INTERNAL MEDICINE

Chairman
Morton Kleiner, MD

Interim Residency Program Director
Morton Kleiner, MD

Associate Residency Program Directors
Suzanne El-Sayegh, MD - Associate Chairwoman of Medicine
Aaron Gottesman, MD, FACP, SFHM - Director of Hospital Medicine
Chadik Hewlett, MD

• Invited Presentations:

  • AbiFadel F, Harasiuk K, Ng M, Gottesman A.  "Mollaret's Meningitis, 65 years of history: A case report and review of the literature."  - Poster presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington D.C.

  • Daoud J, Kleiner M.  "Membranous Nephropathy and Iga Deficiency."  - Poster Presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington,  DC.

  • AbiFadel F, El Charabaty E, Odaimi M, Gottesman A, Wetz R.  "Clinical and Diagnostic pitfalls in vitamin B12 deficiency."  - Poster Presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington D.C.

  • De C, McGinn J Jr, Lafferty J, Khoueiry G, Sison C, Shah S, Lakhani M, Wetz R, Baldari D, Homayuni A.  "Comparative analysis of outcomes in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass revasculariztion approach and traditional revascularization techniques."  - Poster Presentation: International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, 13th Annual Scientific Meeting, June 16-19, 2010, Berlin, Germany.

  • Khoueiry G, Waked A, Geara A, Maarouf O, AbiRached J, Ayoub I, Goldman M, Dunne E, Lafferty J, Smith M, El Sayegh S.  "Dietary Intake of Dialysis Patients Does Not Reflect the AHA Guidelines." - Poster Presentation: Joint Conference - 50th Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, and Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism. 2010, March 2-5, 2010.

  • El Sayegh S, El Charabaty E, Waked A, Maarouf O, Khoueiry G, Geara A, Smith M, Weiserbs K, AbiRached J, Ayoub I.  "High Fiber Diet and Coronary Artery Disease." - Poster Presentation: ASN Renal Week 2009, 10/2/09.  San Diego, CA.

  • - Poster Presentation: 15th Congress Renal Nutrition & Metabolism 2010 Lausanne, Switzerland, 5/24-27, 2010.

  • Harris K, AbiFadel F.  "Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: a case report and review of the literature." - Poster presentation: 2010 American Thoracic Society's  International Conference, 5/16/10,  New Orleans, LA.

  • Rizvi H, Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N.  "Fatal pulmonary nocardiosis in a steroid-dependent patient: the role of hypercortisolemia and reduced infection clearance." - Poster Presentation:  Society of Hospital Medicine, April 2010, Washington DC.

  • Daoud J, Kleiner M.  "Membranous Nephropathy and Iga Deficiency."  - Poster Presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington, DC.

  • Jaglall N, Dahal K, Daoud J, Wetz R.  "Statin-induced pancreatitis." - FINALIST at Poster Presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington, DC.

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N.  "Tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a non-HIV patient."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, April 2010, Toronto, Canada and Poster presentation NY: ACP, Mt. Sinai, NY, 2010.

  • Daoud J, Kushawaha A, AbiRached J, Nasr R, Mobarakai N. "Unusual Presentation with a Skin Rash."  - Podium Presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, April 22, 2010, Toronto, Canada.   - FINALIST as Poster Presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington, DC.

  • El Sayegh S, Azab B, Weiserbs K, Zaher M, Jaglall N, Lamet A, Atallah JP, Raja Surya V, Farah B.  "Value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictive tool of disease severity in acute pancreatitis."  - Poster Presentation: Digestive Disease Week, May 1-5, 2010, New Orleans, LA

  • Maarouf O, El Sayegh S.  "When genes go Wrong: A dual attack."  - Poster presentation: AGA Digestive Disease Week, March 1-5, 2010. New Orleans, LA

  • Siyamwala M, Nagrani T, Ghaisian V, Bekheit S.  "Ryanodine Calcium Channel: A novel channelopathy for seizures."  - Poster Presentation: ACP National Scientific Competition, April 2010, Toronto Canada.

