Robert Saper

About Robert Saper

After graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1988, I attended UCSF to complete a family medicine residency and chief residency. I honed my clinical skills in full-time, full-spectrum private family practice in the San Francisco Bay area from I retrained for an academic medical career by completing a NIH T32-funded research fellowship in integrative medicine and MPH at Harvard from 20••••04. Immediately after fellowship, I joined the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center. There with colleagues I founded the Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Disparities where we conducted research, offered clinical services, and educated trainees. At Boston University I was promoted to Professor of Family Medicine in 2019 and held several roles including Director of Integrative Medicine, Chair of Appointments and Promotions, Academic Fellowship Director, and Patient Experience Champion. My research has focused on the safety, effectiveness, and implementation of integrative medicine approaches for common primary care problems particularly in underserved populations. My research in yoga for chronic low back pain has contributed to the growing evidence base for nonpharmacologic therapies for chronic pain. My 2004 and 2008 JAMA publications demonstrating the presence of lead, mercury, and arsenic in traditional Indian medicines catalyzed reform in dietary supplement regulation nationally and internationally. I have authored over 65 peer-reviewed publications and received NIH career development, R01, U01 and PCORI funding. I am a past chair of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, comprised of over 75 academic health centers internationally committed to the promotion of evidence-based complementary and lifestyle approaches into health care. I enjoy teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. I have practiced yoga and meditation for over 35 years and obtained my 200 hour yoga teacher training certificate from the Kripalu Center in 2018. In 2021 I started as the Nancy J. and Michael F. Roizen Chair for Wellness at the Cleveland Clinic, where I champion efforts promoting wellness and prevention for patients, caregivers, the organization and the surrounding communities.

Experience

1. Chair, Department of Wellness and Preventive Medicine

   Cleveland Clinic

   Feb 2021 — Present · Cleveland, OH, US

Education

• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  Master of Public Health (MPH)

  2001 — 2003

• Brandeis University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Biology

  1979 — 1983

• University of California, San Francisco

  Family Medicine Residency

  1988 — 1991

• Kripalu Center

  200 hour Yoga Teachers Training Certificate, Kripalu Yoga

  2018 — 2018

• Harvard Medical School

  Academic Fellowship, Integrative Medicine Research

  2001 — 2004

• Harvard Medical School

  Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

  1983 — 1988