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Department Rheumatologic and Immunologic Disease
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:
216.444.5632
Desk:
216.444.3876
Fax:
216.636.7881
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Administration Of Injectable Medications For Osteoporosis
  • Adult Rheumatology
  • Arthritic Knee Conditions
  • Blood Tests
  • Bone Density Testing
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cortisone injections
  • Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
  • Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
  • General Rheumatology
  • General Rheumatology including Lupus
  • Hyaluronic acid (HA)
  • Hyaluronic acid injections
  • Immunoglobulin Infusion
  • Immunotherapy
  • Infusion Therapy
  • Infusions Of Biologic Agents On Site
  • Joint Aspiration
  • Joint Injections
  • Joint Preservation Center
  • Medical Management of Early Osteoarthritis
  • Medication Management
  • Musculoskeletal Evaluation
  • Musculoskeletal Medicine
  • Musculoskeletal Treatment For Joint Pain
  • Rheumatology
  • Therapeutic Injections
  • Ultrasound-guided Procedures
  • Viscosupplementation
  • Viscosupplementation Injections
View all 30 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • AIDS & HIV
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome
  • Arthritic Knee Problems
  • Arthritis
  • Arthritis Of The Hip
  • Arthritis Of The Knee
  • Arthritis of the Thumb Base
  • Arthritis of the Wrist & Hand
  • Autoimmune Disease
  • Autoinflammatory Syndromes
  • Behcet's Disease
  • Benign Hypermobility Joint Syndrome
  • Buerger's Disease
  • Bursitis
  • Calcification Tendinitis
  • Calcinosis
  • Central Nervous System Vasculitis
  • Chondrocalcinosis (Pseudo Gout)
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome
  • Connective Tissue Diseases
  • Connective Tissue Disorders
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Elbow Arthritis
  • Familial Mediterranean Fever
  • Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Syndrome
  • Giant Cell Arteritis
  • Gout
  • Gout Arthritis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (Wegener’s)
  • Hand and Wrist Arthritis
  • Hand Pain
  • Hand Problems
  • Henoch Schonlein Purpura
  • Hip Arthritis
  • Hip Disorders
  • Hip Pain
  • Immunodeficiency
  • Immunosuppression
  • Inflammatory Arthritis
  • Iritis
  • Joint Pain
  • Knee Arthritis
  • Knee Joint Disorders
  • Knee Pain
  • Lupus
  • Lupus Anticoagulant
  • Lupus Nephritis
  • Metabolic Bone Disease
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)
  • Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Musculoskeletal Impairments
  • Musculoskeletal Pain
  • Myositis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoarthritis Of The Hips And Knees In The Elderly
  • Osteopenia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Osteoporosis in Men
  • Osteoporosis Related to Cancer
  • Paget's Disease
  • Painful Joints
  • Palindromic Rheumatism
  • Panuveitis
  • Polumyalgia Rheumatica
  • Polymyositis
  • Pseudogout
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Radiculopathy
  • Raynaud's Phenomenon
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Relapsing Polychondritis
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Disease
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: How to Treat
  • Sacroilitis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Scleritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Shoulder Arthritis
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Sjogren's Syndrome
  • Spondylitis
  • Spondyloarthopathy
  • Spondyloarthropathies
  • Spondylolysis
  • Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis
  • Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
  • Systemic Lupus
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Tendinosis
  • Tendonitis
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Trigger Finger
View all 97 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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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 Abby Abelson, MD, FACR

Abby G. Abelson, MD, MACR, is Chair, Department of Rheumatology, Vice Chairman for Education at the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute, and Education Program Director in the Department of Rheumatologic and Immunologic Diseases, as well as Director of Education at the Center for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Abelson earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency in Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, where she was Chief Resident. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Rheumatology at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Dr. Abelson is board-certified in the subspecialty of Rheumatology and is a certified Clinical Densitometrist. She is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, and she currently serves on the Research and Education Foundation Strategic Planning Committee, the Committee on Training and Workforce, and the Subcommittee on Academic Workforce. In 2007, Dr. Abelson received the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Clinical Scholar Educator Award.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2002

