A former Cleveland Clinic physician who came under criticism for writing an op-ed column last year questioning the relationship between vaccines and autism has launched his own private practice, according to cleveland.com.
Daniel Neides, MD, former vice chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, co-founded Inspire Wellness with fellow former Cleveland Clinic physician Jessica Hutchins, MD, last month, according to the report. At the practice, Drs. Neides and Hutchins aim to treat patients using lifestyle and functional medicine, which focuses on prevention and disease reversal without relying on pharmaceuticals, according to the practice's website.
Dr. Neides resigned from his position at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute last January following the publication of an op-ed he wrote earlier that same month questioning the efficacy of the flu shot and highlighting potential links between autism and vaccines. A spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic told cleveland.com they could not discuss "any circumstances regarding a caregiver's departure," but confirmed Dr. Neides' resignation.
At the time of his resignation, Dr. Neides had been working at Cleveland Clinic for 20 years, according to the report.
After the article's publication, Cleveland Clinic's CEO at the time, Toby Cosgrove, MD, distanced the Clinic from Dr. Neides, stating Dr. Neides' views were not representative of the Clinic's.