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Jacob Moalem, M.D.

Jacob Moalem, M.D.

Surgical Oncology, Surgery, Cancer

UR Medicine Faculty The University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG) consists of over 900 specialist and primary care providers spanning 19 departments. URMFG is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Accountable Health Partner Accountable Health Partners (AHP) is a network of over 2,000 community and UR medical faculty and a dozen leading hospitals throughout the region. AHP offers a full range of care.
Accepting New Patients

Locations

Surgical Oncology

160 Sawgrass Drive, Suite 120
Rochester, NY 14620

About Me

As an endocrine surgeon, my elective practice is restricted to the management of patients with benign and cancerous conditions affecting the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. I strongly believe in multidisciplinary, team-based care for patients whose conditions are complex, and in personalize...
As an endocrine surgeon, my elective practice is restricted to the management of patients with benign and cancerous conditions affecting the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. I strongly believe in multidisciplinary, team-based care for patients whose conditions are complex, and in personalized, efficient care for those whose conditions are less involved. In total, I perform about 350 thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal operations per year.

I chose this field because I was inspired by amazing mentors. The operations can be challenging and demand patience, meticulousness and attention to detail. Patients almost always do great, and are very pleased with their outcomes. The science behind endocrine tumors is fascinating. Success in this field requires close collaboration with endocrinologists, primary care doctors, radiologists, pathologists and many other professionals, all of whom I enjoy working with.

It is a tremendous honor, responsibility, and privilege to be entrusted with the care of others. As such, I strive to ensure that my patients are treated as I would expect to be treated myself – with respect, expertise, candor, and compassion.

Conditions I Treat

- Thyroid cancer
- Parathyroid cancer
- Adrenal cancer
- Thyroid nodules
- Hyperthyroidism
- Graves' disease
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Adrenal nodules
- Pheochromocytoma

Professional Background

Jacob Moalem, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Endocrinology, was recruited to the University of Rochester in 2008 to establish a program in Endocrine Surgery and to elevate the level of care that patients with benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands receive...
Jacob Moalem, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Endocrinology, was recruited to the University of Rochester in 2008 to establish a program in Endocrine Surgery and to elevate the level of care that patients with benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands receive.

Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Dr. Moalem received his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees from the University at Buffalo and his Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY. He developed an interest in Endocrine Surgery during his residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey, where he also served as the Executive Chief Resident and became engaged in leadership roles nationally. He then pursued further subspecialty training during a premier Endocrine Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), under the mentorship of Dr. Orlo Clark, one of the founding figures in the field.

Dr. Moalem's clinical activity is focused on the multidisciplinary management of cancerous and benign conditions of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. He brings expertise in minimally invasive thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, in addition to laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. His elective clinical practice focuses exclusively on these operations, and he performs more than 350 operations per year.

Beyond his direct clinical activity, Dr. Moalem has also made significant academic contributions. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, and has presented his research at many national meetings. He has been on the teaching faculty of several national Endocrine Surgery Courses, as well. Locally, he frequently lectures and teaches medical students, residents, nurses and other physicians and surgeons on topics related to Endocrine Surgery and the operations in which he specializes.

Certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Moalem is also licensed in the states of New Jersey and California. He is a very active member of several professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons (ACS), where he has chaired the membership committee of the Resident and Associates' Society (RAS), and subsequently served as Chair of RAS. He is a board member for several important ACS committees, and was recently appointed as Chair of the Young Fellows' Association. He is also quite active within the American Medical Association (AMA), where he Chairs the Young Physician's Caucus, and serves as a Delegate representing the ACS. He is a recent recipient of the American Medical Association' s Foundation Award.

Dr. Moalem has also been recognized as a leader closer to home. At the University of Rochester, he has received many important honors and awards, including the Chief Residents' Teaching Award, the iCare 'Bronze Star' award (twice) and the Patient and Family Centered Care Top Performers Award (twice). Most recently, he was elected as one of two faculty inductees from the University to Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society. Dr. Moalem is also very active in a number of community organizations, and is a proud father of 3 small children who are the joys of his life.

Faculty Appointments

Professor - Department of Surgery, Oncology (SMD)

Professor - Department of Medicine, Endocrine/Metabolism (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, University of CA at San Francisco School of Medicine. 2007 - 2008

Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. 2002 - 2007

Internship, Surgery (General Surgery), Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. 2001 - 2002

Education

MD | SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing. 2001

Awards

Recipient, University of Rochester iCare 'Bronze Star' award. 2017

Recipient, Elmer Louis Award for Stop the Bleed campaign in Greater Rochester Area. 2017

Recipient, University of Rochester iCare "Bronze Star" award. 2014

Faculty Inductee, Alpha Omega Alpha, National Honor Society.. 2014

Recipient, University of Rochester Patient and Family Centered Care Top Performers Award.. 2013

Recipient, University of Rochester iCare "Bronze Star" award. 2013

AMA Foundation Leadership Award. 2012

University of Rochester 2012 Faculty Development Grant - $4,000. 2012

Association for Surgical Education Surgical Education Research Fellowship (SERF). 2012

Patient and Family Centered Care Top Performers Award - Given to doctors who score above 95 percentile. 2011

Recipient, 2012 AMA Foundation Leadership Award. 2011

Awardee, 2012 Association for Surgical Ed. Surgical Ed Research Fellowship (SERF). 2011

Recipient, Friends of Strong grant- $45,000. 2010

Recipient, University of Rochester Surgery Chief Residents' Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award.. 2010

Recipient, American College of Surgeons' Health Policy Scholarship Award. 2010

Pacific Coast Surgical Association, Northern California caucus, Resident/fellow paper of the year.. 2008

Mount Zion Health Fund Award, University of California, San Francisco.. 2007

Resident of the Year Award, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.. 2007

Outstanding Laparoscopic Resident Surgeon Award. Society for Laparoendoscopic Surgery. 2007

Golden Key National Honor Society. 1994

Publications

Journal Articles

Incidental posterior mediastinal paraganglioma: The safe approach to management, case report.

Muñoz-Largacha JA, Glocker RJ, Moalem J, Singh MJ, Litle VR

International journal of surgery case reports.. 2017 35 :25-28. Epub 03/31/2017.

Speed Mentoring: An Innovative Method to Meet the Needs of the Young Surgeon.

Britt RC, Hildreth AN, Acker SN, Mouawad NJ, Mammen J, Moalem J

Journal of surgical education.. 2017 74 (6):1007-1011. Epub 05/23/2017.

Risk Factors for Decreased Quality of Life in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: Initial Findings from the North American Thyroid Cancer Survivorship Study.

Aschebrook-Kilfoy B, James B, Nagar S, Kaplan S, Seng V, Ahsan H, Angelos P, Kaplan EL, Guerrero MA, Kuo JH, Lee JA, Mitmaker EJ, Moalem J, Ruan DT, Shen WT, Grogan RH

Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association.. 2015 December 25 (12):1313-21. Epub 12/01/2015.

Risk scoring can predict readmission after endocrine surgery.

Iannuzzi JC, Fleming FJ, Kelly KN, Ruan DT, Monson JR, Moalem J

Surgery.. 2014 December 156 (6):1432-38; discussion 1438-40. Epub 11/11/2014.

Simultaneous adrenal and cardiac g-protein-coupled receptor-g?? inhibition halts heart failure progression.

Kamal FA, Mickelsen DM, Wegman KM, Travers JG, Moalem J, Hammes SR, Smrcka AV, Blaxall BC

Journal of the American College of Cardiology.. 2014 June 1763 (23):2549-2557. Epub 04/02/2014.

Preliminary results of ex vivo multispectral photoacoustic imaging in the management of thyroid cancer.

Dogra VS, Chinni BK, Valluru KS, Moalem J, Giampoli EJ, Evans K, Rao NA

AJR. American journal of roentgenology.. 2014 June 202 (6):W552-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Surgeons and patients disagree on the potential consequences from hypoparathyroidism.

Cho NL, Moalem J, Chen L, Lubitz CC, Moore FD, Ruan DT

Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.. 2014 May 20 (5):427-46. Epub 1900 01 01.

A multi-institutional international study of risk factors for hematoma after thyroidectomy.

Campbell MJ, McCoy KL, Shen WT, Carty SE, Lubitz CC, Moalem J, Nehs M, Holm T, Greenblatt DY, Press D, Feng X, Siperstein AE, Mitmaker E, Benay C, Tabah R, Oltmann SC, Chen H, Sippel RS, Brekke A, Vriens MR, Lodewijk L, Stephen AE, Nagar S, Angelos P, Ghanem M, Prescott JD, Zeiger MA, Aragon Han P, Sturgeon C, Elaraj DM, Nixon IJ, Patel SG, Bayles SW, Heneghan R, Ochieng P, Guerrero MA, Ruan DT

Surgery.. 2013 December 154 (6):1283-89; discussion 1289-91. Epub 10/25/2013.

Dogra, VS, Valluru, KS, Chinni, BK, Moalem, J, Giampoli, EJ, Evans, K, and Rao, N:

Li, JL, Spaniolas, K, Ruan, DT, Andolina, J, and Moalem, J. Spontaneous Adrenal Hemorrhage As The Initial Presentation Of Isolated Factor VII Deficiency. Submitted to American Surgeon, March, 2013

2013; .

Revalidation of Surgeons in the United States of America - Nothing New.

Monson, JRT, and Moalem, J.

Journal of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. 2013; 39:11-12.

Solid Adrenal Mass: Not always what it seems.

Spaniolas, K, Li, JL, Ruan, DT, Andolina, J, and Moalem.

American Surgeon. 2013; .

Surgeon beware: many patients referred for parathyroidectomy are misdiagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Iannuzzi JC, Choi DX, Farkas RL, Ruan DT, Peacock JL, Moalem J

Surgery.. 2012 October 152 (4):635-40; discussion 640-2. Epub 1900 01 01.

Quantitative crawling wave sonoelastography of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Walsh J, An L, Mills B, Hah Z, Moalem J, Miller M, Giampoli E, Parker K, Rubens D

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.. 2012 August 147 (2):233-8. Epub 04/02/2012.

The influence of staple size on fistula formation following distal pancreatectomy.

Sepesi B, Moalem J, Galka E, Salzman P, Schoeniger LO

Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.. 2012 February 16 (2):267-74. Epub 10/21/2011.

Lin CI, Whang EE, Moalem J, Ruan DT. Strategic combination therapy overcomes tyrosine kinase coactivation in adrenocortical carcinoma. Surgery. 2012 Dec;152(6):1045-50.

2012; .

4. Iannuzzi, JC, Choi, DX, Farkas, RL, Ruan, DT, Peacock, JL, and Moalem, J. Surgeon Beware: Many Patients Referred For Parathyroidectomy Are Misdiagnosed With Primary Hyperparathyroidism. Surgery. 2012 Oct;152(4):635-40

2012; .

Walsh JM, An L, Mills B, Ha J, Parker K, Rubens D, Moalem J, Miller M, Newlands S, Van der Sloot P, Giampoli E. Quantitative Crawling Wave Sonoelastography of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules. Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2012 Aug;147(2):233-8.

2012; .

O'neal, P, Moore, FD, Gawande, AA, Cho, NL, Moalem, J, and Ruan, DT. Hemorrhagic Shock as Presentation of Pheochromocytoma: Report of a Sequential Management Strategy. Endocrine Practice . Epub 2012 Feb 20:1-15

2012; .

O'Neal, P, Moore, FD, Gawande, AA, Cho, NL, King, E, Moalem, J, and Ruan, DT. A Case of Mistaken Identity: Bronchogenic Cyst Masquerading As an Adrenal Tumor. Endocrine Practice. Epub 2012 Feb 20:1-20.

2012; .

Three-phase model for surgical training: a proposal for improved resident training, assessment, and satisfaction.

Moalem J, Schwartz SI

Journal of surgical education.. 2012 69 (1):70-6. Epub 09/15/2011.

Necroptosis is a novel mechanism of radiation-induced cell death in anaplastic thyroid and adrenocortical cancers.

Nehs MA, Lin CI, Kozono DE, Whang EE, Cho NL, Zhu K, Moalem J, Moore FD, Ruan DT

Surgery.. 2011 December 150 (6):1032-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Adrenal artery aneurysm encountered during laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.

Glocker R, Ruan DT, Gillespie D, Wittlin S, Dombrowski D, Moalem J

Journal of vascular surgery.. 2011 July 54 (1):216-8. Epub 02/18/2011.

Metastatic papillary thyroid cancer misdiagnosed as non-small [corrected] cell lung cancer.

Moalem J, Choi DX, Khanafshar E, Ruan DT, Woeber KA, Clark OH, Kebebew E

Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association.. 2011 March 21 (3):319-23. Epub 01/22/2011.

Giant pancreatic tumor with clinical characteristics of insulinoma but without common pathologic features.

Oberheim NA, Kim A, Farkas RL, Ruan DT, Schoeniger LO, Schiffhauer LM, Moalem J

Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.. 2011 17 (2):e12-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Incorporating the SCORE curriculum and web site into your residency.

Moalem J, Edhayan E, DaRosa DA, Valentine RJ, Szlabick RE, Klingensmith ME, Bell RH

Journal of surgical education.. 2011 68 (4):294-7. Epub 04/20/2011.

Strategies to accommodate resident work-hour restrictions: impact on surgical education.

Freiburg C, James T, Ashikaga T, Moalem J, Cherr G

Journal of surgical education.. 2011 68 (5):387-92. Epub 05/26/2011.

Hemolysis is frequent and falsely lowers Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone levels

Moalem, J, Ruan, D, Farkas, R, Shen, W, Gosnell, J, Miller, S, Duh, QY, Clark OH, and Kebebew E.

American Journal of Surgery. 2009; 197(2): 222-6.

American College of Surgeons - Resident and Associates Society (ACS-RAS) Position Statement on Further Work Hour Restrictions

Moalem, J. Brewster, L, and James, T:.

American College of Surgeons'. 2009; Bulletin 94(1): 19-21.

Chilaiditi's sign in a blunt trauma patient: a case report and review of the literature.

Farkas R, Moalem J, Hammond J

The Journal of trauma.. 2008 December 65 (6):1540-2. Epub 1900 01 01.

Treatment and prevention of recurrence of multinodular goiter: an evidence-based review of the literature.

Moalem J, Suh I, Duh QY

World journal of surgery.. 2008 July 32 (7):1301-12. Epub 1900 01 01.

Mitogen-Inducible Gene-6 Expression Correlates with Survival and is an Independent Predictor of Recurrence in Brafv600e Positive Papillary Thyroid Cancers

Ruan, D.T., Warren, R.S., Moalem, J., Chung, K.W., Griffin, A.C., Shen, W., Duh, Q.Y., Nakakura, E., Donner D.B., khanafshar, E., Wneg, J., Clark, O.H., and Kebebew, E.

Surgery. 2008; 144 (6)((6)): 908-14.

Chilaiditi's sign in a blunt trauma patient: a case report and review of the literature

Farkas, R., Moalem, J., and Hammond, J.

Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care. 2008; 65 (6)(1540-2).

Treatment and Prevention of Recurrence of Multinodular Goiter: An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature

Moalem, J., Suh, I., and Duh, Q.Y.:.

World Journal of Surgery. 2008; 32 (7): 1301-12.

Negative inotropic effects of C-type natriuretic peptide are attenuated in hypertrophied ventricular myocytes associated with reduced cyclic GMP production.

Moalem J, Davidov T, Zhang Q, Grover GJ, Weiss HR, Scholz PM

The Journal of surgical research.. 2006 September 135 (1):38-44. Epub 1900 01 01.

Heart failure reduces both the effects and interaction between cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP.

Moalem J, Weiss HR, Davidov T, Rodriguez R, Molino B, Lazar MJ, Scholz PM

The Journal of surgical research.. 2006 August 134 (2):300-6. Epub 03/20/2006.

Atrial natriuretic peptide reverses the negative functional effects of stunning in rabbit myocardium.

Moalem J, Davidov T, Katz E, Scholz PM, Weiss HR

Regulatory peptides.. 2005 December 15132 (1-3):47-52. Epub 10/11/2005.

Effects of natriuretic peptides on ventricular myocyte contraction and role of cyclic GMP signaling.

Zhang Q, Moalem J, Tse J, Scholz PM, Weiss HR

European journal of pharmacology.. 2005 March 14510 (3):209-15. Epub 1900 01 01.

Functional effects of C-type natriuretic peptide and nitric oxide are attenuated in hypertrophic myocytes from pressure-overloaded mouse hearts.

Su J, Zhang Q, Moalem J, Tse J, Scholz PM, Weiss HR

American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology.. 2005 March 288 (3):H1367-73. Epub 11/18/2004.

Effects of water immersion on pulmonary function in asthmatics.

Leddy JJ, Roberts A, Moalem J, Curry T, Lundgren CE

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc.. 2001 28 (2):75-82. Epub 1900 01 01.

Generation X and the future of surgery: Results of a survey of young surgeons

Cherr, G.S., Moalem, J., Dayton, MT, James, TA, Sutherland, MJ, and Hassett, JM.

American Journal of Surgery. .

Surgical residents' impressions of the impact of the 80-hour workweek on their education: Results of a national survey

Moalem, J, Salzman, P, Freiburg, C, Cherr, G, Brewster, L, and James, T.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons. .

Four-Gland Parathyroid Exploration: When is it selected and how is it performed?

Moalem, J, Guererro, M, and Kebebew, E.

World Journal of Surgery. .

Surgery residency training: The time for change has come

Moalem, J.

American College of Surgeons' Bulletin. .

Books

Burnout in Surgery (2017)

Authors: Moalem J. In ACS RISE: American College of Surgeons Resources in Surgical Education available at https://www.facs.org/education/division-of-education/publications/rise

Publisher: in press 2017

Burnout: Defining the Problem & Its Widespread Implications. In Current Problems in Surgery –Burnout: The Undiagnosed Pandemic. (2017)

Authors: Moalem, J and DeCaporale–Ryan, L.

Publisher: in press 2017

Burnout: The undiagnosed Pandemic. In Current Problems in Surgery. (2017)

Authors: Moalem J.

Publisher: in press 2017

Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy. In Current Surgical Therapy, 12th edition. (2017)

Authors: Moalem J.

Publisher: Cameron, JL and Cameron, AM (Eds.) Springer publishing, 2017

Thyroidectomy. In Textbook of Endocrine Surgery. 3rd edition (2017)

Authors: Moalem J.

Publisher: Clark, OH, Duh, QY, and Shen, W (Eds). Saunders publishing 2017

Minimaly Invasive Parathyroidectomy. (2015)

Chapter: In Current Surgical Therapy, Cameron, JL and Cameron, AM (Eds)

Authors: Moalem, J.

Publisher: Saunders 2015

Thyroidectomy (2015)

Chapter: In Textbook of Endocrine Surgery.Clark, OH. DuhQy, and Shen, W (Eds).

Authors: Moalem, J.

Publisher: Saunders 2015

Technique of Parathyroidectomy (2015)

Chapter: In Surgical Endocrinopathies: Clinical Management and the Founding Figures. Pasieka, JL and Lee, J. (Eds).

Authors: Moalem, J.

Publisher: Springer 2015

Parathyroid Carcinoma (2012)

Authors: Moalem, J.

Publisher: In Score Online Curriculum 2012

Handbook of Endocrine Surgery (2011)

Chapter: Postoperative Hypocalcemia

Authors: Levin, D., Moalem, J.

Publisher: Rebecca S. Sippel and Herbert Chen (eds) 2011

Atlas of Endocrine Surgical Techniques (2010)

Chapter: Reoperative thyroid surgery

Authors: Moalem, J. and Shen, W.

Publisher: Saunders Publishing 2010

McGraw Hill's Manual of Endocrine Surgery (2010)

Chapter: Incidentaloma / Metastasis to the Adrenal Gland

Authors: Moalem, J. and Clark, OH

Publisher: McGraw Hill Publishing 2010

Endocrine Neoplasia (2010)

Chapter: Adrenal Incidentaloma

Authors: Moalem, J., Suh, I., and Duh, QY

Publisher: Springer publishing 2010

Moalem, J. and Clark, OH. Incidentaloma / Metastasis to the Adrenal Gland. (2010)

Authors: Moalem, J. and Clark, OH

Publisher: Saunders Publishing 2010

Handbook of Parathyroid Diseases (2009)

Chapter: Surgery for "Asymptomatic" patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

Authors: Farkas, R, Moalem, J, and Clark, OH

Publisher: Humana Press 2009

How to Avoid Injury to the Inferior Laryngeal Nerve. (2008)

Chapter: In Pearls and Pittfalls in Head and Neck Surgery: Practical Tips to Minimize Complications. Claudio RC (Ed.)

Authors: Moalem, J. and Clark, OH

Publisher: Karger, Switzerland 2008

Ratings & Reviews

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