SUMMARY
Rafid Mustafa, M.D., is a neurohospitalist and clinician educator with expertise in inpatient neurology, quality improvement and medical education. His research interests include neurological complications of systemic diseases, neuro-oncology, myelopathies and clinical outcomes of quality improvement interventions. He has published numerous high-impact, peer-reviewed articles and presented at several national and international conferences. He also has received multiple awards for excellence in clinical care, teaching and quality improvement.
Dr. Mustafa develops and directs several curricula and courses for neurology residents and advanced-practice professionals. He also leads quality improvement initiatives and mentors trainees and faculty members in quality improvement projects. Dr. Mustafa advances the field of hospital neurology through clinical excellence, education, research and quality improvement.
Focus areas
- Neurologic complications of systemic diseases. Dr. Mustafa studies various neurologic complications of systemic diseases, particularly hematologic malignancies and autoimmune disorders. He has a particular interest in, and publishes on, rare and challenging neurologic manifestations of these diseases. Topics include recurrent brachial neuritis in B-cell lymphoma, intractable hiccups in leptomeningeal lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. He also has an interest in myelopathies and diagnostic approaches to spinal cord disorders, such as the utility of MRI enhancement patterns in myelopathies with longitudinally extensive T2 lesions, which can be seen in various inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic conditions.
- Quality improvement in the neurohospitalist practice. Dr. Mustafa is passionate about improving the quality and safety of care for patients hospitalized with neurologic disorders. He leads and participates in quality improvement initiatives and projects. These initiatives and projects have focused on a range of issues, including reducing the department's inpatient fall rate. Other issues include improving patient education and medication adherence for secondary stroke prevention, optimizing patient flow and discharge efficiency, and enhancing quality improvement education for neurology residents.
- Medical education and curriculum development. Dr. Mustafa is a dedicated educator and mentor for medical students, residents, fellows and advanced-practice professionals. He teaches various topics in neurology through lectures, workshops, case conferences and bedside teaching. He also develops and directs several curricula and courses for neurology trainees and healthcare professionals, such as Mayo Clinic's Neurology Residency Summer Lecture Series, Neurology Clinician Educator Course and Neurology Residency Quality Improvement Course. Dr. Mustafa evaluates the impact and outcomes of these educational interventions using various methods, such as surveys, focus groups and objective structured practical examinations.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Mustafa's research centers around care delivery, health policy and practice change, and education. He aims to transform education by including students and patients in quality and safety initiatives at Mayo Clinic. His academic focus involves defining high-value care for patients with neurologic disease and making care processes the best they can be. He also seeks to make patient care more accessible, efficient and safe.
Professional highlights
- Neurohospitalist Society:
- Treasurer, 2024-present.
- Board member, 2022-present.
- American Academy of Neurology:
- Member, Quality Measures Subcommittee, 2023-present.
- QI Innovation Award, 2022.
- Vice chair for Quality, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 2022-present.
- Mayo Fellows' Association:
- Neurology Teacher of the Year Award, 2024.
- Neurology Teacher of the Year Award, 2023.
- Faculty member and mentor, Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators in Health Professions, 2023-2024.
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine, 2023.