Firas A Saker MD
Medical director, Neonatal Intensive care unit at Hillcrest Hospital at Cleveland Clinic
Join to View Full Profile
Euclid Ave# 9500Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone+1 216-444-2568
Dr. Saker is on Doximity
As a Doximity member you'll join over two million verified healthcare professionals in a private, secure network.
- Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
- Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
- Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.
Summary
- Dr. Firas Saker is a distinguished neonatologist at Cleveland Children's . He completed his fellowship training at Rainbow babies and Children's and underwent further specialized training in neonatal metabolism, most recently SQIL certification at Harvard Medical School . Currently serving as Chair for Neonatal Safety at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. His current research interests is focused on patient safety, and he has published extensively in prominent journals. Recognized for his expertise, he has received numerous awards, including the "Best Doctors in America" for 16 consecutive years.
Education & Training
Harvard Medical SchoolSQUIL Program, Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education, Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership Program, 1-year Certificate Program, 2024 - 2025
Case Western Reserve UniversityNeonatal Metabolism, NIH Research Service Awardee, Metabolism Training Grant, 1996 - 1997
Case Western Reserve Univ/Univ Hosps Cleveland Med Ctr/Rainbow Babies and Childrens HospitalFellowship, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 1993 - 1996
Texas Tech University HSC El PasoResidency, Pediatrics, 1989 - 1991
Meharry Medical College School of MedicineInternship, Pediatrics, 1988 - 1989
Certifications & Licensure
OH State Medical License 1993 - 2028
CA State Medical License 1996 - 2010
IL State Medical License 2000 - 2002
TN State Medical License 1990 - 1991
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics- American Board of Pediatrics Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- Best Doctors in America 2010-2025
- Honorary chairman March of Dime at Mahoning Valley, 2016
- FDR March of Dime community award November 2014 March of Dime, 2014
Clinical Trials
- Newborn Ventilation in the Delivery Room: Could it be Improved With a T-piece Resuscitator? Start of enrollment: 2009 Dec 01
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- Prevention of unplanned extubation in neonates with silk tie securement.Tetyana H Nesterenko, Firas Saker, Daniel Kubiak, John Dickson, Amanda L Sheppard
Pediatric Research. 2026-02-01 - Structured implementation of a bubble-CPAP program to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.Hany Aly, Hany Aziz, Vanishree Nandakumar, Firas Saker, Mohamed A Mohamed
Pediatric Research. 2025-12-09 - 4 citationsChorioamnionitis, Cesarean Deliveries, and Racial Disparities in the USA.Injy El-Dib, Mohsen A A Farghaly, Firas Saker, Jalal M Abu-Shaweesh, Sarah Alzayyat
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2025-02-01
Journal Articles
- Clinical Trial of Safety and Efficacy of IHN-A21 for the Prevention of Nosocomial Staphylococcal Bloodstream Infection in Premature InfantsSeth Hetherington et al, J Pediatr, 1/1/2010
- The Use and Misuse of Vancomycin in Very Low Birth Weight InfantsSaker F, Roberson D, Kesler K, Rosanbalm S, Morris A and Hetherington S, Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 1/1/2008
- Clinical Trial of Safety and Efficacy of IHN-A21 for the Prevention of Nosocomial Staphylococcal Bloodstream Infection in Premature Infants, Contributed as Part of the...Seth Hetherington et al, J Pediatr, 1/1/2007
Abstracts/Posters
- Compared with Cpap, the Use of Non Invasive Ventilation Post-extubation in Elbw Infants Is Associated with Increased Incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.Wasim Khasawneh, MD, Jessica Barry, MD, Raidour Ahmed, MD, Sarah Worley, MS, Firas Saker, MD and Jalal Abu-Shaweesh, MD, APS Meeting, 1/1/2015
- Non-invasive Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist Using RAM Nasal Cannula after Extubation in ELBW - A Pilot StudyMichelle M. Elias Ruiz; R.L. Chatburn, J. Dickson, K. Fedor, F. Saker; J. A Shaweesh, R. J. Rodriguez, Mid-West Society for Pediatric Research MWSPR, Cleveland, OH, 1/1/2014
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Verses Noninvasive Ventilation and the Incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants.W. Khasawneh , F. Saker , S. Fimiani, S. Hendershot , J. Abu-Shaweesh, Mid-West Society for Pediatric Research MWSPR, Cleveland, OH, 1/1/2014
Lectures
- Perinatal Risk Factors, Prevention and Neuroprotection for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in Newborn InfantsHillcrest Medical Center, Cleveland, OH - 1/1/2014
- High-frequency Oscillatory Ventilation for the Prevention of Chronic Lung Disease of PrematurityDivision of Neonatology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. - 1/1/2014
- Surfactant Biology and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Very Low Birth Weight InfantsRainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH - 1/1/2014
Other
- Overview of Neonatal Respiratory Distress, Disorder of TransitionMartin J.R.and Saker F, Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MD., UpToDate Electronic Web Site
1/1/2011 - Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm InfantsMartin J.R.and Saker F, Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MD, UpToDate Electronic Web Site
1/1/2011 - Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the NewbornMartin J.R.and Saker F, Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MD, UpToDate Electronic Web Site
1/1/2011
Press Mentions
Pregnancy and Depression Update: Study Reveals Respiratory Support Needs of SSRI-Exposed Preterm InfantsMarch 2nd, 2018
About Firas Saker, MDNovember 10th, 2017
Twins Born at 22 Weeks — Who Both Weighed Less Than 1 Lb. — Don Cap and Gown at NICU 'Graduation'October 6th, 2023
Professional Memberships
- Member
External Links
- Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn- Up To Date. Martin J.R.and Saker F, Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MDhttp://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathophysiology-and-clinical-manifestations-of-respiratory-distress-syndrome-in-the-newborn?source=search_result&search=rds&selectedTitle=1%7E150
- Prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants- Up To Date. Martin J.R.and Saker F,Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MD. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/prevention-and-treatment-of-respiratory-distress-syndrome-in-preterm-infants?source=search_result&search=rds&selectedTitle=2%7E150
- Overview of neonatal respiratory distress: Disorders of transition Up To Date. Martin J.R.and Saker F, Deputy Editor Melanie S Kim, MD. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-neonatal-respiratory-distress-disorders-of-transition?source=search_result&search=rds&selectedTitle=3%7E150
Viewing the full profile is available to verified healthcare professionals only.
Find your profile and take control of your online presence:
