Ali Rezai, M.D.
| Appointed: |
2000 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Languages: |
English |
Center for Neurological Restoration
Neurosciences
Biographical Sketch
Ali R. Rezai, MD, is Director of the Center for Neurological Restoration and Professor of Neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic. He holds the Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Functional Neurosurgery.
Dr. Rezai earned his medical degree with honors from the University of Southern California and underwent neurosurgical training at New York University. He completed his subspecialty training in functional neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He then joined the neurosurgical faculty at New York University Medical Center, becoming the director of the Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery until January 2000, when he joined the faculty at Cleveland Clinic.
A board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Rezai’s clinical areas of expertise are the neurosurgical management of patients with severe movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia, psychiatric conditions such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain and brain injuries. Dr. Rezai was named one of the best doctors in America in Castle and Connolly’s Guide to America’s Top Doctors for 2001-2008.
Dr. Rezai has published over 100 articles and more than 20 book chapters. He serves on the editorial board of Neurosurgery Journal, among others. He has edited a book on neurosurgery for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and is also an editor for the upcoming Textbook of Neuromodulation. In addition, Dr. Rezai has been the Principal (PI) and Co-investigator on several NIH grants, and he is the PI of the state of Ohio Brain Neuromodulation Center grant. He has delivered over 300 lectures nationally and internationally and chaired numerous symposia and meetings.
Dr. Rezai currently holds the Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Functional Neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic. He is the recipient of NorTech’s annual Innovation Award, the Bottrell Neurosurgical Award, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Clinical Fellowship award, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Investigator Award. Dr. Rezai is also a member of the Executive Board of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Neuromodulation Society, and the American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, of which he is currently the Secretary and Treasurer.
His research involves development of innovative therapies and neurostimulation devices for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, brain injury and psychiatric disorders. He holds seven U.S. patents for surgical techniques and neuromodulation devices.
Dr. Rezai received the Achievement of the Year Award for Health and Medicine from Northern Ohio Live magazine. His work has been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USNews & World Report, USA Today, MIT’s Technology Review magazine, Newsweek, Time, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Cleveland Plain Dealer. He was featured in Crains’ Who’s Who in Biotech and listed as one of the “40 Under 40,” and has appeared on numerous local and national radio and television broadcasts including CBS’ 60 Minutes, CNN, NPR, PBS, the BBC, MSNBC and the Discovery Channel.
Professional Highlights
- Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Functional Neurosurgery
- NorTech Annual Innovation Award
- Bottrell Neurosurgical Award
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons Investigator Award
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons Clinical Fellowship Award
Education & Fellowships
| Medical School: | University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA |
|
| Internship: | New York University Medical Center, General Surgery, New York, NY |
| Residency: | New York University Medical Center, Neurosurgery, New York, NY |
| Fellowship: | Karolinska Institute Medicinska Fakulteten, Functional Neurosurgery, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Fellowship: | University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Stereoactic & Functional Neuro, Toronto, Canada |
| Fellowship: | New York University Medical Center, Magnetoencephalography (MEG), New York, NY |
| Other Education: | (Undergraduate) University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA |
Certifications
Specialty Interests
Neurosurgical management of parkinson's disease, tremor, dystonia, chronic pain, ,and intractable psychiatric conditions, deep brain stimulations, (dbs), intracranial lesioning or ablative surgery (thalamotomy, pallidotomy, ingulotomy, capsulotomy), spinal cord stimulation, and chronic infusion pumps.
Innovations & Patents
Dr. Rezai has pioneered innovative neuromodulation therapies and devices for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, brain injury and psychiatric disorders. He has submitted over 60 new invention disclosures. Over half have been licensed to date, and he holds seven U.S. patents for surgical techniques and neuromodulation devices. He is also the founder of three Cleveland Clinic start-up companies.
Awards & Honors
- Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Functional Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic
- “Heroes of Neuromodulation,” Patient Advocacy Hero, Medtronic, 2007
- “Reawakening the Dormant Mind (#2),” 100 Top Science Stories of 2007. Discover Science, Technology, and the Future, pp 20-21, January 2008
- America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly, 2001-2008
- Innovator of the Year Award, Cleveland Clinic, 2007
- NorTech Annual Innovator Award, 2005
- Best Article of the Year Award, CNS Spectrums, 2004
- Best Paper of the Year, American Psychiatric Association, 2004
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons William H. Sweet Investigator Award, 1998
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Congress of Neurological Surgeons Clinical Fellowship Award, 1997
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Bottrell Fellowship Award in Neurosurgery, 1997
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Top Award, The Dewar Society, 1995
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Alpha Omega Alpha, 1989
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Dean's Scholar, University of Southern California School of Medicine, 1988-1990
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University of Southern California Hendricks Academic Honor, 1988-1989
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President's Undergraduate Fellowship Research Award, 1985-1986
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Society of University Neurosurgeons
- Society for Neuroscience
- Institute of Physics Fellow
Specializes in Diseases and Conditions
Specializes in Services
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical education about recent trends. The collaborations are reviewed as part of the Cleveland Clinic’s procedures. The Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses payments to its physicians and scientists for speaking and consulting of $5,000 or more per year, and any equity, royalties, and fiduciary relationships in companies with which they collaborate. In publicly disclosing this information, the Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its doctors’ connections with industry and those of their immediate family members. As of 8/4/2008, Dr. Rezai has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. Patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic’s policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our
Integrity in Innovation page.
Consulting. Dr. Rezai receives fees of $5,000 or more per year as a paid consultant or speaker for the following companies:
Equity. Dr. Rezai owns stock or stock options in the following companies for activities as a founder, inventor, or consultant:
Fiduciary Role. Dr. Rezai serves in a fiduciary capacity, such as an officer or director, for the following companies or other entities:
Inventor Share. Dr. Rezai may receive future financial benefits from the Cleveland Clinic for inventions or discoveries related to the companies shown below:
- Autonomic Technologies
- Cardionomic, Inc.
- IntElect Medical Inc.
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