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Department Center for Spine Health
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon Yes
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.636.5860
Desk:
216.444.9064
Fax:
216.636.3174
Specialties & Treatments

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
  • 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
View all 20 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Aging Spine
  • Back Disorders
  • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Cervical Myelopathy
  • Cervical Spine Disorders
  • Cervical Tumors
  • Complex Cervical Deformities
  • Degenerative Spine Disease
  • Herniated Disc
  • Kyphosis
  • Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy
  • Lumbar Spine Disorders
  • Neck Pain
  • Radiculopathy
  • Schwannoma
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Spinal Cancer
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Deformity
  • Spinal Disorders
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Spinal Metastases
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Pain
  • Spine Tumors
  • Spondylitis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spondylolysis
  • Spondylosis
  • Thoracic Spine Disorders
View all 32 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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View All Plans
Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1982

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Barrow Neurological Institute
Spine Surgery
Phoenix, AZ
1989

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Neurological Surgery
Cleveland, OH
1988

Fellowship - Allegheny General Hospital
Neurotrauma
Pittsburgh, PA
1986

Internship - Cleveland Clinic
Neurological Surgery
Cleveland, OH
1983

Medical Education - Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
M.D.
Rootstown, OH
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, 2003-2022
  • Best Doctors in America, 2005-2022
  • 2017 Meritorious Award Recipient, AANS/CNS Joint Section of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves 

Innovations & Patents

  • Surgical navigation device

Research & Publications

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

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 7/29/2024, Dr. Kalfas 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. Kalfas 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:

  • 7D Surgical, Inc.

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

222 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 4.8
Listens 4.8
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

35 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Nov 6, 2024

Every option was presented and discussed. Dr. Kalfas was kind and considerate.

Reviewed on Oct 15, 2024

Dr Kalfes spent quality time with me truly hearing me. I didnt feel rushed. He gave me hope for a solution to my issues

Reviewed on Oct 8, 2024

Dr. Kalfas was excellent! He took his time with me, answered questions, explained my situation thoroughly and discussed options with no pressure. I liked him the minute he walked in the door.

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2024

I can't say enough about the care I've received from Dr. Kalfas. I didn't just give Very Good scores without reading the questions. He is that good. A terrific person who is a knowledgeable physician that is able to communicate with people. None of the other few neurosurgeons I've seen were able to do that. I try to educate myself so I can ask beneficial answers and not waste the Dr's time. Dr. Kalfas listens and very easily explains things, which is immensely helpful physically and mentally. I drive from Cincinnati to see him and I'd do it every day if I had to. He is a fantastic surgeon who has helped me tremendously and honestly, his advice and council are as important (and have been as meaningful to me) as his surgical skills.

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2024

Dr Kalfas and staff were very professional and courteous in handling all my questions and concerns.

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2024

Dr. Kalra's was very thorough and explained my options completely. Outstanding appointment.

Reviewed on Sep 12, 2024

I liked Dr Kalfas' manner. He answered my questions.

Reviewed on Sep 11, 2024

Excellent doctor. Honesty and integrity. Highly recommend.

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2024

I really appreciate the time Dr.Kalfas spent with me and how he explained the results of my ct myelogram.

Reviewed on Sep 9, 2024

Marybeth Trimble and Dr Kalfas communicated very well and responded promptly to my question.

Reviewed on Aug 27, 2024

Dr Kalfas is excellent! Dr Kalfas discussed and showed me my X-rays and showed me where my back problems were and explained everything really well. Dr Kalfas is excellent and I trust him to operate and do an excellent job fixing my back. I'm looking forward to Dr Kalfas operating on me to relieve my pain and allow me to walk again.

Reviewed on Aug 23, 2024

Dr. Kalfas is a "GEM". I feel fortunate to have been referred to him.

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024

Dr. Kalfas was very responsive to my request to see him.

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024

Dr. Kalfas was very personable and thorough. He addressed my questions and concerns. A good listener.

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024

Dr. Kalfas has my highest recommendation.

Reviewed on Jul 16, 2024

Would highly recommend Dr Kalfas and his team

Reviewed on Jun 15, 2024

I left the hospital without one of th meds prescribed by my doctor. Found out after follow up phone calls w/my doctor!

Reviewed on Jun 5, 2024

Dr Kalfas team is world class!

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2024

Dr kalfas is exceptional

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2024

Dr Kalfas is so kind and he really listens to your concerns

Reviewed on May 21, 2024

I've seen other providers...neuro spinal surgeons at other hospital systems and Dr Kalfas explains things, is patient, kind and not someone to pressure to surgery

Reviewed on May 15, 2024

Dr. Kalfas was AMAZING as usual!! Extremely professional and has always taken very good care of me!!!

Reviewed on Apr 18, 2024

Dr. Kalfas is the best!

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

Great !!!! Dr. Lain Kalfas is the best. He saved my life

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

No better care anywhere. Dr. Lain Kalfas saved my life

Reviewed on Apr 11, 2024

Dr Kalfas took the time need to discuss my complex situation and answers all my questions

Reviewed on Apr 11, 2024

The staff made sure the doctor had access to the tests and studies from another hospital so that the visit was productive.

Reviewed on Mar 29, 2024

My doctor was the best. Explained everything thoroughly , very personable doctor (Dr. Kalfas).

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

Great information and doctor visit. Very informative.

Reviewed on Jan 30, 2024

Dr. Kalfas and his entire staff are kind, courteous, professional and efficient.

Reviewed on Jan 4, 2024

Dr Kalfas was awesome, couldn't ask for anything better

Reviewed on Jan 4, 2024

Dr. Kalfas was excellent about giving me surgical options for treatment and explaining the pros, cons, and risks.

Reviewed on Dec 28, 2023

Dr. Kalfas is an excellent doctor/surgeon. He did my back surgery and basically gave me my uality of life back.

Reviewed on Dec 14, 2023

Even though I just saw him for a second opinion he was very attentive to my needs. I didn't feel rushed and he answered all my questions professionally.

Reviewed on Dec 14, 2023

So very impressed with Dr Kalfas. He didn't rush my husband and I at all with our questions.

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