Dr. Ilyas Aleem is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Spine Surgery, with cross appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery. After completing his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto, Dr. Aleem completed medical school at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. He then completed a fellowship in Spine Surgery and further earned a graduate degree in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University. Dr. Aleem then went on to complete a complex spine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Alongside his clinical practice, Dr. Aleem has a strong interest in education and research, with numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed publications. He has been recognized for his scientific presentations at both national and international conferences.

Dr. Aleem currently serves as assistant program director for resident research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and 5A MPLAN Medical Director. He is an active member of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS), North American Spine Society (NASS), and is on the Executive Committee for the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC).

Dr. Aleem completed his fellowships at:

McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Focus on minimally-invasive spine surgery, spine trauma), 2015
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (Focus on complex primary and revision spine surgery, cervical spine surgery), 2016

Evidence-based medicine
Clinical epidemiology
Global health
Clinical trials
Observational studies
Meta-analyses focusing specifically on improving outcomes in patients with spinal disorders