Sport and Exercise Medicine
Richard A. Figler, MD has been a staff physician in the Center for Sports Health at Cleveland Clinic since 2006 where he is Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Dr. Figler is board-certified in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.
Born and raised just outside of Cleveland in Willoughby, OH, he remained in the area and matriculated at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where he played both basketball and football. He stayed at CWRU for medical school and completed his Family Medicine residency at East Carolina University. He stayed on as junior faculty working within the Family Medicine Residency and at Student Health at ECU. He then graduated as the first Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellow at East Carolina and subsequently stayed on as faculty as Head of the Procedural Skills Division, Associate Sports Medicine Fellowship Director and Assistant Team Physician for East Carolina. In 2006 he was recruited home to Cleveland to join the Cleveland Clinic Primary Care Sports Medicine group. During his first few years back he served as Assistant and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns and started his role as Head Team Physician for Solon High School. As part of his service to high school sports he is a member of the Ohio High School Athlete Associations Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine. He is proud to be the Head Primary Care Team Physician for John Carroll University since 2010. After having a role as an Assistant Team Physician for the World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers for three years, he took over as the Head Primary Care Team Physician for the Cavs in 2016 after his mentor, AJ Cianflocco, was handed his well-deserved Championship ring for his many years of service to the team. This opportunity has also allowed him to be a member of the NBA’s Scientific Committee. Clinically Dr. Figler has numerous interests and continues to practice Sports Medicine from the eyes of the patient and enjoys treating patients of all ages, allowing them to get back to their chosen level of activity, safely. His roots in Family Medicine have allowed him to treat each athlete’s problem, from head to toe, physical to mental, as a sports medicine problem. His clinical practice has grown heavy in concussion evaluation and management and has been a medical director for Cleveland Clinic’s concussion center since 2014. Dr. Figler has been extremely proud of his educational roles as Associate Fellowship Director for three years prior to becoming Fellowship Director in 2013, where he has been charged with continuing the successes of his predecessors dating back to 1985, when the tradition of the Warthog Society started. He has the privilege of being part of a program that has produced a bevy of highly successful team physicians at every level of sport and multiple AMSSM presidents. As the current interim director of Primary Care Sports Medicine he has the been honored to help lead the development of the program, the staff, and the fellows to make Cleveland Clinic Primary Care Sports Medicine the best it can be, both now and in the future.
Born and raised just outside of Cleveland in Willoughby, OH, he remained in the area and matriculated at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where he played both basketball and football. He stayed at CWRU for medical school and completed his Family Medicine residency at East Carolina University. He stayed on as junior faculty working within the Family Medicine Residency and at Student Health at ECU. He then graduated as the first Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellow at East Carolina and subsequently stayed on as faculty as Head of the Procedural Skills Division, Associate Sports Medicine Fellowship Director and Assistant Team Physician for East Carolina. In 2006 he was recruited home to Cleveland to join the Cleveland Clinic Primary Care Sports Medicine group. During his first few years back he served as Assistant and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns and started his role as Head Team Physician for Solon High School. As part of his service to high school sports he is a member of the Ohio High School Athlete Associations Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine. He is proud to be the Head Primary Care Team Physician for John Carroll University since 2010. After having a role as an Assistant Team Physician for the World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers for three years, he took over as the Head Primary Care Team Physician for the Cavs in 2016 after his mentor, AJ Cianflocco, was handed his well-deserved Championship ring for his many years of service to the team. This opportunity has also allowed him to be a member of the NBA’s Scientific Committee. Clinically Dr. Figler has numerous interests and continues to practice Sports Medicine from the eyes of the patient and enjoys treating patients of all ages, allowing them to get back to their chosen level of activity, safely. His roots in Family Medicine have allowed him to treat each athlete’s problem, from head to toe, physical to mental, as a sports medicine problem. His clinical practice has grown heavy in concussion evaluation and management and has been a medical director for Cleveland Clinic’s concussion center since 2014. Dr. Figler has been extremely proud of his educational roles as Associate Fellowship Director for three years prior to becoming Fellowship Director in 2013, where he has been charged with continuing the successes of his predecessors dating back to 1985, when the tradition of the Warthog Society started. He has the privilege of being part of a program that has produced a bevy of highly successful team physicians at every level of sport and multiple AMSSM presidents. As the current interim director of Primary Care Sports Medicine he has the been honored to help lead the development of the program, the staff, and the fellows to make Cleveland Clinic Primary Care Sports Medicine the best it can be, both now and in the future.
