissioner on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

Dr. Loop has served on the editorial boards of 15 medical journals. He is the author of more than 350 clinical research papers, including the landmark study of internal thoracic artery grafting that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1986.

He has served as president of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and an honored guest lecturer at the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He is an honorary member of a dozen international medical organizations.

He has been an active participant in community service organizations. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including being listed repeatedly among the Best Doctors in America by U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Loop serves on the board for several public and private healthcare companies. He earned his bachelor of science degree from Purdue University and his medical doctorate from George Washington University.