From Inspiration to Success
Tara Burton recently joined Cleveland Clinic Main Campus as Assistant Director of Nursing after serving as RN Manager for Clinical Operations at Cleveland Clinic Nevada’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. There, she directed the clinical planning and oversight for the concierge medicine practice which opened in August 2025, and collaborated on developing the executive practice, scheduled to open at the end of 2026. She relocated to join the team at Main Campus and help shape the future of patient care at the state-of-the-art Neurological Institute when it opens its doors in early 2027.

A Las Vegas native, Tara was first inspired to pursue a nursing career after her husband underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, made possible by a donation from his mother. “The nurses made an incredible impact on me and our family through their compassion and expertise,” Tara says. “The kidney transplant itself…the genuine care. It helped us through one of the most challenging times of our lives.”

Tara instinctively knew that she wanted to pursue a nursing career. “It continues to remind me why I chose this profession and to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives by caring for them with both my skills and compassion.”

Two Decades of Experience
Ater earning her bachelor’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College, Tara began in the ICU, moved into post-anesthesia care, and later served as a charge nurse at Dignity Health. She helped lead the hospital through its transition from a Level III to a Level II Trauma Center and the opening of a new patient tower.

She later moved into the biopharmaceutical and medical device industry, where she gained experience working with a wide range of health systems, insurers and overlooked rural communities. As a clinical resource director, she served as the bridge between hospital operations and supply chain, implementing cost-saving initiatives while expanding her expertise in budgeting, benchmarking and key performance indicators.

A Relationship that Opened Doors
As Cleveland Clinic prepares to open its new Neurological Institute, Tara learned of a leadership opening through Main Campus colleagues Melanie Cook (Assistant Director of Nursing) and Kristen Vargo (Director of Nursing), who had personal experience working with her. Impressed with her performance, they encouraged her to pursue the co-Assistant Director of Nursing role even though taking the position meant more than a new title – it meant relocating across the country from Nevada and joining a new team during an exciting period of growth and innovation.

Once Tara and her husband decided to make the move for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they settled in the Scranton Peninsula, a newly established waterfront neighborhood in the Flats.

Same Cleveland Clinic, Different Vibe
No two Cleveland Clinic locations are exactly alike. Tara explains, “Cleveland Clinic Nevada has a unique feel. Because it’s a smaller campus with an iconic cultural presence, there’s a close-knit, family-like culture where people know one another across departments.”

“The pace on Main Campus pace is faster and complexity is greater, and there are so many specialties, resources and experts working together every day,” Tara continues.

“I’m excited to be able to take the relationship-focused leadership style I developed in Las Vegas and apply it within a much larger, more complex healthcare environment while continuing to learn and grow.”

Specialties and Responsibilities

Alongside Melanie and Kristen, Tara helps lead the Neurological Institute’s inpatient and outpatient nursing teams, caring for some of the most complex neurological patients in the world. They oversee a neurological ICU, two neuro-focused stepdown units, a 50-bed neuro subspecialty unit and an epilepsy monitoring unit. Their direct patient care also extends to 14 outpatient neurological subspecialties, including a large procedure department, three neuro infusion rooms, Gamma Knife therapy, a neuro hub in Beachwood and even outpatient rheumatology.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to work with such a collaborative leadership team and support the caregivers who make a meaningful difference in our patients’ lives every day,” Tara says.

Caring Starts at the Top
Tara believes that providing exceptional patient care starts with supporting our caregivers. “I focus on being present, being open and creating an environment where the caregivers feel heard, valued and empowered. Those are three things that are important to me. When our caregivers thrive, our patients benefit and that’s the culture I strive to build every day,” she says.

Recognizing caregivers and showing appreciation for the difference they make is one of Tara’s most meaningful parts of her job. “Seeing the pride on their face and watching their teammates celebrate alongside them always reminds me of why I love being a nurse leader.”

The Same Dedication in Every Location
No matter which campus – Nevada or Main – caregivers experience a shared culture rooted in compassion and teamwork. “You’ll find the same commitment to putting patients first and supporting one another at the heart of both locations, no matter where you’re at,” Tara says.

That dedication shapes both patient care and our work environment, inspiring caregivers to join us. “I don’t even know if we have to sell it, right? Cleveland Clinic sells itself. When people come here and see our innovation and commitment to excellence, it’s an incredible place to be.”