Marie Schaefer, MD, is a family medicine trained Sports Medicine physician and is the Associate Fellowship Director. She practices primarily on the near west side of Cleveland and enjoys working with athletes and active people of all ages in injury treatment and prevention. She has specialty training in working with pediatric athletes and participates in Cleveland Clinic's School Based Health program. Her specialty interests include concussions, non-operative management of orthopedic conditions, acute and chronic sports injuries, and medical problems in sports especially regarding female athletes. She also keeps a small primary care practice of children and adults that are generally current or retired athletes, coaches, and active people. She is the Head Team Physician and NCAA Health Care Administrator for Cleveland State University. She holds a faculty position of Clinical Assistant Professor in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She is also the team physician of Lakewood High School and the Ohio Contemporary Ballet company. She is from Parma, OH and completed her undergraduate studies at Ohio Wesleyan University in politics and government where she was a middle-distance runner and dabbled in discus for the track program and was an Academic All-American (emphasis on Academic). She then attended Yale School of Medicine. Upon graduation, she completed a residency in Family Medicine at The Ohio State University and completed a pediatric and adult Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is active in advocacy and is the current president of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio and a member of the Associate Board of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. She is continuing to work to improve access to medical care through sports participation and outreach to the Cleveland community.
Sami Rifat, MD is a staff physician and Director of Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He is board certified in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine and is a fellow of both the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Rifat grew up in southeastern Michigan and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He graduated from the Chicago Medical school before returning to the University of Michigan for his residency training where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. After completing a Sports Medicine fellowship at The Ohio State University, he built a successful Sports Medicine private practice in the Detroit area. Dr. Rifat realized a lifelong dream to return to his Alma Mater, the University of Michigan, to become the Medical Director and Head Team Physician for the Wolverines. He held that position until 2022 when he joined the staff at the Cleveland Clinic.
Kelly Richter, MD became a Staff Physician in Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2003. Kelly is the Head Team Physician for North Royalton High School. Before coming to Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Richter was Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics and Internal Medicine, and she was a team physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Additionally, she has served as team physician for Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Richter spent 20 years as the Team Physician for Baldwin-Wallace University. She is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and she has a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. Dr. Richter is a member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. Dr. Richter’s specialty interests include all aspects of sports medicine.
Dominic King, DO, FAOSM, FAMI, CAQSM is an Interventional Sports Medicine Physician and the Associate Chief Improvement Officer for Access at the Cleveland Clinic. A pioneer in Orthopaedic Informatics, Dr. King co-founded the Orthopaedic Informatics Working Group and has led transformative projects that enhance patient access and optimize clinical workflows. He holds adjunct academic positions at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Dr. King has published extensively on digital health, orthopaedic informatics, and minimally invasive approaches to tendinopathies, with a focus on integrating AI, predictive analytics, and Natural Language Processing in healthcare. As an international expert in Esports Medicine, he directs the Esports Medicine Program at Cleveland Clinic, focusing on the health, wellness, and performance of esports athletes. Dr. King’s sports medicine experience includes working with prominent sports teams and serving as a tournament physician for major events. He is a national speaker on orthobiologics, joint preservation, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and digital health devices, and his work has been featured by major media outlets. A TEDx speaker and recipient of over 60 awards for innovation and teamwork, Dr. King is recognized as a "Top Doctor in Cleveland" and continues to drive impactful advancements in healthcare through collaboration and technology.
Vikas Patel, DO is a native Clevelander, growing up in Strongsville. He did all of his post graduate training, including the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, through Cleveland Clinic’s health system. He was added on as faculty after his fellowship and currently practices on the west side. He is board certified in Family Medicine and has a CAQ in Sports Medicine. He is the team physician for Avon High School.
He sees a wide variety of orthopedic ailments of all ages, from fractures, osteoarthritis to acute sports injuries. His special interest do lie in musculoskeletal ultrasound and tendinopathy. With a few of his colleagues, he is actively involved in research in tendinopathy treatment protocols, both chronic and acute, and emerging treatments, including orthobiologics. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family and loves exploring all of the great local restaurants and breweries the city has to offer.
