George Tesar, MD
Primary Location
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Appointment:
- 216.636.5860
- Desk:
- 216.445.6224
- Fax:
- 216.445.0127
Additional Locations
Epilepsy Center
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Driving Directions
- Appointment:
- 216.636.5860
- Desk:
- 216.445.6224
- Fax:
- 216.445.0127
Treatment & Services
- 2nd Opinion Evaluations
- Adult Psychopharmacology
- Behavioral Epilepsy Diagnosis and Management
- Clinical Trials
- Cognitive/neuropsychological Evaluations
- Emergency Psychiatry
- Heart Brain Medicine
- Liaison Psychiatry Consultation
- Medication Management
- Presurgical Behavior Health Evaluations
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Telemedicine
Specialty in Diseases & Conditions
- Adjustment Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Adult
- Bipolar Disorder
- Coping With Chronic Medical Conditions
- Delusional Disorder
- Depression
- Depressive Disorders
- Major Depression
- Mood Disorder
- Non-epileptic seizure disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Psychiatric Disorders
- Psychiatric Issues In Epilepsy
- Schizophrenia
Insurance
Is Cleveland Clinic Part of Your Insurance?
Review a list of accepted insurance plans for our Northeast Ohio locations or learn more about purchasing a contracted managed care plan.
View All PlansAbout George Tesar, MD
Board-certified in both psychiatry and internal medicine, Dr. Tesar graduated from Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn., in 1977 and completed dual-residency training in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic in 1980 and in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., in 1983. After serving as Chief Resident of the Acute (emergency) Psychiatry Service in the Department of Psychiatry at MGH, he did a one-year psychosomatic (consultation-liaison psychiatry) fellowship and later joined the MGH Staff in Psychopharmacology and Consultation Psychiatry. In 1987, he was appointed Chief of the Acute (Emergency) Psychiatry Service at MGH. While at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Tesar was also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School.
In 1993, Dr. Tesar returned to Cleveland and served as the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Cleveland Clinic until 2009. From 1997 - 2009, he served as the Medical Director for Marymount Behavioral Healthcare Services and Cleveland Clinic Health System Behavioral Medicine Services. Dr. Tesar assumed Directorship of the General Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program from 2009 - 2015.
Dr. Tesar is a member of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Group Medical Association, American College of Clinical Psychiatrists, Ohio Psychiatric Association, Cleveland Psychiatric Society, American College of Psychiatrists, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine and the Cleveland Consultation-Liaison Society. Dr. Tesar is also a Distinguished Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association.
He has written numerous articles and book chapters in professional publications. His areas of expertise and research interest are in anxiety and mood disorders, the interface between psychiatric and medical illness (e.g., epilepsy) and the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in primary care and patients with brain disorders. Dr. Tesar also teaches and supervises psychiatry residents and medical students in the disciplines of psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, neuropsychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry and administrative psychiatry.
Education & Professional Highlights
Appointed
1993
Education & Fellowships
Fellowship - Massachusetts General Hospital
Psychiatry
Boston,
MA USA
1984
Residency - Massachusetts General Hospital
Psychiatry
Boston,
MA USA
1983
Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Internal Medicine
Cleveland,
OH USA
1980
Internship - Cleveland Clinic
Internal Medicine
Cleveland,
OH USA
1978
Medical Education - Mayo Medical School
Rochester,
MN USA
1977
Undergraduate - Yale University
Philosophy & Psychology
New Haven,
CT USA
1973
Professional Highlights
- Chairman, Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology (1993 - 2009)
- Director of Behavioral Health, Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center
- Director of General Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program (2009 - 2015)
Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Psychiatry
Specialty Interests
Adult psychopharmacology, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Coping with General Medical Illness and Specific Medical Illness, Depression and Depressive Disorders, Emergency Psychiatry, Epilepsy and Behavior Research, Epilepsy and Behavior Treatment, General Anxiety, Heart Brain Medicine, Mood Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Psychosis, Psychosomatic Medicine, Schizophrenia, Social Anxiety Disorder, Telemedicine
Awards & Honors
- 2001 Bruce Hubbard Stewart Award for ability to combine sensitivity and compassion with knowledge and skill in the practice of medicine
- 2001 Member, American College of Psychiatrists
- 2002 Best Doctors in America
- 2002 NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award
- 2005 Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
- 2005 Teacher of the Year, awarded by Cleveland Clinic Psychiatry Residents
- 2008 Best Poster Award. Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Annual Meeting
Memberships
- American Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
- American College of Psychiatrists
- American Medical Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- Ohio Psychiatric Association
Research & Publications
See publications for George Tesar, 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
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 9/11/2019, Dr. Tesar has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. 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.
