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INFORMATION FOR

Ali Abu-Alfa

MD, FASN, FAHA
Professor Adjunct; Head, AUB Division of Nephrology and Hypertension; Director, AUB Human Research Protection Program; Director, AUB Medical Center Research Affairs Office; Chair, AUBMC Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee; Chair, AUBMC Organ Transplantation Committee; Ex-Officio, AUB Clinical Research Institute

Contact Information

Ali Abu-Alfa, MD, FASN, FAHA

Biography

Dr Ali Abu-Alfa is a tenured Professor of Medicine, and Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He is the Director for the Human Research Protection Program at AUB, and for Research Affairs at AUB Medical Center. He joined AUB in 2010 after spending 2 decades at the Yale School of Medicine and remains Professor Adjunct at Yale in the Section of Nephrology. He led the Division of Nephrology and Hypertesion at AUB from 2010 to 2023.

He earned his MD degree from AUB in 1985, completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University in 1990 and a fellowship in Nephrology at Yale in 1993. He is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, is a certified hypertension specialist (AHSCP) and a Fellow of the American Heart Association and member of its hypertension council.

Dr Abu-Alfa is the immediate past Chair of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN)-Middle East Regional Board. He assumed the role of Chair of ISN Renal Disaster Preparedness Working Group in April 2023. He is a former member of the ISN Dialysis and CME committees and had completed a 3-year term as member of the KDIGO Executive committee in Dec 2018. He is the immediate past-President of the Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension.

Dr Abu-Alfa has been a strong advocate for peritoneal dialysis (PD) for over 25 years. He has been involved in ISPD in leadership roles since 2008, first as co-Chair of the North American Chapter then as founding and current Chair of the Middle East Chapter, in addition to serving on its various committees over the years. Most recently, he was instrumental in helping put together the successful bid for ISPD 2024 congress to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sept 26-29), and is co-chair for the organizing committee and the scientific program committee.

In addition to his strong engagement in these regional and international nephrology circles, Dr Abu-Alfa continues to teach and mentor students, residents and fellows while pursuing his scientific interests in the areas of peritoneal dialysis, complex hypertension, chronic kidney disease, imaging issues in kidney patients including nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and use of gadolinium-based contrast agents. He is also very active in the sphere of research ethics, its regulatory and administrative frameworks, and protection of human subjects in research.

Education & Training

  • Trainee
    Yale University (2004)
  • Auditor
    Yale University (1996)
  • Clinical Fellow
    Yale University (1993)
  • Resident
    Northwestern University (1990)
  • Research Fellow
    Northwestern University (1987)
  • Intern
    American University of Beirut (1986)
  • BS
    American University of Beirut, Mathematics (1985)
  • MD
    American University of Beirut, Medicine (1985)

Certifications

  • Board Certification
    AB of Internal Medicine, Nephrology (1992, recertified: 2015)

Activities

  • Chair, Middle East Regional Board
    Brussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021
    Chair, Middle East Regional Board
  • Council Member
    Brussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021
    Council Member
  • Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect; Renal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup
    Brussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021
    Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect; Renal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup
  • Immediate Past President
    Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon (2018-2021)
    Immediate Past President
  • Symposium
    Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 2018
    Invited Contributor
  • Member, Executive Committee
    Brussels, Brussels, Belgium (2016-2018)
    Member, Executive Committee
  • Founding President
    Brussels, Brussels, Belgium 2014
    Founding President
  • Conference co-Chair, 4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference of the North American Chapter of ISPD
    New Haven, CT, United States 2011
    Conference co-Chair, 4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference of the North American Chapter of ISPD
  • Clinical Researcher
    Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010
    Clinical Researcher
  • Educator and Mentor
    Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010
    Educator and Mentor
  • Attending Physician
    Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010
    Attending Physician
  • Member, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board
    New Haven, CT, United States (2010-2018)
    Member, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board
  • Member, Dialysis Advisory Group
    Washington, DC, United States (2008-2011)
    Member, Dialysis Advisory Group
  • Co-President, North American Chapter of ISPD
    Denver, CO, United States (2008-2011)
    Co-President, North American Chapter of ISPD
  • Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis Symposium
    New Haven, CT, United States (2007-2015)
    Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis Symposium
  • Symposium Chair - PD Frontiers
    Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2007-2011)
    Symposium Chair - PD Frontiers
  • Update in Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology - COMGAN
    Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia 2003
    Update in Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology - COMGAN

