Iain Kalfas, MD
Primary Location
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Appointment:
- 216.636.5860
- Desk:
- 216.444.0228
- Fax:
- 216.636.3174
Treatment & Services
- Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
- Cervical Deformity Surgery
- Cervical Spine Surgery
- Complex Spinal Instrumentation
- Complex Spinal Reconstruction
- Complex Spinal Surgery
- Deformity Correction
- Image-Guided Spinal Navigation
- Lumbar Fusion
- Lumbar Spine Surgery
- Microsurgical and Minimally Invasive Techniques
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Neck Surgery
- Revision Cervical Spine Surgery
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Surgery
- Spine Decompression
- Spine Reconstruction
- Spine Tumor Removal And Reconstruction
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
Specialty in Diseases & Conditions
- Aging Spine
- Back Disorders
- Cervical and Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Cervical Tumors
- Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Disorders
- Complex Cervical Deformities
- Complex Spinal Disorders
- Degenerative Spine Disease
- Herniated Disc
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Neck and Shoulder Pain
- Neck Pain
- Radiculopathy
- Schwannoma
- Sciatica
- Spinal Cancer
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Deformity
- Spinal Disorders
- Spinal Fractures
- Spinal Metastases
- Spinal Neoplasms
- Spine Pain
- Spine Tumors
- Spondylitis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylosis
- Stenosis - Spinal
Insurance
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View All PlansEducation & Professional Highlights
Appointed
1989
Education & Fellowships
Fellowship - Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix,
AZ USA
1989
Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Neurological Surgery
Cleveland,
OH USA
1988
Fellowship - Allegheny General Hospital
Neurotrauma
Pittsburgh,
PA USA
1986
Internship - Cleveland Clinic
Neurological Surgery
Cleveland,
OH USA
1983
Medical Education - Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
M.D.
Rootstown,
OH USA
1982
Additional Training
- Cleveland Clinic Practice Management Course
- Minimally Invasive Anterior Approaches to the Thoracic Spine
- Practical Course on Spinal Instrumentation
- Prestige Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement Training Course
- Coflex Interspinous Posterior Interspinous Device
Certifications
- Neurological Surgery
Specialty Interests
complex spinal surgery and reconstruction, image-guide spinal navigation, including instrumentation and fusion, Minimally Invasive Surgery, neck and back disorders
Awards & Honors
- EDI Innovation Award, Surgical Navigation Device, 1998
- Top Doctors in Northeast Ohio, 2003-2011
- Best Doctors in America, 2005-2011
Innovations & Patents
- Surgical navigation device
Research & Publications
See publications for Iain Kalfas, 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 7/16/2021, Dr. Kalfas 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.
174 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 | 4.7 | |
| Listens | 4.6 | |
| Courtesy, Respect & Concern | 4.8 | |
| Patient Rating of Doctor | 4.8 |
32 Patient Comments
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Reviewed on Sep 28, 2021
The Cleveland clinic has set a new standard for me. You have out done even the UofM hospital system. I'm glad I took the 3 hr drive for 2nd opinion. Yes I'm from Michigan. First dr in a long time to take the time they should w their patients!
Reviewed on Sep 28, 2021
I love the Dr. I saw. He took time to explain things to me. He even caught a major thing in my back even the U of M missed! All I can say is he is great, and thank you!
Reviewed on Sep 14, 2021
VERY THANKFULL TO HAVE DR. KALIFAS FOR MY SURGERY.
Reviewed on Sep 10, 2021
Had an excellent appointment with Dr Kalfas.
Reviewed on Sep 8, 2021
Great Doctor. Put me at ease. Very happy with him.
Reviewed on Aug 24, 2021
We were late due to an exit being obliterated. Dr. Kalfas' nurse was extremely gracious, and we DID get my appointment. THANK YOU!
Reviewed on Aug 24, 2021
Dr. Kalfas explained everything in excellent detail!! I would still like a neurological exam to be included in the tests before surgery. I don't want to go through this major surgery, and the PAIN problem sill unresolved. Thank you.