  • Khattri S. Kushawaha A, Jaglall N, Mobarakai N.  "Isoniazid-induced eosinophilic exudative pleural effusion and lupus erythematosus."  - Poster presentation: NY ACP, Mt. Sinai, NY, April 2010

  • Mourad M, Aoun N, Baz W, Friscia P.  "Humoral Hypercalcemia of malignancy (Hhm) in association with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland."  - Poster presentation: NY ACP, Mt. Sinai, NY, April 2010

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Parikh N.  "Disseminated tuberculosis following ureteral stent removal."  - Poster presentation: NY ACP, Mt. Sinai, NY, April 2010

  • Maarouf O, Waked A, Geara A, Khoueiry G, AbiRached J, Ayoub I, Terjanian T, Lafferty J, Dunne E, Smith M, El Sayegh S.  "An Analysis of the diet of Hemoialyis Patients using a Dialysis Specific FFQ."  - Poster presentation: NY ACP, Mt. Sinai, NY, April 2010

  • Maarouf O, Geara A, Shtaynberg N, Rizk S, Israel E, AbiRached J, Ayoub I, Samarneh M, El Sayegh S.  "Correlation between glycated hemoglobin and mean plasma glucose in hemodialysis patients."  - Poster Presentation: ASN Renal Week (San Diego, CA) 2009.

  • Kushawaha A, Parikh N, Dahal K, Adedeji A, Mobarakai N, Tolia J, Rivera E.  "Coinfection with HIV and nerosyphilis: a dangerous duo." - Poster Presentation: 10th Annual Southern Hospital Medicine Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Oct 2009.

  • De C, McGinn J Jr, Lafferty J, Khoueiry G, Sison C, Shah S, Lakhani M, Wetz R, Baldari D, Homayuni A.  "Comparative analysis of outcomes in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass revasculariztion approach and traditional revascularization techniques."  - Presentation: 8th International Congress on Coronary Artery Disease - ICCAD 2009, Oct 11-14, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic.

  • De C, Usman S, Molloy W, McGinn JT Jr, Lafferty J, Baldari D.  "Minimally invasive cardiac surgery vs conventional CABG: A comparison of outcomes and cost."  - Poster presentation: Society of Hospital Medicine's Annual Meeting, April 8-11, 2010, Washington D.C.

  • Desai N, Kader A, Falcone T.  "Laparoscoopic assisted injection transplantation of vitrified ovarian tissue in sheep model."  - Poster presentation: ASRM 2009 meeting, October 17-21, 2009, Atlanta Ga.

  • Desai N, Varghese A, Suresh S, Basu S, Das M, Agarwal A.  "Antioxidant Effects of Indial Medicinal Plants on Seminal Plasma Enzymes of High Glucose Fed Rats."  - Poster presentation American Society of Andrology, April 12, 2010, Houston, Texas

  • Geara A, Daoud J, AbouRjaili G, Torbey E, Waked A, AbiRafeh N, Terjanian T, Lafferty J, El Sayegh S.  "Aspirin Resistance in Hemodialysis Patients."  - Poster Presentation: ASN Renal Week 2009, 10/30/09, San Diego, CA

  • Nagrani N, Siyamwala M, Ghiasian V, Bekheit S.  "Catecholaminergic Poly-morphic Ventricular tachycardia (CPVT): A Neurocardiac Disorder of Independent Arrhythmias and Seizures."  - Poster presentation: MSSNY, May 1, 2009 Third prize winner

  • Popalzai M, Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Asrar R, Durrani F.  "Chronic Fungal Sinusitis leading to disastrous cerebral aspergillosis."  - Poster presentation: 10th Annual Southern Hospital Medicine Conference, October 14-17, 2009New Orleans, LA

  • AbiFadel F, El Charabaty E, Odaimi M, Gottesman A, Wetz R.  "Clinical and Diagnostic pitfalls in vitamin B12 deficiency."  - Abstract presentation: 5th Annual Midwestern Hospital Medicine Conference, October 1-3, 2009, Chicago, IL.

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Parikh N, Beylinson A.  "Cryptococcus Neoformans Meningitis in a Diabetic Patient: The Perils of an Overzealous Immune Response."  - Poster presentation: 10th Annual Southern Hospital Medicine Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, Oct 2009

  • Waked A, Geara A, Maarouf O, AbiRached J, Ayoub I, Khoueiry G, Terjanian T, Dunne E, Smith M, Lafferty J, El Sayegh S.  "You should see what I eat, Doc: Analysis of the diet of hemodialysis patients using a dialysis specific FFQ."  - Poster presentation: ASN Renal Week 2009; 10/31/09, San Diego, CA

  • Maarouf O, Geara A, Ayoub I, Shtaynberg N, AbiRached J, Rizk S, Israel E, El Sayegh S, Kleiner M.  "Glycated hemoglobin as a marker of recent glycemic control in diabetic patients on hemodialysis."  - Poster presentation: ASN Renal Week 2009, 10/30/09, San Diego, CA

  • Desai N, Agarwal A, Mahfouz R, Mouradi R, Sharma R, Sabanegh E.  "Investigating pathophysiologic effects of cell phone radiation on human spermatozoa: Use of a novel in vitro model."  - Poster presentation: ASRM 2009 meeting, October 17-21, 2009, Atlanta Ga.

