alert icon Important Updates

Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?
E. 100th Street on Cleveland Clinic main campus closed
Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changes
Cole Eye entrance closing
Visitation and COVID-19 information

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
  • 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
View all 21 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Aging Spine
  • Back Disorders
  • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Cervical Myelopathy
  • Cervical Spine Disorders
  • Cervical Tumors
  • Complex Cervical Deformities
  • Complex Spinal Disorders
  • 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 33 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
Education & Professional Highlights

Education & 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, 2003-2022
  • 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 6/21/2023, 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.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

215 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 4.7
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.8

36 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Aug 10, 2023

Dr. Kalfus was very patient and accommodating by offering to call me by on the after finding he couldn't hear me. He was very comforting.

Reviewed on Aug 8, 2023

Doctor Kalfas is top notch. Lumbar fusion is a very invasive surgery. I feel that I could not have had a better surgeon.

Reviewed on Aug 8, 2023

Tremendous experience. Doctor was outstanding.

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2023

Dr Kalfas and Mary Beth are the most attentive and knowledgeable medical personal who explain everything in detail so one can understand. They are the best!

Reviewed on Jul 18, 2023

Dr.Kalfas was great over the phone.

Reviewed on Jul 13, 2023

The MRI and Xray images were incomplete so we had to cut the visit short but Dr.Kalfas was patient, empathetic as well as very concerned when I described my current pain level with him. We discontinued the visit until he could obtain new and complete images which has been done,

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2023

I was very impressed with Dr. Kalfis. I am not looking forward to my surgery but I have confidence In Dr. Kalffis.

Reviewed on Jul 5, 2023

Dr Kalfas previously performed lower back surgery (2010). That's why we're here again and specifically with him.

Reviewed on Jun 23, 2023

We would definitely recommend Cleveland Clinic & Dr Kalfas

Reviewed on Jun 20, 2023

DR.KALFAS I KNOW AND TRUST,STAFF WAS GREAT

Reviewed on Jun 20, 2023

I'm so blessed to have Dr Kalfas as my DrI'm very concerned about the surgeries andHe made me feel comfortable and assured Me that all would go well.

Reviewed on Jun 16, 2023

*Dr. Kalfas & his entire team are incredible! Top-notch & phenomenal!

Reviewed on Jun 11, 2023

Best doctors I've had the pleasure of dealing with.

Reviewed on May 9, 2023

Dr Kalfas gave me a very good description of my issues and listened to me.

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023

I'm certain I board both Dr Kafas and his assistant to death with my stories. They were both patient it seemed interested in what I had to say. Very impressive. Would highly recommend

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023

I like the doctor.

Reviewed on Apr 21, 2023

The physician spent more than enough time with me. He was so good to explain in detail my condition and my upcoming surgery!

Reviewed on Apr 18, 2023

Dr Kalfas is great, looking forward to hearing his solution for my back issues.

Reviewed on Mar 28, 2023

Dr Kalfas is one of the best doctors I have at clinic

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2023

Dr. Kalfas is remarkable! He reviewed my MRI, explained my condition and what surgery will entail. He's phenomenal!

Reviewed on Mar 14, 2023

My care provider was outstanding he transpoted me to valay servises this was Dr kalfis himselfWow he din't have to do It. .

Reviewed on Mar 3, 2023

I did not see much of my surgeon, Dr Kalfas, the day of surgery or the next day. Extremely brief. I'm not sure he looked at my incision. But I felt confident with team. His PA seemed very good, though now very communicative/personal. Still, I sensed an expertise and professionalism and was extremely happy with care.

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2023

Dr. Kalfas is GREAT!!!! He explained my problem In detail and gave me options.

Reviewed on Feb 23, 2023

Dr Kalfas exhibits real concern ecrry time I interact with him. Shared my disappointment with utmost sincerity. But addressed problem with positive outlook.

Reviewed on Feb 17, 2023

All doctors were great in time spent & level of care was excellent.

Reviewed on Feb 16, 2023

Much happier with dr kalfas than a previous doctor at uh. He explained my options easier for me to understand as well as gave me other options

Reviewed on Feb 2, 2023

Dr. Kalfas is an extraordinary individual who shows care, concern and compassion to his patients. I was able to ask any question I had and was given a truthful, caring response.

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2023

Dr. I. Kalfas was professional, caring, kind, and showed to personally be interested in me as a patient. I felt he truly cared. I would recommend him to all my friends and family. Thank You Karen Ann Holinek

Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023

Dr. Kalfas and his staff were very attentive to my concerns and questions.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2023

Dr kalas is outstanding!

Reviewed on Dec 29, 2022

I knew within a few minutes that I wanted him to do my surgery. He made me feel very comfortable with the procedure.

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

Rachel is very nice,she's helping me with my current issues in order to get my surgery approved with Dr.Kalfas.

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

Dr.Kalfas is a very good man!!! He took more time with me than anyone has ever, throughout this entire situation I've been in. Dr.Kalfas is top notch in my book,he genuinely listens and cares about his patients. Dr.Kalfas is currently working with me and my unbelievable situation,together hopefully we can get this taken care of. I've never met a better doctor as personable as he is,I'm so glad I found him to help me.

Reviewed on Nov 1, 2022

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Kalfas. If my surgery, to be done In 2 days at Brown University at Rhode Island Hospital, does not go well, I have already asked Dr. Kalfas if he would perform any additional surgery necessary. Dr. Kalfas has my utmost respect and admiration.

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2022

Dr Kalfas, Marybeth and Rachel are quick when responding to my medical needs when I contact them. They are thorough explaining my medical issues , concerns and outcomes . I travel 180miles one way to my appointments which is worth the time. You as a clinic are blessed to have the services of these workers!

Reviewed on Oct 13, 2022

Dr. Kalfas is knowledgeable and professional. I trust and respect his medical opinion.

Back to Top