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
FellowInternational Society of Nephrology2023
FellowAmerican Heart Association2018
FellowAmerican Society of Hypertension2016
Best Doctors in America (Elected by Peers for Inclusion)Best Doctors in America2013
Alpha Omega Alpha Faculty InducteeAlpha Omega Alpha2011
Teacher of the Year AwardDepartment of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut2011
Clinical Hypertension SpecialistAmerican Society of Hypertension / AHSCP2005
Nominated for Humanism in Medicine AwardYale School of Medicine2003
FellowAmerican College of Physicians1997
Trainee Research AwardAmerican Federation of Clinical Research1994
Department of Medicine Rambach Award for Best Overall Performance as a PGY1Northwestern University Medical School1988

Professional Service

OrganizationRoleDate
American University of Beirut, Senate Committee on Faculty AffairsChair2022 - Present
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisISPD Congress, Singapore2021 - 2022
International Society of Peritoneal DialysisScientific Committee2021 - 2022
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisISPD 2022 Congress - Singapore2021 - 2022
Abstract Grader , International Society of Nephrology - World Congress of NephrologyAbstract Grader 2021
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and HypertensionImmediate Past President2021 - Present
International Society of NephrologyRenal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup2021 - Present
International Society of NephrologyMiddle East Regional Board2021 - Present
Turkish Journal of NephrologyEditorial Board Member2021 - Present
American University of Beirut, Dean's Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical CenterMember2020 - Present
American University of Beirut, Senate Steering CommitteeMember2020 - 2021
Global Home Dialysis Summits, International Home Dialysis Roundtable CoalitionOnline via ZOOM2020 - 2021
International Society of Nephrology - World Congress of NephrologyCKD Section2020
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Glasgow CongressAbstract Grader 2020
Journal of Human HypertensionReviewer2020
King AbdulAziz International Medical Research Center - Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaResearch Protocols2020 - Present
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (LSNH)13th Congress of LSNH2019
International Society of NephrologyMiddle East Regional Board2019 - 2021
International Society of NephrologyRenal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup2019 - 2021
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisEURO PD, ISPD 2020 Congress, Glasgow Scotland2019 - 2020
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis and EURO-PDISDP 2020 Congress - Glasgow, Scotland2019 - 2020
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension13th Congress of LSNH2019
International Society of NephrologyCouncil Member2019 - Present
International Society of NephrologyContinuous Medical Education Committee2019 - Present
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and HypertensionPresident2018 - 2021
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisCommunication and Media Committee2018 - Present
Council on Hypertension, American Heart AssociationMember2018 - Present
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Middle East ChapterPre-course with 7th ISN / Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Congress; Dubai, UAE2017
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension - KDIGO (joint)Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Implementation Session2017
American University of Beirut University, Senate Committee of Faculty AffairsMember2017 - Present
American University of Beirut Medical Center - EPIC AUBHealth Steering CommitteeMember2017 - Present
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension11 and 12 Annual Congress of LSNH2017 - 2018
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (LSNH)11 and 12 Annual Congress of LSNH2017 - 2018
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and HypertensionKidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Joint Implementation Session2017
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Middle East ChapterPre-Course with 7th ISN / Emirates Medical Association of Nephrology Congress, Dubai, UAE2017
International Society of NephrologyMiddle East Regional Board2016 - 2019
Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)Member2016 - 2018
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and HypertensionPresident-elect2016 - 2018
International Society of NephrologyDialysis Committee2015 - 2021
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Middle East ChapterPre-course with 6th ISN / Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Congress; Dubai, UAE2014