  • Kushawaha A, Khattri S, Dahal K, Mobarakai N, Lee M.  "Isoniazid (INH) Induced Eosinophilic Pleural Effusion and Lupus-like Syndrome:  A reminder of drug side effects."  - Poster presentation: 10th Annual Southern Hospital Medicine Conference, October 14-17, 2009,  New Orleans, LA

  • Desai N, Kader A, Falcone T.  "Laparoscoopic assisted injection transplantation of vitrified ovarian tissue in sheep model."  - Poster presentation: ASRM 2009 meeting, October 17-21, 2009, Atlanta Ga.

  • Desai N, Sharma R, Mahfouz R, Gupta S, Agarwal A.  "ROS Levels are independent of sperm concentration, motility and abstinence in normal, healthy proven fertile men - a longitudinal study."  - Poster presentation: American Society of Andrology (ASA), 34th Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, 4/4-4/7/09.

  • AbiFadel F, Harasiuk K, Ciccone R, Gottesman A.  "Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum."  - Abstract presentation: 5th Annual Midwestern Hospital Medicine Conference, October 1-3, 2009, Chicago, IL.

  • Jaglall N, Abotaga S, Nicastro J, Parmar K.  "The Role of Endoscopy in Complications of Bariatric Surgery."  - Poster presentation: American College of Gastroenterology  74th Annual Scientific Meeting, 10/23-28, 2009, San Diego, CA

  • Waked A, Khoueiry G, Geara A, Maarouf O, AbiRached J, Ayoub I, Dunne E, Smith M, Lafferty J, El Sayegh S.  "You Should See What I Eat, Doc: An analysis of the diet of hemodialysis patients using a dialysis specific FFQ."  - Poster Presentation: ASN Renal Week 2009, 10/31/09, San Diego, CA.

  • Kushawaha A, Jadonath S, Mobarakai.  "West Nile virus myocarditis causing a fatal arrhythmia."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Abotaga S, Oliner C, Goodman A, Azab B, Weiserbs K, Agarwal M, Koczka C, Purow E, Gress F.  "Value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ration (NLR) as a predictive tool of disease severity and length of hospitalizations in ulcerative colitis."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Azab B, Zaher M, Najjar S, Wetz R.  "Two cases of hypo-carnitinaemia suggestive of late onset mitochondrial dysfunction."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Maarouf O, Saggi S, El Sayegh S.  "Severe hyperkalemia induced by Respiratory Acidosis."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Madero G, Platnick J, Voutsinas L, Wetz R.  "Over-utilization of advanced imaging in the hospital setting: an educational approach to reduce unnecessary inpatient studies."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Tolia, J.  "Forty-six year old female with headache, nuchal rigidity, and a skin rash."  - Poster presentation: ACP National Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2009.

  • Khoueiry G, AbiRafeh N, Zgheib M, Abdallah T, Wettimuny S, McGinn JT Jr, Costantino T.  "Depression, disability and quality of life after off pump coronary artery bypass grafting."  - Poster presentation: NYACP  5/30/09, NY.

  • Vivekanandarajah A, Ni S, Waked A.  "A Higher Price for Energy."  - Poster presentation: NYACP 5/30/09, NY.

  • Patel M, Abdallah T, Gottesman A. Herpes Simplex Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature  - Presented in poster form at the 11th Annual meeting of the Society of Hospital Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 2009  

  • Patel M, Abdallah T, Gottesman A. A Strategy to Enhance the Discharge Process and Improve Throughput  - Presented in poster form at the 11th Annual meeting of the Society of Hospital  Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 2009

  • Patel M, Abdallah T, Gottesman A. Ischemic Colitis and Adrenal Insufficieny: Unusual Manifestations of the Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome  - Presented in poster form at the 11th Annual meeting of the Society of Hospital Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 2009  

  • Patel M, Abdallah T, Gottesman A. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Diagnostic Dilemma  - Presented in poster form at the 11th Annual meeting of the Society of Hospital  Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 2009  

  • Patel M, Abdallah T, Gottesman A. Implementation of Strategies to Improve Documentation of CMS Present on Admission Conditions  - Presented in poster form at the 11th Annual meeting of the Society of Hospital  Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 2009  

  • Abotaga S, Gottesman A, Gress F, Paramanathan K. A Whole Lot of Air: A Rare Complication of     Diverticulitis.  - Presented in poster form at the American College of Gastroenterology 2009 

  • Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, California, October 2009

• Publications:
  
  • Wetz R, Seelig C, Khoueiry G, Weiserbs K. Out-of-match residency offers: the possible extent and implictions of prematching in post-graduate medical education . JGME, September 2010;pp. 27-333.  Doi: 10.43001/GME-09-000531.

