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Department Neuromuscular 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:
216.444.5559
Desk:
216.444.5551
Fax:
216.445.1563
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Autonomic Nervous System Testing
  • Autonomic Reflex Test
  • Electromyography
  • Nerve Conduction Studies
  • Nerve Pathology
View all 5 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Autoimmune Neuropathy
  • Autoimmune Polyneuropathy
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
  • Demyelinating Neuropathies
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Fabry's Disease
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
  • Inflammatory Neuropathy
  • Inflammatory Polyneuropathy
  • Inherited Neuropathies
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Myopathy
  • Neuromuscular Disease
  • Neuropathy
  • Neuropathy - Diabetic
  • Polymyositis
  • Pompe's Disease
View all 22 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About David Polston, MD

David W. Polston, MD, is a staff physician in the Neuromuscular Center at Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute. Dr. Polston earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville in 1999 and then completed his internship and neurology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. This was followed by a one-year fellowship in peripheral nerve disease at Mayo Clinic and a one-year fellowship in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular disorders at Cleveland Clinic. He joined the Cleveland Clinic staff in 2005. He is board-certified in neurology, neuromuscular medicine and clinical neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, in electrodiagnostic medicine by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and in nerve pathology by the American Academy of Neurology Committee on Neuromuscular Pathology.

A neuromuscular specialist, Dr. Polston's areas of clinical expertise include inherited and acquired demyelinating neuropathies, nerve pathology, and performing electromyography and nerve conduction studies. His academic interests include the natural history of inherited and acquired demyelinating neuropathies, and resident and fellow education. He is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2005

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Clinical Neurophysiology
Cleveland, OH
2005

Fellowship - Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Peripheral nerve-Neuromuscular Diseases
Rochester, MN
2004

Residency - Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Neurology
Rochester, MN
2003

Internship - Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Internal Medicine
Rochester, MN
2000

Medical Education - University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY
1999

Undergraduate - Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
1995

Certifications

  • Electrodiagnostic Medicine
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Neuromuscular Medicine
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Clinical Neurophysiology

Specialty Interests

Electromyography and nerve conduction studies, inherited and demyelinating neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, nerve pathology, neuromuscular diseases, autonomic disorders, autonomic nervous system diseases and testing

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for David Polston, 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 8/21/2024, Dr. Polston 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.

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

121 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
4.8 out of 5
Explains 4.8
Listens 5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.8

20 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Oct 8, 2024

I felt comfortable as always talking with Doctor Polston Md. We talked how he was doing this for 20 years and that I have been his patient for 19 years, and how this was very new at the time. And I feel blessed to have him as my Doctor.

Reviewed on Oct 4, 2024

I've already recommended him to others.

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2024

Excellent!! I've been seeing Dr. David Polston for 20 yrs. At the clinic!!! He's a great doctor!!!

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2024

Good doctor

Reviewed on Aug 22, 2024

Dr Polston always does a thorough job and is helpful and a great listener.

Reviewed on Jul 29, 2024

Dr polston is excellent.

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2024

Dr.Polston was great! He had already reviewed the info in my chart and really listened to my concerns and did a very thorough exam and explained everything in detail for a plan of care.

Reviewed on Jun 13, 2024

Dr Polston is great

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

The Physician was perfect. The previous nurse practitioner, PA Etc was completely worthless

Reviewed on Mar 18, 2024

Dr. Polston was very courteous, knowledgeable, informative, and easy to talk with. He answered all my questions and I highly recommend him after this experience.

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

I always get a quick response from Dr. Polston. I have never had to wait more than a day or two for answers to questions.

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

I would highly recommend Dr. Polston and his staff. He gives my daughter excellent care.

Reviewed on Jan 30, 2024

I had a very good and professional experience with Dr. Polston.

Reviewed on Dec 15, 2023

Dr. Poison was wonderful. Complete thorough kind and made referrals that seemed appropriate

Reviewed on Dec 12, 2023

DR. Polston is a very caring concerned physician.

Reviewed on Dec 12, 2023

Dr. Polston could not have been more caring. It was bad news to talk about but he did it with so much concern for me, I really appreciated that. Alot. He's a terrific doctor and person.

Reviewed on Dec 5, 2023

Dr. Polston is one of the finest doctors I have visited at the Cleveland Clinic. He listened patiently, understood and cared about my concerns, conducted a comprehensive physical exam and scheduled appropriate tests as he narrowed his focus on my symptoms. He had a wonderful disposition and made me feel calm and comfortable.

Reviewed on Nov 21, 2023

Always a great experience!! He's the best!!

Reviewed on Nov 3, 2023

Wait time anywhere was 2 min or less. Appreciated that Dr came to waiting room to call u for appt. For 1st appt that was helpful.

Reviewed on Nov 2, 2023

Dr Polston spent time answering my questions, reassuring me of concerns, and providing additional testing. He was very kind and knowledgeable.

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