Providing the best, patient-centered, clinical care is my greatest passion. My clinical and research focus is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and pouch disorders. IBD is chronic, life-long and sometimes debilitating disease. Receiving such diagnosis is frequently overwhelming to patients and their families and it can be quite difficult for them to navigate through the different aspects of this disease with all the required tests and investigations, the therapies involved, and the complications from the disease and therapies. Hence, in addition to providing high quality, evidence-based clinical care, I always try to partner with my patients, listen to them, understand their concerns and address their individual needs. Following this strategy I have made many partners and friends throughout the years.

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology/Hepatology (SMD)

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 2015 - 2016

Fellowship, Gastroenterology, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2012 - 2015

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago. 2008 - 2012

Internship, Jordan University Hospital (Amman). 2006 - 2007

Education

MPH | University of Illinois College of Medicine (USA). 2014

MBCHB | University of Jordan (Jordan). 2006

Awards

Young investigator award. 2016

Travel grant to attend the 2015 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's Clinical & Research Con. 2015

Travel Grant to attend the Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Clinical and Research Confere. 2014

CCFA's National Visiting IBD Fellow Rotation Program. 2014

Excellence In Research Award. 2011

Academic Excellence Award. 2011

Voted Intern of The Year. 2009

Partial Tuition University Sponsored Scholarship. 2001 - 2002

Research

Dr. Abdalla's clinical research focus and activities primarily involve Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She is specifically interested in IBD epidemiology, patient-outcome research, and in clinical trials investigating new IBD therapies.

Publications

Journal Articles

Clinical Long-Term Outcomes of Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Prospective Real-World Tofacitinib Response in Ulcerative Colitis Registry.

Herfarth HH, Afzali A, Fischer M, Hudesman D, Abdalla M, McCabe R, Cohen BL, Ungaro RC, Harlan W, Hanson J, Konijeti GG, Polyak S, Ritter T, Salzberg B, Seminerio J, English E, Zhang X, Long MD

Clinical and translational gastroenterology.. 2024 March 115 (3):e00669. Epub 03/01/2024.

Enhancing Human Treg Cell Induction through Engineered Dendritic Cells and Zinc Supplementation.

Shaikh NA, Zhang XB, Abdalla MI, Baylink DJ, Tang X

Critical reviews in immunology.. 2024 44 (3):37-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Tofacitinib Response in Ulcerative Colitis (TOUR): Early Response After Initiation of Tofacitinib Therapy in a Real-world Setting.

Long MD, Afzali A, Fischer M, Hudesman D, Abdalla M, McCabe R, Cohen BL, Ungaro RC, Harlan W, Hanson J, Konijeti G, Polyak S, Ritter T, Salzberg B, Seminerio J, English E, Zhang X, Sharma PP, Herfarth HH

Inflammatory bowel diseases.. 2023 April 329 (4):570-578. Epub 1900 01 01.

Zinc Treated Engineered Human Dendritic Cells Capable of Synthesizing High Active Vitamin D and Retinoic Acid Concentrations Enhance Gut-homing Regulatory T Cell Induction.

Shaikh Nisar Ali; Maisa I Abdalla; Lisa M Cannon; Xiao-Bing Zhang; David J Baylink; Xiaolei Tang.

J Immunol. 2023; 201(1_supplement): 218.16.

Hemolytic Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Our "Gut" Tells Us to Blame the Drug.

Berger M, Abdalla M, DeCross A

Crohn's & colitis 360.. 2021 October 3 (4):otab070. Epub 11/20/2021.

Inflammation- and Gut-Homing Macrophages, Engineered to Overexpress Active Vitamin D, Promoted the Regenerative Function of Intestinal Stem Cells.

Xu Y, Baylink DJ, Cao H, Xiao J, Abdalla MI, Wasnik S, Tang X

International journal of molecular sciences.. 2021 September 122 (17)Epub 09/01/2021.

Progress in Corticosteroid Use in the Era of Biologics With Room for Improvement.

Abdalla MI, Levesque BG

The American journal of gastroenterology.. 2021 June 1116 (6):1187-1188. Epub 1900 01 01.

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Improved after Eradication Therapy for .

Gao Y, Gupta N, Abdalla M

Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine. 2021 2021 :5543838. Epub 03/30/2021.

Rethinking Colorectal Cancer Screening in IBD, Is It Time to Revisit the Guidelines?

Abdalla M, Herfarth H

Journal of Crohn's & colitis.. 2018 June 2812 (7):757-759. Epub 1900 01 01.

Prevalence and Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Irritable Bowel Syndrome on Patient-reported Outcomes in CCFA Partners.

Abdalla MI, Sandler RS, Kappelman MD, Martin CF, Chen W, Anton K, Long MD

Inflammatory bowel diseases.. 2017 February 23 (2):325-331. Epub 1900 01 01.

The Impact of Ostomy on Quality of Life and Functional Status of Crohn's Disease Patients.

Abdalla MI, Sandler RS, Kappelman MD, Martin CF, Chen W, Anton K, Long MD

Inflammatory bowel diseases.. 2016 November 22 (11):2658-2664. Epub 1900 01 01.

Budesonide for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Abdalla MI, Herfarth H

Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy.. 2016 August 17 (11):1549-59. Epub 06/16/2016.

Harnessing the Power of Posttranscriptional Gene Silencing in Crohn's Disease.

Abdalla M, Sheikh SZ

Clinical and translational gastroenterology.. 2016 March 317 (3):e160. Epub 03/31/2016.

