Dr. Zurabi Zaalishvili joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor as of July 2026.
Dr. Zaalishvili completed his internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2023 to 2026, where he distinguished himself through excellence in patient care, teaching, and quality improvement. He was frequently recognized by peers and faculty and received both inpatient and outpatient Resident of the Month awards on ten occasions, reflecting his consistent clinical performance and dedication to team-based care.
Dr. Zaalishvili earned his medical degree summa cum laude from Tbilisi State Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2022. He was awarded a full government scholarship for his medical education after achieving one of the highest scores nationally on the Georgian medical school entrance examinations, ranking among the top eight students in the country. During his training, he also completed several months of clinical rotations at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where he gained early exposure to the U.S. healthcare system and developed an interest in academic medicine.
Clinically, Dr. Zaalishvili’s interests include quality improvement and the application of artificial intelligence in medicine to enhance patient safety, diagnostic accuracy, and clinical workflows. He is particularly interested in leveraging data-driven tools to improve inpatient care delivery and reduce preventable harm in hospitalized patients.
His academic interests focus on medical education and diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is passionate about creating supportive learning environments for trainees and promoting inclusive practices within academic medicine. Throughout residency, he was actively involved in teaching medical students and junior residents and was recognized as the most frequently nominated inpatient resident of the month, highlighting his commitment to mentorship, professionalism, and collaborative practice.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Zaalishvili enjoys singing, meditation, yoga, fitness training, and breathwork, which he finds essential for maintaining balance and resilience in a demanding clinical career.