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.
94 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Explains | 4.9 | |
| Courtesy, Respect & Concern | 4.9 | |
| Patient Rating of Doctor | 4.9 |
38 Patient Comments
© 2020 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be altered, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Cleveland Clinic.
Reviewed on Mar 18, 2020
Dr Tesar always takes the time to listen to me and then he always had good suggestions as to how to deal a particular situation should it come up again. I have been under the care of Dr Tesar for 13 years now and I can say my quality of life is SO much better because of his care and compassion of his patients. I told him he cannot retire
Reviewed on Mar 11, 2020
dr. Tesar has a great personality that helped make me comfortable talking to him. it helped he listened well and joked to put me at ease
Reviewed on Mar 11, 2020
Dr. Tessar is once of the best Mental Health Provider I never meet before!
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2020
dr Tessar and his staff are top of the line and represent The Cleveland Clinic in the best possible manner.
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2020
Dr. Tesar is the best. He genuinely cares about his patients and their best interest. I will never go see anyone else.
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2020
I would highly recommend Dr. Tesar to anyone.
Reviewed on Feb 11, 2020
seeing dr Tesar for ~24 years. he's the best! I'm dreading the day he retires. hope it's NOT soon.
Reviewed on Jan 17, 2020
Outstanding physician.
Reviewed on Jan 17, 2020
The Clinic is my health care provider and will continue to be until I expire.
Reviewed on Dec 11, 2019
dr. Tesar's genuine caring and comfort for my concerns made me feel at ease and relaxed.
Reviewed on Dec 5, 2019
I have been seeing Dr Tesar since 1999 and I hope the Cleveland Clinic recognizes the gem they have in their hands. This man is not only extremely overqualified in his area of study but he also excels in the ability to relate to the patient. I fear for being able to find good care when he does choose to retire, and I jokingly told him he's not allowed to! This man has talked me out of suicide and has helped me survive with PTSD and being a teacher in urban school districts. I truthfully do not know what I would have done if he had not come into my life. I respect him so highly then I know he cares about each and every one of his patients. He has often called me late in the evening because he was still working just to check on me and follow up to confirm that I was okay. In this day and age I'm not sure that many people can say they have a physician that would be willing to do this
Reviewed on Oct 18, 2019
Dr. Tesar, is one of a kind. Cleveland Clinic can't re-produce him. His heart is full of compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. His style is unique and warm. He makes me feel "normal" and is always encouraging. He is one of a kind. I don't understand how his humanity continues to flourish under the umbrella at CCF. I am greatly blessed to have him as my physician.
Reviewed on Oct 14, 2019
Dr Tesar is so empathetic and caring. He even called Mom to see how she was managing.
Reviewed on Sep 26, 2019
Dr. Tesar is an excellent physician. He listens to his patient's, and tries to do the best he can! I wish I could recommend him to others. He's very smart and knows what he's doing. He's easy to talk to, and if he's going to make a med change, He explains it and makes sure you understand it also. Very Excellent Doctor!!!
Reviewed on Sep 26, 2019
I made previous comments about Dr. Tesar. He is an excellent Physician. He listens to his patient's, and if he makes any med changes, He makes sure you understand the changes and the reason why. One Doctor you never would want to leave.
Reviewed on Sep 19, 2019
great physician that has truly listened to all concerns and thoroughly explained current conditions of my mental health
Reviewed on Sep 13, 2019
I received excellent care and concern from Dr. Tesar.
Reviewed on Sep 12, 2019
Dr. Tesar is an outstanding person and the very best provider. The Clinic should be proud to have him as a physician who truly cares about my well being. I am grateful for his dedication, compassion and professionalism. He should be recognized and honored for his service.