Massive duodenal variceal bleed; complication of extra hepatic portal hypertension: Endoscopic management and literature review.

Steevens C, Abdalla M, Kothari TH, Kaul V, Kothari S

World journal of gastrointestinal pharmacology and therapeutics.. 2015 November 66 (4):248-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Negative surveillance endoscopy occurs frequently in patients with short-segment non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus.

Melson J, Desai V, Greenspan M, Yau S, Abdalla M, Dhanekula R, Mobarhan S, Shapiro D, Losurdo J, Jakate S

Diseases of the esophagus : official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. 2015 October 28 (7):660-5. Epub 06/18/2014.

Dysplasia detection rate of confirmatory EGD in nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus.

Abdalla M, Dhanekula R, Greenspan M, Mobarhan S, Patil A, Jakate S, Giusto D, Silva R, Li H, Melson J

Diseases of the esophagus : official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. 2014 August 27 (6):505-10. Epub 09/28/2012.

Books

DDSEP 9 - Digestive Disease Self-Education Program (2019)

Chapter: Chapter 13 - Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Authors: Chapter authors - Gary R. Lichtenstein, Yecheskel Schneider. Questions writers - Abdalla M, Long M, Ha C, Dalal S.

Publisher: AGA institute, MD, USA 2019

Ratings & Comments

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Ratings

Care provider's discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

4.8

Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

4.8

Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

4.8

Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care

4.8

Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

4.9

Patient Comments

5.0

Dr Abdalla is great, she is clear, concise and genuinely empathetic as well. Very happy with her care and Dr. Rosario who did my colonoscopy and pathology.

Jan 10, 2025

5.0

Dr Abdalla is excellent GI. I will continue to drive [...] to Rochester for procedures

Dec 26, 2024

5.0

I feel confident that my doctor understands me

Dec 13, 2024

5.0

Exceptional. Very patient. Not rushed at all. Logical order followed during the visit with many opportunities to ask questions.

Nov 22, 2024

4.8

Good experience

Nov 18, 2024

5.0

This Dr. Is comparatively new to me. She is totally engaged with listening to me and offers options.

Nov 13, 2024

5.0

Dr. Abdalla is my new G.I. Doctor who is handling my fairly recent health issue. She is very knowledgeable, explains medical terminology clearly, is very understanding and compassionate, and willing to work with me while keeping in mind my particular needs.

Oct 06, 2024

5.0

She is very personable, intelligent and highly knowledgeable in her field. Knows my daughters health conditions and is always careful with her choices of tests/treatments/meds.

May 16, 2024

5.0

She is gold star amazing! I always recommend her. She is life changing in the best possible way. I have never had a physician listen and care as much as Dr. Abdalla

Apr 20, 2024

4.0

Good well informed

Mar 13, 2024

5.0

I believe Dr Abdalla is looking out for my best interests and kind but direct in letting me know details-my favorite approach by a physician/specialist.

Jan 25, 2024

5.0

Dr. Abdalla, excellent procedure.

Jan 22, 2024

Dr Abdalla is excellent at communicating. She is very compassionate.

Jan 12, 2024

5.0

Dr. Abdalla is always very friendly and a great communicator. I am always impressed with her knowledge of the field and really seems to have my daughter's best interest at hand.

Nov 20, 2023

5.0

I have complete confidence in Dr. Abdalla's expertise. She is also always extremely professional, friendly, and empathetic. I feel extremely lucky to have her on my side to stay healthy despite having ulcerative colitis.

Oct 12, 2023

5.0

Dr. Abdalla is always extremely friendly, thorough, excellent listener, provides feedback and easy to understand explanations, really works at providing excellent care; finding answers, etc.

Aug 16, 2023

5.0

Dr. Abdalla is an excellent doctor for me. She listens she's kind she's very knowledgeable

Aug 11, 2023

5.0

Dr. Abdalla is the best gastro doctor I have seen since needing treatment. I have seen 2 doctors prior to her, one in MD and one in PA.

Jul 28, 2023

5.0

Dr. Abdalla always has a plan laid out for what she thinks is best for me. She is always on top of my history and my concerns. She is the best!

Jun 29, 2023

4.6

I sent a follow-up visit question via MyChart to the provider and she was excellent in providing a timely response.The provider seems to be very good. At this appointment she seemed more concerned about a diagnosis found many years ago that hasn't given me symptoms, than my current quality of life Issue which seems related to my long IBD history, but for which the cause hasn't been determined.

Mar 23, 2023

5.0

I cannot say enough good things about Dr Abdalla. She has definitely changed my life for the better. From the very first time I met her, she listened and understood and validated my concerns. She went over every possible scenario-- and not only demonstrated a complete understanding of my concerns and amount/type of risk I would be wiling to undergo, she presented all of the options honestly in an unbiased fashion and noted when there were medication side effects that would conflict with my risk comfort. She is thorough, accepts and validates my concerns and does not coerce. Because of her complete openness and honesty I have been willing to follow the treatment plan she designed that has worked. She is thorough and reviews every open Issue at each appt to make sure I am aware of follow up and how/when It will occur. Honestly, I have never felt so comfortable, confident in, and cared for by any other physician. I have recommended her to pretty much anyone who has been looking for an amazing GI. I appreciate her and the way she practices. She is nothing short of amazing. And I am grateful.

Jul 22, 2022

5.0

Dr Abdalla is excellent.

May 12, 2022