Elias Rafir Melhem, MD

Dr. Melhem is a neuroradiologist. He specializes in the treatment of pediatric sickle cell disease, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and brain tumors.

Dr. Melhem is a leader in the development and use of new technology in neuroradiology. He joined University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2012 as the Dean John M. Dennis chair of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. He has greatly expanded the department's research program funding, which ranks thirteenth in the country.

A widely respected clinician scientist, Dr. Melhem has secured nearly $10 million in continuous research funding from the National Institutes of Health throughout his career. He is a prolific scholar, having written 200 peer-reviewed journal articles.

In 2000, Dr. Melhem received the Melvin M. Figley Fellowship in radiology journalism. This highly competitive fellowship is awarded by the American Roentgen Ray Society to encourage young radiologists to continue with a career in academic medicine and improve the quality of radiology journals by teaching the fundamentals of medical journalism.

In 2007, Dr. Melhem received the Research Award for Novel Imaging Approach Using 3D Stress MRI to Detect Altered Biomechanics in Patients with Evoked Neck Pain, which was presented by the Cervical Spine Research Society.