He is one of America’s top doctors and was voted so in 2007 by a group of peers.  Dr. Daniel Clair is Chairman of the Department of Vascular Surgery and a Vascular Surgeon practicing at Cleveland Clinic's main campus.  He is also the surgeon who successfully operated on the Gadol HaDor Rav Sholom Moshe Elyashiv this past Sunday.

Dr. Clair specializes in carotid artery surgery and thoraco-abdominal aortic repair and reconstruction. This was a surgery that he had performed on Rav Elyashiv seven years ago, and one that he required once again.  Both times Dr. Clair flew to Eretz Yisroel, himself, his team and his equipment.  Prior to this surgery which took place at Hadassa Hospital in Jerusalem (at 1:30 PM New York City time), Dr. Clair had asked for a blessing from Rav Elyashiv for a successful surgery.  Rav Ekyashiv gave a bracha that he should be a successful shliach.

Dr. Clair received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.  He did his internship and residency in surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, becoming Chief Resident in Surgery and receiving awards.

Dr. Clair’s research interests have focused on clinical trials of minimally invasive vascular therapies. He has played a significant role in industry-sponsored clinical trials, most recently as the National Principal Investigator for the EMPIRE Trial in which researchers study a flow reversal system for carotid stenting. He has been invited to present his research findings and clinical experience at more than 90 international and national medical conferences and symposia.

Dr, Clair is a prolific publisher and writer.  He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the Editorial Advisory Board of Vascular Disease Management, Dr. Clair also serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Vascular Surgery, the Journal of Endovascular Therapy and the Annals of Vascular Surgery. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 articles and book chapters on his clinical experience and research.

The surgery was successful and took approximately three hours.  During the surgery prayer vigils were held at the Wailing Wall and throughout numerous locations across the world.  Rav Elyashiv is scheduled to come home, b’Ezras Hashem, on Wednesday.