He is considered a national leader in neurologic education, and is part of a small group of investigators who have conducted research in the field.

In addition to his textbook, Dr. Gelb has developed a variety of educational materials, including a computer tutorial to teach the principles of neurologic localization. He has written examination questions and served on test-writing committees for the National Board of Medical Examiners Step 2 Examination and the NBME subject examination in neurology, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Resident Inservice Training Examination, and Continuum, a widely-used resource for continuing medical education produced by the AAN. He also has served as an examiner for the Oral Examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) on numerous occasions.

Dr. Gelb is frequently honored by medical students and neurology residents, who have awarded him the Status Pedagogicus Award on five separate occasions. He has also received the Kaiser Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education from the U-M, the A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurologic Education from the American Academy of Neurology, and the Distinguished Neurology Teacher Award from the American Neurological Association.