Reviewed on Jul 28, 2021
*Dr. Kalfas is excellent. So is *MaryBeth his nurse.
Reviewed on Jul 27, 2021
Both Dr. Kalfas and RN MaryBeth were excellent communicators and provided me with excellent care. At all times I felt that they really cared about me and my care. They were clear, compassionate and explained everything that was important for me to know. I am grateful to both of them and everyone else at the Cleveland Clinic that I encountered on my pre-op day there. Thank you!
Reviewed on Jul 6, 2021
Dr Kalfas and his staff at Cleveland Clinic has been professional and always ready to answer or help You with patience
Reviewed on Jul 6, 2021
Very easy to talk to. Dr. Kalfas is a genuine, caring surgeon.
Reviewed on Jun 15, 2021
Dr. Kalfas explained everything dealing with my procedure completely and answered all my questions thoroughly.
Reviewed on May 21, 2021
*Dr. Kalgas and staff are great assets to the clinic.
Reviewed on May 18, 2021
on my visit it was promp and very good. doctor was thorough and very knowledgeable. he explained my issue very well
Reviewed on May 6, 2021
visit with Dr Kalfas was over the phone because we could not connect the audio portion. the phone visit otherwise was very good.
Reviewed on May 4, 2021
Dr. Kalfas is a fantastic doctor. He went through the details about my problem, explained what needs to be done, even brought me another doctor for a second opinion. If I have to go through surgery, I have full confidence in Dr. Kalfas.
Reviewed on Apr 20, 2021
Dr Kalfas is absolutely the best; the only surgeon I'd allow to do surgery on my spine.
Reviewed on Apr 1, 2021
He didn't give me the opportunity to ask questions. He talked over & down at me. Didn't listen to what is going on with me physically & see that I desperately needed his help.Now I'm going to have to find someone that probably won't do the surgery as well. He came highly recommended by another Dr. & I trusted that he would help me.
Reviewed on Mar 26, 2021
Everytime I needed my dr. he was there. I was impressed with his availability.
Reviewed on Feb 15, 2021
Dr. Kalfas and his staff and the experience was outstanding!
Reviewed on Feb 9, 2021
Very prompt in getting me in to see Dr once I got there
Reviewed on Feb 2, 2021
Dr Kalfas does a great job and because of that it is harder to get on his schedule. My guess is that can't be helped but glad I'm not in continuous pain!
Reviewed on Jan 26, 2021
Dr. Kalfas is excellent
Reviewed on Jan 14, 2021
It was good to talk with Dr kalfas, he was very informative. He answered many questions for me.
Reviewed on Jan 12, 2021
appointment was at 3 I walked out at 4:30 doctor was across Hall just talking in a room never came in
Reviewed on Jan 12, 2021
doctor had no respect play me wait a little room for an hour in 15 minutes never came in
Reviewed on Jan 5, 2021
Both Rachel and Dr. Kalfas are true professionals who I trust to tell me the truth, listen to my issues and concerns and give me options for my care without pressure. I know they care and want to do what is best for me.
Reviewed on Dec 28, 2020
Dr.Ian Kalfas is a caring and a knowledgeable physician. He is the ultimate professional. He communicates well with his patients and very informative.
Reviewed on Dec 17, 2020
With Dr. Kalfas and his staff, the services are always top notch.
Reviewed on Dec 17, 2020
I felt like I had a very informative and helpful meeting with Dr. Kalfus. He was patient and very thorough.
Reviewed on Dec 1, 2020
Dr. Kalfas is calm, kind, informative, had a very clear understanding of my needs based on my symptoms and the ongoing strategies I have been using to work through my pain and suffering for the last several months. He made me feel like I had options but also shared his confidence in his ability and his teams ability to help me have a better quality of life. I left my visit with Dr. Kalfas knowing I am probably in the best hands for my current health issues. Dr. Kalfas and his team are already in my daily prayers!
Reviewed on Nov 30, 2020
I would definitely recommend Dr. Kalfus to someone needing back surgery! He was excellent! Really liked the way he took time to explain what he was going to do in surgery!