Ian Tafel, MD

Ian Tafel, MD, is a University of Florida neurosurgeon at UF Health Neurosurgery – Halifax Health.

Dr. Tafel graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in psychology. Before deciding to go to medical school, Dr. Tafel was a third-generation industrial machinery mechanic. He received his medical degree from Geisinger Commonwealth School in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in neurological surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Boston Children’s Hospital Harvard Program where he worked on nerve regeneration and the fabrication of advanced materials for medical applications at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Afterward, Dr. Tafel completed his fellowship in complex spine surgery at the University of Miami. He has published dozens of research papers in the field of neurosurgery in addition to his clinical work. His clinical interests include degenerative disorders of the spine, spinal cord tumors, spinal deformities, and minimally invasive spine surgery.

During his free time, he enjoys spending time at the beach with his family in addition to playing the violin, practicing martial arts, and building, modifying, and racing cars. Dr. Tafel is also a private airplane pilot and completed his first solo flight at age sixteen.