Alice Weaver Flaherty, MD, PhD

Alice Weaver Flaherty, MD, PhD

Not currently accepting new patients

4.956 average rating from 100 patient reviews

Specialties

Affiliation

Mass General Brigham

Provider Locations

  • Waltham, MA
  • Boston, MA

Dr. Alice Flaherty is a neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of both neurology and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

She is the director of the Movement Disorders Fellowship, and treats patients with movement and mood disorders. She was the site principle investigator for the trial of the first successful genetic treatment of Parkinson's Disease. While still a resident she wrote The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology. It received a national award for its innovative approach, and has been multiply translated. She is the author of The Midnight Disease, an award-winning nonfiction book about the neural basis of creativity. The Washington Post and The San Francisco Chronicle named it one of the year's best books. Her work on this subject has been featured in publications ranging from The New Yorker to Brazilian business magazines to a photo-essay in National Geographic. As a clinician, Dr. Flaherty was honored by the Schwartz Center's statewide Compassionate Caregiver program.

A strong media advocate for the abilities of the mentally and neurologically ill, she has appeared as an expert on TEDx and more than 20 TV news and documentary shows, both in the US and internationally. A five-part Radiotopia podcast focused on her role as the neurologist of Pulitzer-winning author William Styron. She is the protagonist of an award-winning short documentary, Bedside Manner, which received a festival nomination for an Academy Award.

Dr. Flaherty completed her AB, MD, internship, residency, and fellowship at Harvard. In an attempt at diversity, she also did a PhD at MIT.

Education & Training

  • Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital, Movement Disorders, 1998
  • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology, 1998
  • Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine, 1995
  • Medical Education: Harvard Medical School, 1994

Board Certifications

  • Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Languages Spoken

  • English

Age Group Treated

  • Adults

Patient Feedback

4.956 average rating from 100 reviews

  • Loved it felt heard

    2026-07-08

  • I was very satisfied with my interaction with Dr. Flaherty. I like her in-depth interview with me regarding my problem. I am satisfied with the drug prescription she recommended and the MRI that she recommended.

    2026-06-25

  • She is thoughtful and supportive.

    2026-06-24

  • Alice is the most kind and caring Dr she always makes me feel heard and genuinely cares about how I feel. I am so lucky to have her as my doctor.

    2026-06-10

  • She is extremely intelligent helpful and kind.

    2026-06-04

  • I love my dr Flaherty

    2026-05-27

  • Dr. Flaherty treated my husband[redacted] with respect and compassion. She was very encouraging and explained very clearly all the options that are available for [redacted]'s Parkinson's treatment. She made us feel that she understands us and the journey that's ahead of us.

    2026-05-24

  • Dr Flaherty is outstanding. Her knowledge and clear explanations are exceptional. She is the best doctor I've ever encountered.

    2026-05-24

  • Dr Flaherty is very thorough and listens to my concerns and addresses each one. I have never felt rushed. She explains things in terms that I can understand. Her follow up is great. Anytime I reach out through the patient gateway she responds back promptly.

    2026-05-07

  • One of the best specialists I've come to work with. Extremely knowledgeable and personable.

    2026-04-27

  • I trust her judgement.

    2026-04-27

  • Excellent as always.

    2026-04-26

  • Dr Flaherty took a lot of time to explain my complicated diagnosis which I appreciated. She has followed up in a timely fashion.

    2026-04-23

  • Alice Flaherty was the most extraordinary provider I have ever encountered. Her ability to listen, empathize, be present, have read my entire medical chart, ask really good questions, establish a trusting relationship are unparalleled. She thought about a possible treatment during the appointment, gave me a prescription, and followed up by communicating a treatment plan through patient gateway!

    2026-04-01

  • Excellent and empathetic. [redacted]

    2026-03-31

  • Dr. Flaherty was open, honest, and caring and made me feel so much better about my situation.

    2026-03-27

  • It was an excellent meeting with Dr. Flaherty.

    2026-03-25

  • Dr. Flaherty was fantastic. So knowledgeable and caring.

    2026-03-22

  • I have never felt as seen and heard with a medical professional as I have with Dr. Flaherty. She is nothing short of extraordinary.

    2026-03-21

  • This provider was very professional, kind, empathetic, and person-centered. I would highly recommend her to anyone who needs a neurologist.

    2026-03-20

  • Dr. Flaherty is the gold standard of care.

    2026-03-14

  • Dr. Alice Flaherty is the best provider I've ever had in any profession or any specialty, and I would recommend her to anyone in the world. She's a wonderful person and a wonderful doctor.

    2026-03-11

  • Dr Flaherty is superb in every way

    2026-02-28

  • Dr. Flaherty has been my movement specialist since 2013. I feel enormously lucky and grateful that she is my doctor. Over and over again, she has addressed the concerns I had as a result of living with Parkinson's that have allowed me to continue doing the things I love to do .

