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Department Epilepsy Center
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages Arabic, English, French
Surgeon No
Locations Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Brain Malformation Surgery
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cortical Brain Mapping
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) Interpretations
  • Epilepsy Pharmacotherapy with Call Office
  • Epilepsy Surgery and Video EEG Evaluation
  • Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation
  • Intracranial EEG Monitoring and Brain Mapping for Presurgical Evaluation
  • Intraoperative Brain Mapping and Monitoring
  • Specialized EEG with Subdural Grids
  • Vagal Nerve Stimulation
  • Video EEG Monitoring
  • Wada Test
View all 14 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Adult Epilepsy
  • Benign Focal Epilepsies and Variants
  • Brain Malformations Causing Epilepsy
  • Complex Epilepsy in Adults
  • Epilepsy
  • Geriatric Epilepsy
  • Intractable (Drug Resistant) Epilepsy
  • Malformations of Cortical Development
  • Neurofibromatosis Causing Epilepsy
  • Non-Epileptic Seizure
  • Seizures
  • Seizures - Febrile
  • Sleep and Epilepsy Issues
  • Status Epilepticus (Continuous Seizures)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury Causing Seizures
  • Women's Health and Epilepsy
View all 16 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Imad Najm, MD

Imad Michel Najm, MD, is Director of Cleveland Clinic's Epilepsy Center at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute.

Dr Najm received his Medical Doctor degree from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon in 1988. After one year of internship in Paris, France, Dr Najm became a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of Southern California from 1989 till 1992. During that period, Dr Najm's research focused on the basic mechanisms of status epilepticus induced neuronal injury.

Dr Najm completed his Residency in Adult Neurology at Cleveland Clinic in 1996, and a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy at Cleveland Clinic in 1997.

Dr. Najm received his board certification in adult neurology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1998, with an added qualification in clinical neurophysiology in 1999.

Between 2000 and 2003, Dr Najm served as the Director of the Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic. In 2003, he became the Head of the Section of Adult Epilepsy within the Department of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic and in 2006 he assumed his current position as the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center.

Dr. Najm has over 22 years experience in Clinical and Basic Mechanisms of Epilepsy. This includes conducting numerous research projects dedicated to exploring the topic of mechanisms of epilepsy and malformations of cortical dysplasia.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1992

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Training Program
Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology
Cleveland, OH USA
1997

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Neurology
Cleveland, OH USA
1996

Internship - Sacre Coeur Hospital
Medicine
Beirut,
1989

Medical Education - St. Joseph University Faculty of Medicine
MD
Beirut, Lebanon
1988

Professional Highlights

  • Research Programs Committees, Cleveland Clinic Foundation: Metabolic changes leading to neuronal damage in the temporal lobes of an epileptic model (July 1994-June 1995 and July 1995-June 1996).
  • Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Research Day (1994)
  • Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Research Day (1995)
  • American Epilepsy Society: Glaxo Junior Investigator Award (1996)
  • Principal Investigator: Epilepsy Foundation of America
  • Principal Investigator: National Institutes of Health (K08 and R21)
  • Principal Investigator: US Department of Defense

Certifications

  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Epilepsy

Specialty Interests

Medical and surgical management of adult and geriatric epilepsy, malformations of cortical dysplasia, basic mechanisms of epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy.

Awards & Honors

  • Cleveland Magazine Best Doctors (2006, 2007)
  • Epilepsy Association of North East Ohio: Legacy Award (2006)
  • Starthmore's Who's Who, Lifetime Member

Memberships

  • American Epilepsy Society
  • American Academy of Neurology
  • American Neurological Association
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Imad Najm, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 8/18/2023, Dr. Najm has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Consulting and/or Speaking. Dr. Najm receives fees of $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) as a paid consultant, speaker or as a member of an advisory committee for the following companies:

  • Eisai Co., Ltd.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

62 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.9 out of 5
Explains 4.8
Listens 4.8
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

9 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Feb 7, 2024

We think Dr Najm is the best! He seems to truly care about our son's health. And our son's health has improved dramatically under Dr Najm's care. He is always kind and professional. He answers our questions. And because of Dr Najm, We feel very optimistic about our son's future health.

Reviewed on Nov 8, 2023

Dr njam is amazing in every way!!

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023

Dr Najm talked to us in a very personal way and expressed his concern about my situation. He suggested a course of action which we are following

Reviewed on Oct 11, 2023

The biggest thing I have told people in relaying my experience, is that Doctor sat knee to knee with my wife and I and "listened ". He made sure he had a thorough understanding of our concerns.

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023

Dr Najm is the best. He is knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate. He did an excellent job asking questions about our son's condition, communicating back to us what he believes the diagnosis is, followed by what actions to take next. He made us feel like our son's care was his number one priority. We are very thankful to have Dr Najm as our son's doctor.

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023

Nothing negative to say in 4 years since working with Dr. Najm.

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023

Dr. Najm exceeds our expectations with both his medical and technical expertise and the professional and human empathy he embodies.

Reviewed on May 31, 2023

Doctor Najm always gave the best care of me, He was patient and answered my questions and explains the treatment options in great details. Doctor Najm is a wonderful doctor. His assistant was responsible and excellent.

Reviewed on Apr 19, 2023

Dr. Najm is an excellent doctor. He is very compassionate and knowledgeable. His sense of humor puts you at ease when you are dealing with a difficult medical issue.

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