He sees a wide variety of orthopedic ailments of all ages, from fractures, osteoarthritis to acute sports injuries. His special interest do lie in musculoskeletal ultrasound and tendinopathy. With a few of his colleagues, he is actively involved in research in tendinopathy treatment protocols, both chronic and acute, and emerging treatments, including orthobiologics. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family and loves exploring all of the great local restaurants and breweries the city has to offer.
Jason Genin, DO hails originally from Clarksburg, WV. The youngest of three boys, he was raised in an athletic and medical family and Jason developed a strong connection to both. Continuing his love for sport, he played football collegiately at Wake Forest University, where an untimely injury shortened his playing days but further blossomed his interest towards a career in sports medicine. Upon graduation, Jason pursued his medical studies at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and then subsequently completed a Fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic under his mentor, Dr. Zenos Vangelos, D.O.It is here that he became focused on the diagnosis and subsequent management of musculoskeletal sports injuries, with a particular focus on tendinopathy and musculoskeletal ultrasound. An opportunity to work in Major League Baseball helped accelerate these interests and develop and further appreciation for the sequencing of treatment and the multimodal care that is required to return athletes to their highest levels of performance. Working with his colleagues in sports medicine and physical therapy, Jason formed the Interventional Sports Medicine (ISM) team program. This group is interested in bringing new thoughts and treatments to the field of sports medicine and medical orthopedics, measuring performance, outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
Outside of medicine, Jason enjoys golf, fly fishing, tennis, pickleball and generally being active outdoors. He has been happily married for many years to his wife, Cindy. They are blessed with two children, Katya and Dimitri.
Outside of medicine, Jason enjoys golf, fly fishing, tennis, pickleball and generally being active outdoors. He has been happily married for many years to his wife, Cindy. They are blessed with two children, Katya and Dimitri.
Anne M. Rex, DO, FAOASM is a staff physician within the Center for Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedics at Cleveland Clinic. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor for Sports Medicine at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the team physician for Lake Catholic High School in Mentor, Ohio. Dr. Rex specializes in Primary Care Sports Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in the subspecialty of Sports Medicine, in addition to, certification in Family Practice. She received the award of Fellow of the American Osteopathic Association of Sports Medicine in 2014 after substantially demonstrating excellence in the field of Sports Medicine both clinically and academically. Dr. Rex has a special interest in treating sports-related orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injuries, returning athletes safely to play, and medical management of many common orthopaedic conditions. She works in close collaboration with a variety of providers within Cleveland Clinic for a multidisciplinary approach to find the optimal treatment plan to restore health and prevent future injury.
Caitlin Lewis, MD is a staff physician in Cleveland Clinic Center for Sports Medicine. She grew up locally in Kent, OH and attended Walsh Jesuit High School, where she competed in swimming and played lacrosse. She received her undergraduate in biology from St. Louis University. She returned to Ohio for medical school at University of Toledo, family medicine residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, and primary care sports medicine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Her experience in athletics combined with her passion for patient care naturally led her to pursue a career in sports medicine. As a primary care sports medicine physician, Dr. Lewis specializes in orthopedic are for conditions affecting bones, tendons, joints, muscles and ligaments. She strives to form a partnership with her patients, listening to their concerns and formulating an individualized care plan that aligns with his or her goals and needs, whether they are high-level athletes with an acute injury, recreational athletes with chronic injuries, or older patients who want to stay active. Her clinical interests include non-operative care of musculoskeletal conditions, overuse injuries, concussions, injury prevention and ultrasound-guided procedures. Her background in family medicine lends to a comprehensive, evidence-based approach, including addressing nutrition, hydration, sleep and biomechanical factors influencing injuries. She currently serves as the primary care team physician for Notre Dame College in South Euclid, OH, where she provides medical care to over 600 student-athletes on campus. Dr. Lewis is board-certified in Family Medicine with a certificate of added qualifications in Sports Medicine.
