New GI Chief At NYU Lutheran To Expand Hepatitis C Program, Endoscopic Treatment

As many as 5 million people in the United States have hepatitis C, but only a fraction are aware they have it and are actively undergoing treatment. As section chief for gastroenterology and hepatology at NYU Lutheran—NYU Langone health system's central hub for clinical care in Brooklyn—Dr. Abdelsayed will connect with the many cultural enclaves throughout the borough to work with community leaders and others in developing a hepatitis C screening program to help promote early detection of the disease.

"More needs to be done in Brooklyn to curtail the spread of hepatitis C," said Dr. Abdelsayed. "We can make a big difference with early detection and treatment of hepatitis C before it develops into a more serious illness, like hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer, or lead to liver failure, which may necessitate liver transplantation."

Dr. Abdelsayed has 27 years of experience as a board-certified gastroenterologist, and has worked for over a decade as a hepatologist with specific clinical focus on treating liver disease, including hepatitis B and C, alcohol-induced liver disease, and nutritional liver disease. He is also a highly skilled gastrointestinal endoscopist and is proficient in endoscopic and advanced endoscopic procedures, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

"Dr. Abdelsayed's expertise in treating hepatitis will greatly impact the residents of Brooklyn," said Mark B. Pochapin, MD, The Sholtz/Leeds Professor of Gastroenterology and director of the Division of Gastroenterology. "His knowledge will align with our current efforts at the NYU School of Medicine to understand and eradicate this disease, locally and globally."

"In his new role, Dr. Abdelsayed will look to expand our endoscopy program and recruit advanced endoscopy specialists with extensive training in state-of-the-art techniques for minimally invasive examinations of the digestive tract," added Bret Rudy, MD, executive hospital director and senior vice president, NYU Lutheran Medical Center. "These expanded services will complement existing programs and advance our delivery of the highest quality of gastroenterology care available to the residents of Brooklyn and beyond."

Dr. Abdelsayed, a native of Egypt, first came to the United States when he was 13. He excelled in school, earning a bachelor's degree in biology from St. John's University in Queens summa cum laude. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College.

Prior to joining NYU Lutheran, Dr. Abdelsayed served as director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Staten Island University Hospital, part of Northwell Health and the Hofstra School of Medicine. Prior to his tenure on Staten Island, he served as section chief and program director of gastroenterology at Bridgeport Hospital, part of the Yale New Haven Health System. He maintains a faculty appointment as associate clinical professor at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Abdelsayed is a longtime fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American College of Gastroenterology. Among his many professional affiliations, he is a member of the Patient Care Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology and a reviewer of the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.

To set up an appointment with Dr. Abdelsayed or a member of the gastroenterology team, please call 718-630-8600.

Contact: Neal Gorman
718-630-8316 (office)
718-630-8700x8316 (pager)
[email protected]

Colin DeVries
718-630-7414 (office)
718-630-8700x3875 (pager)
[email protected]

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SOURCE NYU Lutheran Medical Center