• Resident Publications:
  
  

  • Gaddam S, Sachdev M.   Are electrocardiographic changes in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy? . Cardiology 2010;115-182-183.  Doi: 10.1159/000280396.

  • Geara A, Azzi N, Bassil C, El Sayegh S. Aspirin resistance in hemodialysis patients .  Letter to the Editor: Int Urol Nephrol.  Doi: 10.1007/s11255-010-9811-y. July 25, 2010.

  • Geara A, CAstellanos M, Bassil C, Schuller-Levis G, Park E, Smith M, Goldman M, El Sayegh S.  Effects of parathyroid hormone on immune function. Clin Dev Immunol. 2010;2010.pii:418695. Epub 2010 Sept 16.

  • Harris K, AbiFadel F. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: a case report and review of the literature. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 181;2010:A4508.

  • Ost DE, Poch D, AbiFadel D, Wettimuny S, Ginocchio C, Wang X.  Mini-bronchoalveolar lavage quantitative polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of methicillin-resistant straphyloccus aureus pneumonia. Crit Care Med 2010.  Vol.38,No.7;1536-1541.

  • Azzi J, Geara A, El Sayegh S, Abdi R.  The immunological aspects of pancreatic islet cell transplantation. Expert review, Clinical Immunology. 6(1),111-124 (2010).

  • Geara A, Kamal L, El Imad B, El Sayegh S. Visualization of the renal vein during pyelography after nephrostomy: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010, 4:93.  Doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-93.

  • Szerszen A, AbiFadel F, Ross J, Vassell K, Ahern K, Shtaynberg N, Edwards A, Rothman J, Maniatis T, Bagon E, Castellanos MR. Hemoglobin A1C level less than 6.5% is associated with hypoglycemia in critically ill patients treated with insulin. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010;181:A1620.

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Tolia J.  A 46-year old female presenting with worsening headache, nuchal rigidity and a skin rash in varicella zoster virus meningitis . Cases Journal 2009,2:6299, doi: 10.4076/1757-1626-2-6299.

  • De C, McGinn JT Jr, Lafferty J, Baglini R, Baldari D. A planned hybrid culotte stenting procedure in the setting of an acute STEMI. Cases Journal 2009, 2:9104. Doi: 10.1186/1757,1626-2-9104.

  • AbiRafeh N, AbiFadel D, Wetz, R, Khoueiry G, Azab B, Edwards A, Ardolic B, El Sayegh S, Baldari D, Malpeso J, Costantino T. A STEMI code protocol improves door-to-balloon time on weekdays and weekends. Journal for Healthcare Quality; Vol.31;No.6;pp.35-43;November/December 2009.

  • Popalzai M, Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N. Chronic fungal sinusitis leading to disastrous cerebral aspergillosis. Cases Journal 2009, 2:9406.  Doi: 10.1186-1626-2-9406.

  • Kushawaha A, Mobarakai N, Parikh N, Beylinson A. Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in a diabetic patient: the perils of an overzealous immune response. Cases Journal 2009, 2:209.  Doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-2-209.

  • Desai N, Sabanegh E Jr, Kim T, Agarwal A. Free radical theory of aging: implictions in male infertility. J Urology.2009. Doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2009.05.025.

  • Waked A, Geara A, El Imad B, El Sayegh S. Hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis and renal failure secondary to calcium bicarbonate intake for osteoporosis prevention - 'modern milk' alkali syndrome: a case report. Cases Journal 2009 Aug 6;26188. 

  • Kushawaha A, Popalzai M, El Charabaty E, Mobarakai N. Lemierre's syndrome, reemergence of a forgotten disease: a case report. Cases Journal 2009 Mar 10, 2:6397. Doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-2-6397.

  • Geara A, El Imad B, Torbey E. Lupus cerebritis after visiting a tanning salon. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis, 2009;67(4):391-3. 

  • Desai N, Kesari K, Agarwal A. Pathophysiology of cell phone radiation: oxidatie stress and carcinogenesis with focus on male reproductive system. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, October 2009,7:114.  Doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-114 (BioMedCentral).

  • Geara A, El Imad B, Baz W, Odaimi M, El Sayegh S.  "Pseudoleukocytosis secondary to hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemia: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2009, 3:91 (2 Nov 2009).  Doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-3-91.

  • Geara A, Azzi J, Abdi R. Renin-angiotensin system: an old and newly discovered factor in immunomodulation. Transplant Rev (Orlando). 2009;23(3):151-8. Review. 

  • Kushawaha A, Jadonath S, Mobarakai N. West Nile virus myocarditis causing a fatal arrhythmia. Cases Journal 2009, 2:7147. Doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-2-7147.