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - University Hospitals of Cleveland
Rheumatology
Cleveland, OH USA
1986

Residency - Mount Sinai Medical Center (Closed)
Internal Medicine
Cleveland, OH USA
1982

Internship - Mount Sinai Medical Center (Closed)
Internal Medicine
Cleveland, OH USA
1980

Medical Education - Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cleveland, OH USA
1979

Undergraduate - Kirkland College
Clinton, NY USA
1974

Additional Training

  • Harvard-Macy Program for Educators in the Health Professions January -May 2008
  • International Society for Clinical Densitometry Certification

Professional Highlights

  • Chair, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic
  • Interim Chair, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic
  • Vice Chair for Education, Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Institute, Cleveland Clinic
  • Recipient, Clinical Scholar Education Award, American College of Rheumatology, Research and Education Foundation
  • Member, Committee on Training and Workforce, American College of Rheumatology
  • Chair, Subcommittee of the Academic Workforce, America College of Rheumatology

Certifications

  • Internal Medicine
  • Internal Medicine - Rheumatology

Specialty Interests

metabolic bone diseases, Osteoporosis

Awards & Honors

  • Alpha Omega Alpha, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 1979.
  • Alice Paige Cleveland Award for "Outstanding Leadership Qualities," CWRU School of Medicine 1979.
  • Selected for inclusion in Best Doctors in America. Woodward/White, Inc. August, 1998, 2000, 2001-2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
  • Selected for inclusion in Guide to Top Doctors. Center for the Study of Services. 1998, 2001.
  • Selected Participant in the Harvard Macy Institute's Program for Educators in the Healthcare Professions. Cambridge, Massachusetts, January - May 2008
  • Interim Chair, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases-5/08 to present.
  • American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Clinical Scholar Educator Award 7/08 -6/10.

Memberships

  • American College of Rheumatology
  • International Society of Clinical Densitometry
  • American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Abby Abelson, MD, FACR.

(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 7/5/2022, Dr. Abelson 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.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

113 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
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

43 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Apr 20, 2023

Dr. A. Abelson is simply the BEST!

Reviewed on Mar 20, 2023

Dr Abelson was outstanding. She is everything one would want in a dr. Warm, knowledgeable, informative, caring and took the time to address all concerns.

Reviewed on Mar 14, 2023

Dr Abelson was one of the most knowledgeable and compassionate physician I have ever met I feel very secure in bring treated by her

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023

Dr A is always engaging and personable as well as extremely professional

Reviewed on Mar 9, 2023

This care provider is always very attentive to my needs, and has a great rapport. I feel like they are concerned for my wellfare, and want to work with me on my care (listens to what I say, would allow me to contribute to my care etc).

Reviewed on Mar 2, 2023

Dr Abelson Is just wonderful....she Is caring and compassionate.

Reviewed on Mar 2, 2023

Dr. Abelson is a very compassionate and dedicated physician, has a very caring demeanor and takes time to really explore patient's medical history to provide the utmost care.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2023

Kind,Professional, learned more at this visit than I have ever learned from any other care provider.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2023

Felt extremely rushed and provider seemed very distracted. Focusing on computer unable to complete sentences. Was odd. She's usually great, but I left feeling disappointed, unheard, and not given an opportunity for questions or thoroughly understanding my options.

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2023

Dr. Abelson is excellent. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, proactive and receptive to questions.

Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023

Dr. Abelson was very throughl and explained test results and a treatment plan. She was very empathetic and caring about my personal well being. I highly recommend her as a physician.

Reviewed on Jan 26, 2023

Excellent physician...extremely caring

Reviewed on Jan 24, 2023

Dr Abelson is wonderful. Scheduling was a problem for me.

Reviewed on Jan 23, 2023

Had a great visit with Dr Abelson.

Reviewed on Jan 23, 2023

Always have a great relationship with Dr Abelson

Reviewed on Jan 4, 2023

Dr Abelson and her team are excellent in every aspect of the visit!

Reviewed on Jan 4, 2023

Dr Abelson is an extraordinary person and physician.

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

So much appreciate the follow up via zoom - I've been so concerned because my doctor in Florida hasn't taken the time or made the effort to counsel me on proper course of treatment of osteoporosis.