Global Fibrosis FoundationSecretary2014 - 2018
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Middle East ChapterPre-course with 6th ISN / Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Congress, Dubai, UAE2014
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisMiddle East Chapter2014 - Present
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and HypertensionYearly marking of World Kidney Day in Lebanon with ISN/IFKF2013 - 2021
American University of Beirut and Yale UniversityJoint CME sponsored educational programs2013 - Present
American University of Beirut Medical Center - Performance Improvement CommitteeMember2012 - Present
American University of Beirut - FOGARTY NIH GrantScholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) - FOGARTY NIH Grant2012 - 2017
PLOS OneReviewer2012 - Present
American University of Beirut Medical Center - Information Technology Steering CommitteeMember2011 - Present
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - North American Chapter and Yale University4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference, New Haven, CT2011
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - North American ChapterYale University, 4th Peritoneal Dialysis Conference, New Haven, CT2011
Renal Pathology Video Conference Series (with Professor Gilbert Moeckel); Joint Yale University and American University of BeirutCoordinator2011 - Present
American University of Beirut and Yale UniversityRenal Pathology VideoConference Series (with Prof Gilbert Moeckel)2011 - Present
New England Journal of MedicineReviewer2011 - Present
Peritoneal Dialysis InternationalEditorial Board Member2011 - Present
American University of Beirut - Department of Internal Medicine Promotion CommitteeChair2010 - 2013
Medical Advisory Board, Global Fibrosis FoundationMember2010 - 2018
Lebanese Medical JournalReviewer2010 - Present
Yale Medical Group-Board of Governors - Clinical Information Systems CommitteeMember2009 - 2010
International Society of NephrologyCOMGAN Ambassador Program2009 - 2012
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisInformatics Committee - Web site design2009 - 2011
European Journal of Internal MedicineReviewer2009 - 2010
American Journal of Medical SciencesReviewer2008 - 2013
International Society for Peritoneal DialysisNorth American Chapter2008 - 2011
American Society of NephrologyDialysis Advocacy Group2008 - 2011
Yale School of Medicine and AmericaresPD for Acute Kidney Injury in Cambodia2008 - 2011
eMedicine CME Case Presentations (Nephrology)Member, Editorial Board2008 - 2011
EMedicine Case SeriesReviewer2008 - 2010
Yale School of Medicine - Progress CommitteeCommittee Member2007 - 2010
Yale School of MedicineAnnual Scientific Yale Fibrosis Symposium (started as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Symposium)2007 - 2015
Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis SymposiumCo-Organizer2007 - 2015
Yale New Haven Hospital - Sunrise Informatics Leadership CommitteeMember2006 - 2010
Yale New Haven Hospital - Pharmacy & Therapeutics CommitteeMember2006 - 2010
Yale New Haven Hospital - Contrast CommitteeMember2006 - 2010
Clinical Journal of the American Society of NephrologyReviewer2006 - Present
The Scientific JournalEditorial Board Member2005 - 2011
Clinical NephrologyEditorial Board Member2005 - 2009
National Kidney FoundationClinical Research Committee2005 - 2007
Peritoneal Dialysis InternationalReviewer2005 - Present
Journal of Bone and Mineral ResearchReviewer2004
Clinical NephrologyReviewer2004 - Present
Kidney InternationalReviewer2004 - Present
Yale University - Yale Medical Professionals Outreach Program for Yale Undergraduate studentsParticipant2003 - 2010
Michael Smith Foundation - CanadaGrant reviewer2003 - 2006
American Journal of Kidney DiseasesReviewer2002 - 2012
American Society of NephrologyCommittee on Informatics2002 - 2004
National Kidney Foundation of ConnecticutProfessional Education Committee2001 - 2006
American Society of Nephrology - Annual MeetingsPeritoneal Dialysis 2000, 2005, 20132000 - 2013
Yale School of MedicineYale Renal Biopsy - CPC Conference Series2000 - 2010
Yale Renal Biopsy, CPC Conference SeriesCoordinator2000 - 2010
Yale UniversityYale Renal Biopsy, CPC Conference Series2000 - 2010
Yale UniveristyYale Renal Biopsy - CPC Conference Series2000 - 2010
Medical Advisory Board, National Kidney FoundationMember2000 - 2009
Journal of the American Society of NephrologyReviewer2000 - 2008
Yale University Physician Assistant ProgramThesis reviewer and Advisor1999 - 2008
National Kidney Foundation of ConnecticutResearch Committee1996 - 2006
National Kidney Foundation of ConnecticutReviewer, Research Committee1996 - 2000

Departments & Organizations