Alexander Rim, MD

Alex Rim, MD, is a vascular surgeon in the Department of Vascular Surgery in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He sees patients and performs surgery at Marymount Hospital, Garfield Heights.

Specialty Interests: Open and endovascular (minimally invasive) repair of abdominal aortic and iliac artery aneurysms; treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) and limb salvage, carotid occlusive disease and carotid endarterectomy; hemodialysis (kidney dialysis) access surgery and interventions; lower extremity arterial bypass surgery

Number of Patients Treated: Physicians in the Cleveland Clinic Department of Vascular Surgery performed more than 7,400 procedures in 2015; 60 percent of these were endovascular procedures. Dr. Rim performs more than 400 vascular procedures a year and has performed approximately 5,000 over the course of his career.

Success Rate: The overall mortality rate for vascular surgery patients at Cleveland Clinic 2011-2015 was 1.7 percent, significantly below the expected mortality rate of 5.4 percent, which is based on the age of our patients, the severity of their illness and their general health condition.

Education and Training: Dr. Rim graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University, New Haven, Conn. He earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, in 1995, graduating with honors in surgery and ob/gyn. He completed a residency in general surgery at Cleveland Clinic, serving as chief resident in his final year of training. Following an additional year of vascular surgery research, he completed his subspecialty training with a two-year vascular surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Rim joined the Cleveland Clinic staff in 2016 after almost 12 years as a vascular surgeon at a Florida hospital.

About Dr. Rim: “I enjoy vascular surgery because I am able to establish long-term relationships with patients. I feel I have made a difference in their lives, as well as mine.” 

Leisure Activities: In his leisure time Dr. Rim enjoys playing golf, spending time with family and friends and cheering on all Cleveland sports teams and The Ohio State University Buckeyes.