Issa Rezek, MD

Issa Rezek, MD, FACC, FACS, is a staff surgeon in the regional Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He sees patients and performs surgery at MetroHealth Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital.

Specialty Interests: Lung cancer, benign lung disorder, pleural disease, pneumothorax, mediastinal tumors, lung biopsy/lung tissue diagnosis, chest wall tumors, mediastinoscopy, empyema, diaphragmatic diseases, hyperhidrosis

Experience: Dr. Rezek has expertise in minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and minimally invasive robotic thoracic surgery, as well as conventional open thoracic surgery. He also has experience in open heart surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting and heart valve replacement/repair. This experience has contributed to his surgical skills and ability to operate on thoracic organs using different approaches, including mini-sternotomy and subxiphoid, in addition to the standard thoracoscopy and thoracotomy incisions.

Dr. Rezek is board certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Success Rates: Cleveland Clinic is nationally and internationally
renowned for its cardiovascular care, drawing patients from across the country and around the world. To learn about patient outcomes for specific conditions and procedures at Cleveland Clinic, go to: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/heart/outcomes/358-institute-summary

Education: Dr. Rezek earned his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria. Following a postdoctoral research fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., he completed a general surgery internship and residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn., an affiliate of Yale University School of Medicine, serving as chief resident in his final year.  He received his thoracic surgery training as a resident at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. 

Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic medical staff in 2024, Dr. Rezek was a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon with Northwest Medical Group, Valparaiso, Ind.

Research, Publications and Speaking: Dr. Rezek has coauthored research papers published in peer-reviewed thoracic imaging and surgery journals, as well as two textbook chapters. He has presented research abstracts at national and international medical meetings. 

About Dr. Rezek: “For many patients, cardiothoracic surgery is the ‘biggest’ surgery they will undergo in their lives. It is a privilege when patients allow me to operate on their most vital organs, when the stakes could not get any higher and where razor-thin margins can mean the difference between life and death. I value my patients’ trust and enjoy walking them through this vulnerable period of their lives, toward achieving potentially longer survival and improved quality of life.”

Leisure Activities: When he is not working, Dr. Rezek enjoys spending time with his family in outdoor activities.