Rafael Maarek, MD

Rafael Maarek, MD 

A South Bay native, Rafael Maarek is thrilled to have returned home to serve the Los Angeles community as a neurology resident at UCLA Medical Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California, graduating summa cum laude in 2019. He also received the University Trustees Award, recognizing the highest GPA among the male students in his graduating class. Before beginning medical school, Rafael spent two years teaching, first as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the Czech Republic and then as a middle school mathematics teacher in his hometown. He then attended the Yale School of Medicine, where he graduated in May 2026 with a joint MD and Master of Health Science in Clinical Research and an additional Concentration in Medical Education. At graduation, he received the American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence and a thesis prize for his research titled Neurophysiologic Responses to Endovascular Interventions for Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Management. Rafael's professional interests include neurophysiology, cognitive neurology, and medical education. Outside of medicine, he enjoys running along the boardwalk at sunset, skiing powder days at Mammoth or Tahoe, and cheering on Arsenal with his fellow Gooners. Ask him about growing up with two same-aged siblings — he's a triplet!