Reviewed on Jul 25, 2019
Dr. Tesar and his staff at least that I've dealt with who schedule and all that have always been great but Tesar in Particular is I think the best doctor I've ever experienced in my life and have dealt with probably 100 or close to it and I wasn't always the best patient or the most respectful because having had so much disappointment or just bad doctors in the past I always came off defensive but he didn't let that effect him he stuck with it he never would be like no I'm right your wrong if I had an opinion about whatever he'd simply discuss it with me so quickly I realized that he wasn't just going through the motions like all other doctors in his field I've seen where they aren't really listening and caring all they're thinking is what to prescribe but I know from my personal experience and other instances I've witnessed he's what a doctor is supposed to be someone who truly cares for his patients gets to know them not just their problem will go way out of his way to help his patients now some may say how is he so good if you're not fixed and the simple answer is I have disorders without names and aren't known what exactly they do, and a lot of other crap that's physically abnormal and not understood by doctors in those fields which contribute to my mental state just need to find some doctors for the physical stuff like Dr. Tesar
Reviewed on Jul 24, 2019
Dr. Tesar takes time and listens thoroughly, asking good questions when clarification is needed. He goes above and beyond to help, to research medications, to continue to help even when the situation is difficult. Having him be a part of the team is so valuable. To help us navigate this uncharted medical condition is extremely important to us. Thank you Dr. Tesar!
Reviewed on Jul 18, 2019
Kelly from Dr. Tesars office is awesome. Richard at front desk awesome and Dr. Tesar is the best in the business. Truly cares abt his patients well being and gies out of his way to help us
Reviewed on Jul 18, 2019
Dr. tesar listens and understands my problems I always am encouraged when I have a visit
Reviewed on Jul 11, 2019
I like Dr. Tesar Personality and his knowledge about understanding what I'm medically experiencing. Dr. Tesar is and great doctor.
Reviewed on Jul 11, 2019
I really like my doctor. Dr. Tesar is great! Knowledgeable , kind, and understanding. Explains my concerns to me in way that I understand them.
Reviewed on Jul 11, 2019
I always talk about Dr. Tesar and how great of a Dr. He is . I also talk about the Cleveland Clinic and how great Neurology and staff are.
Reviewed on Jul 10, 2019
Dr. Tesar is kind, compassionate, professional. There was an issue with new medication, and he responded to me in less then 24 hours.
Reviewed on Jul 10, 2019
Dr. Tesar treats me like a person. I never feel categorized. When I leave his office my self-esteem and self confidence is at its peak
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2019
tslking to the doctor was like getting a lheavy burden of my chest
Reviewed on May 9, 2019
Dr. Tesar's therapeutic use of humor always helps me view my circumstances with a more realistic and optimistic lenses rather than a lender of cynicism, self-doubt, or victimized perspective that I can lean towards when life gets tough, a universal experience of life on our blue planet ;)
Reviewed on May 1, 2019
I have never had a bad experience with Dr. Tesar or his office staff. Dr. Tesar is very professional, and explains things very well. He is a Doctor that actually listens to his Patients, unlike many of Docs these days. I would recommend him to anyone.
Reviewed on May 1, 2019
Dr. Tesar is an A-1 Doctor. He is up on any new meds or treatments. He is very smart and talks things over with you, if he has any ideas of trying. He explains it very well.
Reviewed on May 1, 2019
His staff is very professional also. Very nice, and writes down any concerns of mine and passes it on to the Doctor.
Reviewed on Apr 25, 2019
I simply cannot express how WONDERFUL Dr. Tesar treats me, both as a patient and as a person. I'm very blessed to have him as my caregiver.
Reviewed on Apr 10, 2019
*Dr. Tesar books up fast for appointments. Usually, have to wait 3-4 months.
Reviewed on Apr 10, 2019
I feel *Dr. Tesar was a fantastic doctor when I began seeing him, but over the last year, he doesn't seem as caring or concerned like he used to. I have been seeing him for 4+ years.
Reviewed on Mar 21, 2019
Dr. Tesar seems to put his patients above his own personal needs. He is often working until 8 to 9 in the evening, and shows a sincere love and dedication to his profession.
Reviewed on Mar 21, 2019
I have been seeing Dr. Tesar since 1999, and he has always gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Reviewed on Mar 21, 2019
As long as any new physicians joining this group maintain the value system currently displayed, they will continue to be successful. Although, Dr. Tesar himself will be unable to be replaced due to his level of skill and compassion for the profession, as well as his patients.