Dr. Nazem Hafez

Dr. Nazem Hafez, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Hospital Medicine Department of the Medical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hafez worked as a Hospitalist and Internal Medicine Consultant at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Cleveland, Ohio.

In addition, Dr. Hafez also worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at both Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to his time at the main campus, he gained experience working as a Hospitalist at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania and also at Grand Strand Hospital in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Dr. Hafez received his medical degree from Damascus University School of Medicine in Damascus, Syria. He also completed his master's degree in Clinical Pharmacology in Syria after which he transitioned to the United States to complete his internship, research and residency at Woodhull Medical Center/New York University in Manhattan, New York.

Dr. Hafez resides in Abu Dhabi with his family. He enjoys sports, swimming and traveling. He also enjoys volunteering in the community to help improve health care systems around the world.

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

• 1998 - 2004: DAMASCUS UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE, DAMASCUS, SYRIA. Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• 2004 - 2006: AL-BAATH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE - HOMS, SYRIA. Master’s degree, Clinical Pharmacology
• 2009 - 2012: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, CANCER INSTITUTE - MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, USA. Clinical Researcher
• 2006 - 2008: GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM, MEDICAL HOUSE, SHAMOKIN HOSPITAL - PENNSYLVANIA, USA
• 2009 - 2012: WOODHULL MEDICAL CENTER, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE - BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USA. Resident and Chief Resident (2012)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 2017 - 2019: CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY - CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA. Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
• 2017 - 2019: OHIO UNIVERSITY HERITAGE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE - CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA. Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
• 2016 - 2019: FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL, A CLEVELAND CLINIC HOSPITAL - CLEVELAND, OHIO, US. Hospitalist and Consultant, Internal Medicine
• 2014 - 2016: GRAND STRAND MEDICAL CENTER - MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA. Hospitalist and Consultant, Internal Medicine
• 2012 - 2014: GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM MAIN CAMPUS - DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA. Hospitalist, Internal Medicine

Achievements & Career Highlights

• Chief Resident Award at New York University/Woodhull Medical Center in 2011
• Golden Award from American Heart Association for Heart Failure GWTG-HF
• Breakthrough honor award for Rapid Improvement Event in 2011, Improving cardiology consultation
• Improved patient transfer process from the emergency room to the medicine floor in 2011
• Decreased readmission rate for heart failure and pneumonia from 2011 to 2012
• New York University English-Arabic Interpreter Award​