Molly McDermott, DO is a staff physician in the Cleveland Clinic Orthopaedic and Rheumatologic Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. She is board certified in Family Medicine and completed a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine. Dr. McDermott graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and minors in Spanish and Chemistry. While at Indiana University, Dr. McDermott played soccer as a Division I student-athlete and overcame three anterior cruciate ligament tears. She then obtained her medical degree from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, IN. Upon graduation, she completed a residency in Family Medicine and a Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, Dr. McDermott provides sports coverage for various teams and events in Northeast Ohio. She values creating patient-centered relationships with athletes and active people of all ages to focus on injury prevention and treatment. Her specialty interests include non-operative management of orthopaedic conditions, acute and chronic sports injuries, tendon or ligament conditions, and management of medical problems in sports, such as concussions. As a Cleveland native, Dr. McDermott enjoys spending time with her husband and son at various Cleveland sporting events as well as taking their dog to explore new parks, restaurants, and ice cream parlors.
Jessica C. Tomazic, MD is a Sports and Exercise Medicine staff physician with the Cleveland Clinic Departmet of Orthopaedic Surgery. She is a Northeast Ohio native, born in Oberlin and raised in Lorain, OH. After graduating from Lorain Southview High School in 2001, she accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy-West Point, majoring in Art, Philosophy, and Literature. At West Point, she served in multiple leadership positions and competed in a variety of sports including crew as a coxswain, rugby, and cycling – where she found success as an All-American collegiate cyclist and discovered a lifelong passion for biking. Upon graduation in 2005, she commissioned into the United States Army as a Medical Service Corps officer. She served at bases in Texas, Germany and California in a variety of healthcare administration and logistics roles and deployed to Iraq. Dr. Tomazic earned several awards including a Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and Iraqi Campaign Combat Star. She left the active-duty Army in 2012 and took a position as a project manager and implementation consultant for Surgical Information Systems, a healthcare IT company based in Alpharetta, GA. In 2013, she enrolled in the NEOMED-Cleveland State University partnership program and completed two years of post-bacc studies where she worked for AmeriCorps in Veteran outreach. She matriculated to medical school at NEOMED in 2015 and graduated in 2019. She went on to complete her family medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic. She then completed a sports medicine fellowship at Summa Health in Akron, OH. She now lives, works, and plays in and around her hometown, serving as team physician for Lorain High School and Elyria Catholic. Dr. Tomazic sees orthopedic and sports-related injuries, from head (sports-related concussions) to toe. She has special interests in ultrasound guided procedures, wilderness medicine, and endurance athletes, although she enjoys working with athletes from all walks of life. She continues to enjoy a variety of competitive athletic pursuits, including mountain biking and trail running, and she is an active ski patroller with Boston Mills/Brandywine/Alpine Valley.
Dr. Katherine Guran, MD is a staff physician in the Cleveland Clinic Center for Sports Medicine. She grew up in northeast Ohio and completed her undergraduate studies at Kent State University. She completed medical school at Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at University of Toledo, and primary care sports medicine fellowship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. She has been team physician for multiple high schools, head team physician for Ohio University, and is currently a team physician for Kent State University. Dr. Guran is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a certificate of added qualification in Sports Medicine. Dr. Guran enjoys working with athletes and active people of all ages for injury treatment and prevention. Her specialty interests include non-operative management of orthopaedic conditions, acute and chronic sports injuries, tendon or ligament conditions, and management of medical problems in sports. Dr. Guran also has special interest in adaptive sports.
Dr. Heather Rainey, MD is a staff physician in the Cleveland Clinic Center for Sports Medicine. She grew up in South Euclid, OH and completed her Bachelors of Science at John Carroll University. She completed medical school at The Ohio State University, a Preliminary Medicine Internship at Riverside Methodist Hospital, and then a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at back at OSU, where she was a chief resident. She then completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Kettering Sports Medicine before coming back home to Cleveland to start her practice. Prior to joining CCF, she worked at MetroHealth Medical Center, where she was the co-director of sports medicine, associate program director for the PM&R residency and the department's wellness officer. Her clinical interests include concussion, interventional and diagnostic ultrasound and adaptive sports. She cares for musculoskeletal conditions in patients of all ages.
Cardiology Teaching Faculty
Tamanna Singh, MD is a clinical cardiologist (heart specialist) and a member of the Sports Cardiology Center in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. She sees patients at Cleveland Clinic main campus.