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

One of the best experiences I've had. I've been treated for a number of medical conditions including cancer. I knew the Dr was actually listening to my concerns, family history, current lifestyle and challenges. I have complete confidence I'm getting the best care and treatment possible.

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

I would recommend Dr. Abelson with a caution about her staff. I was concerned about taking a new drug, Evenity, (for osteoporosis) as this is a new drug for me and out only three years ago. It had a black box warning by the FDA and the first time around they didn't approve it. I had to research the risks myself. I should have known to do that but it would have been nice if Dr. Abelson would have shared it with me.

Reviewed on Dec 19, 2022

Felt listened to. Very easy to begin to build trust with dr abelson

Reviewed on Dec 19, 2022

Dr Abelson took great care and time to explain my diagnosis and the course of treatment.

Reviewed on Dec 12, 2022

I was very relieved at the visit, to learn that my Issue is treatable. It was an extremely informative appointment with genuine concern from Dr. Abelson

Reviewed on Dec 5, 2022

I feel very well respected and known as an individual and I am very pleased with my doctor

Reviewed on Nov 22, 2022

Dr Abelson is amazing

Reviewed on Nov 17, 2022

Dr. Abelson has been my doctor for years---she is just incredible in every way--so knowledgeable and skilled, so empathetic and kind--she has the whole package--I could not give a higher recommendation

Reviewed on Oct 24, 2022

Dr. Ableson is the best doctor in the best doctor I the Clinic. She is brilliant and kind. I am so fortunate to have her as my arthritis doctor

Reviewed on Oct 24, 2022

Dr Ableson is amazing

Reviewed on Oct 18, 2022

I found it extremely get an appointment with Dr. Abelson.

Reviewed on Oct 18, 2022

I had an excellent telemedicine call with Dr. Abelson. I feel very fortunate to have her as my doctor and I have great confidence in her. She's very personable and answered all my questions and relieves any worries that I may have. She helped me coordinate getting my DEXA scan sent to the Cleveland Clinic In Weston on the same day that I am scheduled for a meeting with the nurse in rheumatology. She save me from making two trips to the Weston which is about three hours from my house. I'd highly recommend her to anyone.

Reviewed on Oct 18, 2022

Dr. Abelson is very empathetic and always clearly demonstrates her care for me as a patient. I believe the telemedicine call was every bit as effective as an in person appointment with her in my situation. I would highly recommend telemedicine calls to anyone based on my experiences with doctor Abelson.

Reviewed on Oct 17, 2022

Just to let you know that Dr. Abelson is one of the "BEST" doctors I have met at the Cleveland Clinic and I have had experience with many physicians through my career and personal experience. She listens and is extremely empathetic!!!

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2022

Dr. Abelson is very intelligent, knowledgeable, and treats me as though I were her only patient!

Reviewed on Aug 15, 2022

Dr Abelson takes the time to answer all questions and provides great information to help me stay healthy and proactive!! Wonderful provider!!

Reviewed on Aug 4, 2022

Dr. Abel son is very compassionate. She really listened to my concerns and was very thorough in her testing.

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2022

Dr. Abelson's team of Nurse Alyssa and Ad min assr Kaitlin is tremendous

Reviewed on Jun 20, 2022

Dr Abelson is one of your best at CCF. HIGHLY recommend her!

Reviewed on Jun 20, 2022

Dr. Abelson was professional, kind, provided insight into my condition.

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2022

Dr. Abelson is wonderful! My husband and I are both so grateful to her and to Cleveland Clinic for having her on staff.

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2022

Dr. Abelson and her team worked beautifully together to care for my husband and me. We are grateful.

Reviewed on May 26, 2022

Very long wait time for appointments with any Clinic doctor.

Reviewed on May 26, 2022

I have already recommended Dr Abelson to several people. She's wonderful!

Reviewed on May 19, 2022

Dr. Abelson is probably the best physician I have ever had. I have seen her since before she came to the Cleveland Clinic. She is one of the very few physicians who actually does a hands-on exam at my appointments. She listens & I feel we work together to make clinical decisions about my care.

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