Title: Associate Professor, Neuromuscular Specialist and Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program
Company: Louisiana State University
Location: Metairie, Louisiana, United States
Rima El-Abassi, MD, Associate Professor, Neuromuscular Specialist and Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program at Louisiana State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Doctors for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Neurophysiology and Higher Education.
Dr. El-Abassi has established herself as a leading expert in neuromuscular medicine, holding several prominent roles at Louisiana State University (LSU). Since 2008, she has served as an associate professor of neurology, where she has played a pivotal part in shaping the next generation of neurologists through rigorous academic instruction and mentorship. In 2012, Dr. El-Abassi also became a neuromuscular specialist on campus, where she has made significant contributions to patient care and medical education.
In 2025, Dr. El-Abassi assumed the additional responsibility of director of the clinical neurophysiology fellowship program at LSU, overseeing the training and development of fellows and guiding them through advanced clinical neurophysiology concepts and practices. In this capacity, Dr. El-Abassi delivers didactic lectures, documents patient cases, and provides inpatient and outpatient clinical care. Her commitment to hands-on teaching is evident in her bedside rounds with residents and fellows, emphasizing the importance of traditional clinical skills in an era increasingly reliant on technology.
In addition to her primary work, Dr. El-Abassi is the director of the ALS Center of Excellence Multidisciplinary Clinic and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Multidisciplinary Clinic at LSU, ensuring comprehensive care for patients with neuromuscular disorders. She also participates in departmental committees, including the residency candidate interview committee, the clinical competency committee, and the program evaluation committee at the LSU Health Sciences Center of Excellence for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Apart from her work at LSU, Dr. El-Abassi has contributed her knowledge and expertise to Tulane Medical University and the VA Medical Center in New Orleans in 2012, further broadening her impact on medical education and patient care. Her leadership extends to directing the ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, where she continues to focus on complex neurological conditions.
Dr. El-Abassi initially worked as a house staff officer at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi in 2003. She also gained early exposure in her field as an internal medicine specialist in Europe before relocating to the United States.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. El-Abassi’s academic journey includes a Doctor of Medicine from Comenius University in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, earned in 1998. She later completed a neurology residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2008, a residency at the school of medicine at LSU in 2012 and a fellowship at the LSU Health Science Center, now LSU Health New Orleans. Dr. El-Abassi is board-certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and holds additional certifications in neurology and clinical neurophysiology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
Active in her professional community, Dr. El-Abassi is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the ALS Association. She also serves on review committees for the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) and is active on the monograph review and development committee of the American Neurological Association. Among other involvements, Dr. El-Abassi serves as the medical director for the CME Grand Rounds Lecture Series, has contributed to ad hoc hospital committees, and directed both MDA and ALS clinics within major health care systems.
Dr. El-Abassi’s civic engagement includes advocacy through organizations such as Black Lives Matter and various feminist movements. She also continuously champions minority representation in health care.
As a researcher, Dr. El-Abassi has been involved in national research initiatives, such as the Prospective Study on Whole Genome Sequencing. She has also published medical journal articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and has contributed extensively to scholarly publications as an editorial board member and journal reviewer since 2012. Dr. El-Abassi’s academic presentations have included serving as an invited speaker on peripheral neuropathy in 2021 and alcoholic myopathy in 2024 at the annual meetings of the AANEM, and workshop instruction on electrodiagnostic techniques for facial and neck muscles for the organization from 2023 to 2025. She has also conducted poster presentations at the ALS Nexus in 2025, delivered numerous invited speaking engagements at regional and national seminars, and given oral presentations at national conferences. In 2026, Dr. El-Abassi will present at the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society meeting, marking another milestone in her career.
Recognition for Dr. El-Abassi’s contributions has included a Certificate of Recognition for outstanding clinical teaching from the neurology department at LSU in 2016. She also received Certificates of Appreciation for outstanding resident teaching from the neurology departments at Tulane University and LSU in 2017 and 2023, respectively.
Dr. El-Abassi is recognized for her dedication to the art of medicine, prioritizing direct examination and clinical intuition over technological diagnostics. This approach allows her to connect deeply with patients and deliver accurate diagnoses. Eager for the future of her career in medicine, Dr. El-Abassi intends to deepen her research engagement in neuromuscular medicine by advancing treatment options through collaboration with national and international societies focused on the development of impactful medications. She also remains committed to educating future physicians about the importance of basic science, fostering strong doctor-patient relationships and emphasizing clinical skills over reliance on technology.
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