Media Contact: Kelly Woodard: (216) 250-6146; klwoodard@cuyahogacounty.us

The newly created position will advance pathways to tackle justice issues, address health disparities

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is pleased to announce Laurel Domanski Diaz as the new Justice and Health Equity Officer. Diaz will start her new position on April 15, 2024.

“We are thrilled to welcome Laurel Domanski Diaz as our new Justice and Health Equity Officer. Her experience and passion for social justice and healthcare make her an ideal candidate to lead our efforts in addressing disparities in justice outcomes and promoting health equity in Cuyahoga County,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.

Diaz has over 20 years of experience in safety-net healthcare operations. For the past five years, she served as the Administrator of Correctional Medicine for the MetroHealth System. In this role, she directed the Correctional Medicine program for MetroHealth in the Cuyahoga County Jail, ensuring that high quality services were provided in an efficient and compassionate way to all patients/inmates in the facility. Prior to that role, Diaz served as the Chief Operating Officer at the federally qualified health center, Neighborhood Family Practice. She served in a variety of operations roles throughout her 11 years of work with the organization, which included ensuring efficient operations, providing financially productive programs, and delivering high-quality care.

As Justice and Health Equity Officer, Diaz will spearhead initiatives aimed at addressing disparities in access to justice and healthcare services, including a direct role in the creation of the county’s Central Services Campus in Garfield Heights. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, the officer will work to dismantle systemic barriers and promote fairness, dignity, and wellness for all residents of Cuyahoga County.

“The position represents a significant step forward in efforts to improve justice and health outcomes for our residents. By building partnerships and creating innovative programming, this position will help my administration deliver a more just and resilient Cuyahoga County,” remarks Executive Ronayne.

Diaz will work closely with Clerk of Courts Nailah Byrd who will lead the County’s upstream justice efforts including the implementation of Central Booking at the County Jail, bail reform, and juvenile justice issues. Diaz will also collaborate with Public Safety and Justice Services Director Brandy Carney who guides the county’s diversion efforts and will lead on strategies to optimize the County’s Diversion Center, which helps divert people who are battling mental illness and addiction from arrest.

Diaz received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Dayton and a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University. She is also active in her community serving on the Woodruff Foundation Board of Directors, as a volunteer at the Urban Community School, and previously served on the Board of Directors of the May Dugan Center.

The Justice and Health Equity Officer position is grant-funded by The George Gund Foundation. View the images and photos.