Emergency icon Important Updates
Department Neuromuscular Center
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon No
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.444.5559
Desk:
216.444.5551
Fax:
216.445.4653
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Autonomic Nervous System Testing
  • Autonomic Reflex Test
  • Electromyography
  • Single Fiber EMG
View all 4 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Autoimmune Polyneuropathy
  • Autonomic Nervous System Disorders
  • Brachial Plexus
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Dysautonomia
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
  • Inflammatory Polyneuropathy
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Neuromuscular Disease
  • Neuropathy
  • Neuropathy - Diabetic
  • Post-Polio Syndrome
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
  • Small Fiber Neuropathy
  • Syncope
View all 19 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

Is Cleveland Clinic Part of Your Insurance?

Review a list of accepted insurance plans for our Northeast Ohio locations or learn more about purchasing a contracted managed care plan.

View All Plans
Biography

About Robert Shields, MD

Robert W. Shields Jr., MD, was named Head of the Autonomic Laboratory, Department of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic, in 2003. He has served as a Staff Neurologist since 1988. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic, he held a variety of positions at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital (MetroHealth Medical Center), including Director of the Adult Muscular Dystrophy Association, Director of the EMG Laboratory, Acting Director of the Department of Neurology, and Acting Director, Neurology Residency Training Program. He has also held several medical school appointments at Case Western Reserve University, primarily as Assistant Professor of Neurology, and spent 10 years as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine.

His specialty interests include electromyography, neuromuscular disease and autonomic disorders. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology with an added qualification in clinical neurophysiology, and in electrodiagnostic medicine; he is also a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

A Miami native, Dr. Shields graduated in 1970 from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude. He graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1974. Dr. Shields served an internship in straight medicine at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital (MetroHealth Medical Center), where he was also a Junior Assistant Resident and Senior Assistant Resident in neurology, and completed his residency in neuropathology in 1978. Dr. Shields was also a Special Fellow in neurology, electromyography, at Cleveland Clinic in 1978 and a Clinical Fellow in muscular dystrophy at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital in 1978-1979.

Dr. Shields has been an investigator in more than 20 research projects. He is the author of several dozen journal articles, has contributed numerous chapters and reviews to various publications and is a frequent presenter at medical conferences around the world.

Dr. Shields is a member of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Library Advisory Committee and has also been active with the Cleveland Medical Library Association and the Cleveland Health Sciences Library, Case Western Reserve University.
 
Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1988

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - MetroHealth Medical Center
Muscular Dystrophy
Cleveland, OH
1979

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Electromyography-VISITING
Cleveland, OH United States
1978

Residency - MetroHealth Medical Center
Neurology
Cleveland, OH
1978

Internship - MetroHealth Medical Center
Medicine
Cleveland, OH
1975

Medical Education - University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, FL
1974

Undergraduate - University of Miami
Chemistry, Pre-Med
Coral Gables, FL
1970

Certifications

  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology

Specialty Interests

autonomic disorders, autonomic nervous system diseases and testing, Electromyography, Neuromuscular diseases

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Robert Shields, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 10/12/2022, Dr. Shields has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

37 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
5 out of 5
Explains 5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 5
Patient Rating of Doctor 5

11 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Oct 22, 2024

Dr. Shields is always prepared and explains everything thoroughly. He is caring, never makes me feel rushed during appointments and keeps abreast of new treatments and medicines so that he provide the best options for my care.

Reviewed on Oct 1, 2024

Dr. Shield's is tremendous! I have many doctors with all of my health problems and he is tops. Extremely knowledgeable, greatly skilled and has wonderful compassion for his patient's as well.

Reviewed on Jul 24, 2024

For years Dr Shields has helped me navigate a difficult health issue with kindness , empathy and great expertise

Reviewed on Jun 11, 2024

Dr. Shields is always very caring and listens and problem solves with you.

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2024

Dr. Shields is one of the very best! I have many diagnosis and see over a 20 doctors between home, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Dr. Shields is an extremely knowledgable, skilled physician with wonderful people skills in caring for his patients.

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2024

Dr. Shields is an extremely good physician.

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2024

It is hard to get appointments with some doctors

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

Dr. Shield's is excellent, extremely knowledgeable, and also compassionate.

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2024

I have been seeing Dr Shields for a number of years to treat my mycenia gravis. He has been nothing but supportive and concerned of my progress from the beginning. I have been in remission for a cooke of years now , I get the same care and concern twice a year now. I have nothing but admiration for his care.

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2024

Dr Shields is a wonderful doctor and I always feel he's very attentive and caring regarding my health issues for both myself and my husband.

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2024

Dr. Shields is a wonderful and caring physician. I feel lucky to have found him and to have him managing my care.

Back to Top