Elliot J. Roth, MD

About Me

Elliot J. Roth, MD, is an Attending Physician in Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Brain Innovation Center. He is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Brain Injury Medicine. Additionally, he is the Paul B. Magnuson Professor and Chairman of PM&R at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President and Medical Director for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan AbilityLab).

Dr. Roth brings more than 30 years of experience in rehabilitation patient care, research, teaching and program leadership for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. His research and academic interests focus on novel methods to enhance recovery, improve functional outcomes and prevent associated medical conditions for people with disabling conditions.

He currently is Project Director of a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on health and function for people with physical disabilities, and he recently completed an RRTC grant on stroke rehabilitation, which he led for more than 20 years. He is the Principal Investigator on several other research projects focused primarily on neurorehabilitation, including an NIH-supported project on stroke-induced hand dysfunction. He has published more than 150 papers on neurorehabilitation, and he holds a patent on a method and apparatus for artificially stimulating cough reflex in people with spinal cord injuries.

In addition to his research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Roth has an active medical practice focusing predominantly on rehabilitation management for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders. A passionate supporter of the team approach to care and research, Dr. Roth emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration in his clinical and academic activities. He is widely recognized as a leading expert in interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation and has received many awards from national organizations.

Dr. Roth earned his Doctor of Medicine from Northwestern University. He completed his internship at Cook County Hospital and his residency through the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan AbilityLab). He serves on the Board of Directors for Access Living and a number of other non-profit organizations.