Specialty Interests: Sports cardiology/cardiovascular care of competitive and recreational athletes, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, adult echocardiography, women’s cardiovascular health, cardiovascular disease prevention and wellness, diet and nutrition
Education: Dr. Singh earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and served her residency at Boston Medical Center. She served a three-year fellowship in cardiology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, then returned to Boston to complete her specialty training in sports cardiology with the Cardiovascular Performance Program fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. She joined the Cleveland Clinic medical staff upon completion of that experience in June 2018
Experience and Outcomes: As a sports cardiologist Dr. Singh has provided cardiac care for professional sports teams, competitive and recreational athletes and highly active individuals. She has significant experience in cardiopulmonary exercise testing specifically in athletes and has participated in multiple pre-participation screening events for collegiate and professional athletes to help ensure their safe participation in sports.
Research and Publications: Dr. Singh’s current research interest lies in comparing the effects of a plant-based diets vs. an all-inclusive diet on heart health. She has published research papers in medical journals on exercise, sports and the heart and has presented at national medical meetings.
About Dr. Singh: “As a clinical and sports cardiologist, I am humbled by how effective a healthy diet and intentional physical activity can be at reducing patients' risk of cardiovascular disease and/or disease progression. It is a privilege to support individuals not only when they are unwell but also as they progress towards achieving healthier lifestyles. As a former competitive athlete, I find caring and advocating for athletes of all ages incredibly rewarding. My patients inspire me to maintain my personal commitment to wellness and healthy, active living.”
Leisure Activities: In her leisure time, Dr. Singh enjoys running, yoga, plant-based cooking, reading and spending time with her family and two dogs.
Specialty Interests: Sports cardiology/cardiovascular care of competitive and recreational athletes, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, adult echocardiography, women’s cardiovascular health, cardiovascular disease prevention and wellness, diet and nutrition
Education: Dr. Singh earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and served her residency at Boston Medical Center. She served a three-year fellowship in cardiology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, then returned to Boston to complete her specialty training in sports cardiology with the Cardiovascular Performance Program fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. She joined the Cleveland Clinic medical staff upon completion of that experience in June 2018
Experience and Outcomes: As a sports cardiologist Dr. Singh has provided cardiac care for professional sports teams, competitive and recreational athletes and highly active individuals. She has significant experience in cardiopulmonary exercise testing specifically in athletes and has participated in multiple pre-participation screening events for collegiate and professional athletes to help ensure their safe participation in sports.
Research and Publications: Dr. Singh’s current research interest lies in comparing the effects of a plant-based diets vs. an all-inclusive diet on heart health. She has published research papers in medical journals on exercise, sports and the heart and has presented at national medical meetings.
About Dr. Singh: “As a clinical and sports cardiologist, I am humbled by how effective a healthy diet and intentional physical activity can be at reducing patients' risk of cardiovascular disease and/or disease progression. It is a privilege to support individuals not only when they are unwell but also as they progress towards achieving healthier lifestyles. As a former competitive athlete, I find caring and advocating for athletes of all ages incredibly rewarding. My patients inspire me to maintain my personal commitment to wellness and healthy, active living.”
Leisure Activities: In her leisure time, Dr. Singh enjoys running, yoga, plant-based cooking, reading and spending time with her family and two dogs.
Exercise Physiology Teaching Faculty
Erik Van Iterson, PhD, Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Diagnostic Radiology Teaching Faculty
Joshua Polster, MD, Radiology
Michael Forney, MD, Radiology
Naveen Subhas, MD, is a Staff radiologist in the Musculoskeletal Section at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus. He was appointed in 2006. He is board-certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology. His specialty interests include musculoskeletal radiology and sports medicine imaging. Dr. Subhas has had several research articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals. He has been a presenter at conferences and symposia in his area of expertise. Dr. Subhas is a member of the American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and the Society of Skeletal Radiology.
Surgical Teaching Faculty
Lutul Farrow, MD - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
James Rosneck, MD - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Michael Scarcella, MD - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Paul Saluan, MD - Pediatric and Adolescent Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Joseph Styron, MD - Orthopaedic Hand Surgery
Joseph Tramer, MD - Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle
James Rosneck, MD - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Michael Scarcella, MD - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Paul Saluan, MD - Pediatric and Adolescent Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Joseph Styron, MD - Orthopaedic Hand Surgery
Joseph Tramer, MD - Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle