Dr. Nader Hebela

Dr. Nader Hebela, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, who specializes in spinal surgery with a focus on adult degenerative disease and spinal tumor surgery.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hebela was an Associate Partner at Brielle Orthopedics, Brick, New Jersey, US and New Jersey Spine and Orthopedic, Millburn, New Jersey, US. Previously, he served as Staff Spine Surgeon at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he oversaw the Spine Surgery Program for southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, encompassing four local Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Dr. Hebela received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, where he also completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery. He completed his fellowship in Spine Reconstructive Surgery at the St. Joseph Medical Center Scoliosis and Spine Center, Towson, Maryland, US.

His research has focused on creating a small animal model of both disc degeneration and disc regeneration. He was awarded both a Merit Review funding, as well as a substantial grant from the Department of Defense of the United States for his basic science and translational research. He collaborated on developing a sciatic nerve injury model with faculty from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering. His peer-reviewed publications support his broader interests in clinical, basic science and translational medicine and spinal surgery.

Dr. Hebela works with various charities and medical relief organizations, performing both spinal reconstructive, as well as orthopedic trauma surgery. He has volunteered in South Africa, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Gaza.

Dr. Hebela lives in Abu Dhabi. He enjoys swimming, as well as occasionally designing and creating jewelry from precious and semiprecious metals and stones.​

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

• 1995 - 2000: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US. Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• 2000 - 2006: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US. Resident, Orthopedic Surgery
• 2006 - 2007: ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, SCOLIOSIS ＆ SPINE CENTER, TOWSON, MARYLAND, US. Fellow, Spine Reconstructive Surgery

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 2014 - 2014: NEW JERSEY SPINE ＆ ORTHOPEDIC, MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY, US. Associate Partner
• 2011 - 2014: BRIELLE ORTHOPEDICS, BRICK, NEW JERSEY, US. Associate Partner
• 2007 - 2011: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US. Assistant Professor, Orthopedic Surgery
• 2007 - 2011: PHILADELPHIA VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US. Staff Surgeon

Achievements & Career Highlights

• Participant, Four Schools Physician-Scientist Program, a combined research and residency program awarded by the University of Pennsylvania, John Hopkins, Duke and Washington University Schools of Medicine
• Recipient, William G. Munns Memorial Prize, presented annually by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine to the outstanding graduating senior resident in Orthopedic Surgery
• Recipient, Progressive Osseous Heteroplasia Association (POHA) Children’s Research Award for exemplary efforts to advance the cause for finding a cure for POH and extraordinary accomplishments in POH research
• Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, Division of Molecular Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Recipient, DeForest Willard Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US​