John Chae, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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About Me
I’m the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at MetroHealth. I’ve been part of this community since 1994, and I’m proud to help lead our academic and research mission in partnership with Case Western Reserve University. My clinical expertise is in stroke rehabilitation, and I’ve spent my career helping patients recover and regain independence after life-changing injuries.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, followed by a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Dartmouth College. I received my M.D. from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where I also completed my residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, along with training at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. I later completed a research fellowship through the NIH Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program at Case Western.
In addition to caring for patients, I serve as a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Biomedical Engineering at Case Western, where I work to advance care through innovation, research, and education. I’m committed to compassionate, evidence-based care and honored to support patients and families on their journey to recovery.
Dr. Chae has made notable contributions as a clinician, educator, inventor, scientist, and leader. He is the co-inventor of percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation system for the treatment of musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. The system was cleared by the FDA in July of 2016 and, as of December 2024, has been placed in over 36,000 patients. He also co-invented contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES), a novel treatment for recovery of upper limb function following stroke. CCFES was licensed to a commercial entity and received FDA clearance in June of 2025.
Dr Chae has authored over 135 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and books and has been awarded 34 patents. During his tenure as Chair of PM&R, the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute rose to become Ohio’s top rehabilitation hospital (#24 nationally, 2022-2023 US News & World Report), and the Department of PM&R at CWRU became the nation’s top NIH funded department (Blue Ridge, February 2023) among PM&R departments in US medical schools.
2003 Young Academician Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists
2004 Best Research Paper Award, PM&R Education and Research Foundation
2005 Sidney and Elizabeth Licht Excellence in Research Writing Award, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
2006 Excellence in Research Writing Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists
2007 Carolyn L. Braddom Research Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists
2008 Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society (Alumni Category), New Jersey Medical School
2009 Viste Award, American Society of Neurorehabilitation (ASNR
2011 College of Fellows, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
2011 National Academy of Medicine
2013 Excellence in Research Writing Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists
2015 Award for Excellence in Post-Acute Stroke, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Stroke Association:
2022 Distinguished Academician Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists:
2024 Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Notable Leaders in Health Care, Crain’s Cleveland Business
Education & Training
Education
Internship
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-New Brunswick (New Jersey) – Internal MedicineMedical Education
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJ) MDResidency
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJ) – Physical Med & Rehab