Emergency icon Important Updates
Close
Important Updates

Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?

Department Sleep Disorders Center
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon No
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.444.2165
Fax:
216.636.0090

Additional Locations

Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Actigraphy
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) Interpretations
  • Epilepsy Surgery
  • Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation
  • First Seizure Assessment
  • Intracranial EEG Monitoring and Brain Mapping for Presurgical Evaluation
  • Polysomnogram
  • Positive Airway Pressure Titration (CPAP; Bilevel PAP Titration)
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Sleep Studies
View all 12 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Adult Epilepsy
  • Brain Malformations Causing Epilepsy
  • Circadian Rhythm Disorders
  • Complex Epilepsy in Adults
  • Geriatric Epilepsy
  • Hypersomnia
  • Insomnia
  • Intractable (Drug Resistant) Epilepsy
  • Malformations of Cortical Development
  • Narcolepsy
  • Neurofibromatosis Causing Epilepsy
  • Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder
  • Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Seizures
  • Sleep and Epilepsy Issues
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Status Epilepticus (Continuous Seizures)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury Causing Seizures
  • Women's Health and Epilepsy
View all 19 Specialties +
Insurance

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 Plans
Biography

About Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO

Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, MS is Director of the Sleep Disorders Center and Staff in the Epilepsy Center. She is Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University with a Joint Appointment in the Women’s Health Center at Cleveland Clinic.

Certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology and Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology, she has treated patients with sleep disorders and epilepsy at Cleveland Clinic since 1995. She has served as a lead investigator on numerous clinical trials and has published on sleep and epilepsy, epilepsy surgery, EEG, women's issues in epilepsy and sleep disorders.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1995

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Duke University Medical Center
Clinical Neurophysiology
Durham, NC
1995

Residency - Loyola University Medical Center
Neurology
Maywood, IL
1993

Residency - Evanston Hospital
Internal Medicine
Evanston, IL
1990

Internship - Chicago Osteopathic Medical Center
Rotating
Chicago, IL
1989

Medical Education - Chicago College of Osteo. Med. @ Midwestern University
DO
Downers Grove, IL United States
1988

Undergraduate - Loyola University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
1984

Additional Training

  • Master of Science in Clinical Research from Case Western Reserve University, 2011

Professional Highlights

  • Published several books on sleep disorders including "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Sleep Disorders", Kaplan Publishing, 2009 and "Sleep Disorders: A Case a Week from the Cleveland Clinic", Oxford University Press, 2010.

Certifications

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

Specialty Interests

Adult epilepsy and sleep disorders, sleep and epilepsy, women's health and epilepsy, clinical trials, clinical neurophysiology, surgical evaluation of epilepsy

Awards & Honors

  • Listed in "Top Docs," Cleveland Magazine, 2007-11.
  • Received 2004 Epilepsy Association Legacy Award, 2006-2007 Cleveland Clinic Innovators Award, and 2008 Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute Professional Staff Award.

Innovations & Patents

  • Pioneering use of hotel-based sleep laboratories in a large tertiary care center

Memberships

  • American Academy of Neurology
  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine
  • American Epilepsy Society
  • Sleep Research Society
  • American Clinical Neurophysiology Society
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO.

(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 8/1/2024, Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer 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. Foldvary-Schaefer 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:

  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals, plc

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

106 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 4.9
Listens 5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

27 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Sep 4, 2024

Dr. Nancy Foldvary Schaefer is amazing. She listens to me, hears my concerns, and always involves me in the decision-making process. I can't imagine managing this condition without her.

Reviewed on Sep 3, 2024

Fantastic, Dr Foldvary is the best! Couldn't ask for a better neurologist.

Reviewed on Sep 3, 2024

Again, Dr Foldvary and her staff are the best and I will always be her patient

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2024

Dr. Schaefer is an excellent physician who is warm, thorough and very knowledgeable. I have complete confidence in her abilities and am very satisfied with the care I receive at the Cleveland Clinic!

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2024

Best doctor I have seen

Reviewed on Jul 16, 2024

Dr. Foldvary Schaefer is excellent. She takes the time necessary to address/answer all of my concerns and questions.

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2024

I've known Dr. Foldvary Schaefer for over 20 years. She's an excellent neurologist with a lot of compassion for her work and her patients.

Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024

The doctor was fabulous. We were so blessed to have her and I will always be thankful. I can't say enough good comments about our visit.

Reviewed on May 31, 2024

Dr. Nancy Foldvary Schaefer is an outstanding provider. The absolute best!

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

Dr Foldvary has simply been a game changer for me! She is top flight! I'm grateful for her.

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

I would recommend Dr Foldvary every time to anyone

Reviewed on Apr 2, 2024

Excellent doctor

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

Dr. Foldvary has been my Epileptologist for 17yrs plus. With her help we welcomed a son In which we thought was impossible. She is empathetic, listens with no judgement and has your interest at heart.

Reviewed on Mar 6, 2024

She is outstanding in every way.

Reviewed on Mar 6, 2024

Always a a good experience I love my visits with dr she is very knowledgeable helpful has genuine concern for my health and safety and keeps me on the right medication so can enjoy my best life

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2024

Dr Foldvary is an excellent physician

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2024

Dr. Foldvary Schaffer is OUTSTANDING. I feel very fortunate to have her as my care provider.

Reviewed on Jan 17, 2024

Dr Foldvary seems to think I am responding better to the current medication than I do. I know how bad I was during my initial appointment and didn't want to revisit that. She seemed so struck by my improvement that I'm not sure she was seeing how much I am still struggling to sleep. The doses of my medications were increased, but the three month return time feels like forever when you are still crying from exhaustion several days per week.

Reviewed on Dec 13, 2023

The best Dr. So far to help me with my issue.

Reviewed on Dec 5, 2023

Dr. Foldvary is an excellent physician.

Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023

I've been seeing Dr. Foldvary for 20 years. She set me up for a very successful surgery 19 years ago and I've recommended several people to her through the years.

Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023

It is hard to get an appt with Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer, but she is the best.

Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023

Dr. Foldvary Schaefer is one of my favorite doctors. She cares, she is organized, her notes are excellent, she treats me as a partner in my care and she has a delightful personality.

Reviewed on Nov 8, 2023

Took a little longer than I'm accustomed but Dr Folvary is very good and in demand so it's well worth the wait.

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023

Dr. Foldvary was excellent!

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023

Dr Foldvary has been working with me since 1999 and I trust her with my life. I will go to her for things that have nothing to do with neurology

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023

Dr. Foldvary Shaeffer and her staff in the Sleep Disorders and Epilepsy Department are excellent and an asset to the Cleveland Clinic. They work as an efficient, smart and pleasant department. I have been getting my care from these people in the CC for years. I feel so safe and well taken care of. Dr. Foldvary Shaeffer is my favorite doctor in all my care over my years. She is bright, peppy, up to date in her field, caring and super intelligent. I love coming to see her.

Back to Top