    2026-02-25

  • she was well informed and spent a far amount of time with me

    2026-02-28

  • I've always had a wonderful experience with this care provider. She's always available when I need her. Whenever I need an appointment, I can get one as soon as it makes sense for me to have one, fits me in with her schedule. She is professional, she's kind, she's knowledgeable. I would recommend her to anybody that I know who needs a doctor and I have. [redacted]

    2026-02-20

  • Great Provider. Very knowledgeable and caring.

    2026-02-18

  • Was not sure about getting info for bloodwork

    2026-02-25

  • Extraordinarily positive.

    2026-01-21

  • Dr Flaherty is wonderful, knowledgeable irreverent funny and wise

    2026-01-19

  • She is an outstanding physician and takes great care to provide accurate information, but also to leave space for my own preferences and decision-making. All my concerns were addressed in a respectful manner, and I wish more clinicians were like her.

    2026-01-19

  • I have been under the care of Dr. Alice Flaherty for approximately 20 years. I believe that is a testament to how I regard her outstanding knowledge, bedside manner, patience, willingness to listen to my views, collaborate with me to seek solutions to my issues, spend enough office time with me, etc. Thus, there is not simply not enough space for all of the accolades I have for Dr. Flaherty. She always "goes above and beyond the call of duty".Dr. Flaherty is a consummate professional and truly an asset to Mass General Brigham Hospital.

    2026-01-18

  • Dr Flaherty is beyond the best doctor I ever had.I could not recover. With out her knowledge and emotional support.Again the best doctor I ever had.

    2025-12-30

  • I have been seeing Alice Flaherty for probably five or six years. I think she's an excellent neurologist. She listens to my questions. I'm allowed to explain to her how I'm feeling and she really does try to help me and I appreciate that.

    2025-12-21

  • Great experience with this care provider! She is an amazingly knowledgeable incredible person, great sense of humor as well!

    2025-12-11

  • I'm doing good, sir. I'm very happy with my provider.

    2025-11-21

  • Of all my providers, Alice Flaherty is the best. She's the most knowledgeable about multiple issues going on and is always spot on with her advice.

    2025-11-14

  • Exceptional care. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to see Dr. Flaherty and I look forward to working with her to finally improve my circumstances after two years of equivocal care elsewhere.

    2025-11-05

  • As an MD myself, I have been with this provider since 2009. She is unbelievably accessible, knowledgeable, and accommodating. She has changed my life for the better. I am convinced she has a Wonder Woman costume under her white coat. It is truly an absolute privilege to be her patient.

    2025-10-29

  • Good doctor/patient skill. Very professional and knowledgeable c

    2025-10-29

  • [redacted] this particular provider made me feel seen and heard. She reviewed my chart in advance, she listened to my issue, thoughtfully asked questioned, performed a very professional neuro exam but most importantly provided a safe space where I left feeling confident my care is in the right hands. After having such a tough month, it felt like i can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't be more thankful.

    2025-10-27

  • She's smart, knowledgeable, and funny.

    2025-10-25

  • I am very lucky to have Dr. Flaherty as my doctor. She is patient, kind and brilliant. She encourages me and gives me confidence that it will be ok. She works hard to help me feel better and always is open to discussions about meds she is recommending.

    2025-09-21

  • I have a lot of confidence in my Doctor. Her suggestions are very usefull and indicate her knowledge of my condition. Her prescription was right on. Very concerned about my condition

    2025-09-05

  • I have never had such a positive experience with a doctor in my life. Dr. Flaherty made me feel seen, heard, and honestly, hopeful, for the first time in a long time.

    2025-09-03

  • Dr. Weaver is excellent --- kind,caring and a great listener!

    2025-08-29

  • Dr. Flaherty is a compassionate and brilliant doctor who explains complex issues in easy to understand ways. A good example would be my recent MOCA test. She goes way beyond simply giving you the test and telling you your score. After taking the test, she explains what each question means and what your answers show in terms of your cognition. I feel very fortunate that she is my neurologist. BRAVO, Dr. Flaherty!!

    2025-08-24

Accepted Insurance

  • Tufts Medicare Preferred
  • Wellpoint
  • Medicaid NH
  • Fallon Health
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Medicaid VT
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • WellSense NH
  • United Health Care
  • Multiplan
  • Maine Community Health Options
  • Medicaid RI
  • WellSense
  • Railroad Medicare
  • Coventry
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
  • Beech Street
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance
  • MassHealth
  • Senior Whole Health
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield - Indemnity
  • TriCare
  • Medicare
  • Aetna
  • Medicaid ME
  • Humana
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
  • Cigna