Ali Abu-Alfa
Biography
Research & Publications
News
Appointments
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
- TraineeYale University (2004)
- AuditorYale University (1996)
- Clinical FellowYale University (1993)
- ResidentNorthwestern University (1990)
- Research FellowNorthwestern University (1987)
- InternAmerican University of Beirut (1986)
- BSAmerican University of Beirut, Mathematics (1985)
- MDAmerican University of Beirut, Medicine (1985)
Activities
- Chair, Middle East Regional BoardBrussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021Chair, Middle East Regional Board
- Council MemberBrussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021Council Member
- Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect; Renal Disaster Preparedness WorkgroupBrussels, Brussels, Belgium 2021Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect; Renal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup
- Immediate Past PresidentBeirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon (2018-2021)Immediate Past President
- Member, Executive CommitteeBrussels, Brussels, Belgium (2016-2018)Member, Executive Committee
- Founding PresidentBrussels, Brussels, Belgium 2014Founding President
- Conference co-Chair, 4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference of the North American Chapter of ISPDNew Haven, CT, United States 2011Conference co-Chair, 4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference of the North American Chapter of ISPD
- Clinical ResearcherBeirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010Clinical Researcher
- Educator and MentorBeirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010Educator and Mentor
- Attending PhysicianBeirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon 2010Attending Physician
- Member, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory BoardNew Haven, CT, United States (2010-2018)Member, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board
- Member, Dialysis Advisory GroupWashington, DC, United States (2008-2011)Member, Dialysis Advisory Group
- Co-President, North American Chapter of ISPDDenver, CO, United States (2008-2011)Co-President, North American Chapter of ISPD
- Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis SymposiumNew Haven, CT, United States (2007-2015)Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis Symposium
- Symposium Chair - PD FrontiersKuala 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 - COMGANKazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia 2003Update in Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology - COMGAN
Honors & Recognition
Award | Awarding Organization | Date |
---|---|---|
Fellow | International Society of Nephrology | 2023 |
Fellow | American Heart Association | 2018 |
Best Doctors in America (Elected by Peers for Inclusion) | Best Doctors in America | 2013 |
Alpha Omega Alpha Faculty Inductee | Alpha Omega Alpha | 2011 |
Teacher of the Year Award | Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut | 2011 |
Fellow | American Society of Nephrology | 2006 |
Clinical Hypertension Specialist | American Society of Hypertension / AHSCP | 2005 |
Nominated for Humanism in Medicine Award | Yale School of Medicine | 2003 |
Department of Medicine Rambach Award for Best Overall Performance as a PGY1 | Northwestern University Medical School | 1988 |
Professional Service
Organization | Role | Date |
---|---|---|
International Society of Nephrology | Renal Disaster Preparedness Workgroup | 2021 - 2023 |
International Society of Nephrology | Middle East Regional Board | 2021 - 2023 |
Lebanese Society of Nephrology and Hypertension | Immediate Past President | 2021 - Present |
Turkish Journal of Nephrology | Editorial Board Member | 2021 - Present |
American University of Beirut, Dean's Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center | Member | 2020 - Present |
Global Home Dialysis Summits, International Home Dialysis Roundtable Coalition | Online via ZOOM | 2020 - 2021 |
Journal of Human Hypertension | Reviewer | 2020 |
Council on Hypertension, American Heart Association | Member | 2018 - Present |
Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) | Member | 2016 - 2018 |
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - Middle East Chapter | Pre-course with 6th ISN / Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Congress; Dubai, UAE | 2014 |
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis | Middle East Chapter | 2014 - Present |
PLOS One | Reviewer | 2012 - Present |
International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis - North American Chapter and Yale University | 4th Peritoneal Dialysis conference, New Haven, CT | 2011 |
Peritoneal Dialysis International | Editorial Board Member | 2011 - Present |
New England Journal of Medicine | Reviewer | 2011 - Present |
Lebanese Medical Journal | Reviewer | 2010 - Present |
European Journal of Internal Medicine | Reviewer | 2009 - 2010 |
American Journal of Medical Sciences | Reviewer | 2008 - 2013 |
eMedicine CME Case Presentations (Nephrology) | Member, Editorial Board | 2008 - 2011 |
EMedicine Case Series | Reviewer | 2008 - 2010 |
Annual Scientific Yale Fibrosis Symposium | Co-Organizer | 2007 - 2015 |
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology | Reviewer | 2006 - Present |
The Scientific Journal | Editorial Board Member | 2005 - 2011 |
Clinical Nephrology | Editorial Board Member | 2005 - 2009 |
Peritoneal Dialysis International | Reviewer | 2005 - Present |
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research | Reviewer | 2004 |
Clinical Nephrology | Reviewer | 2004 - Present |
Kidney International | Reviewer | 2004 - Present |
American Journal of Kidney Diseases | Reviewer | 2002 - 2012 |
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology | Reviewer | 2000 - 2008 |