Peter A. Abdelmalik MD PhD

Peter Abdelmalik

Peter A. Abdelmalik
MD PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Neurology

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Brain Research; Neuropharmacology; Neuroscience

Contact Information
Buffalo General Hospital
100 High St.,
Neuro Suite C-421
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 7168592674
peterabd@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

I provide comprehensive care to patients in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU) who have sustained serious neurological injuries. These include stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury (TBI), prolonged seizures, infection, severe neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injury. I focus on ensuring optimal function of my patients’ supporting organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. By doing so, I mitigate my patients’ potential for secondary injuries and facilitate their neurological recovery.

I collaborate with a multidisciplinary critical care team that includes medical residents and fellows, advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, clinical pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers and case managers. As part of a team, I address the medical and neurological needs of my patients using evidence-based care protocols. I assess and care for my patients’ pain and comfort needs daily. I also plan for their medical care needs after their hospital stay, with attention to their post-hospital setting, e.g., their home or a rehabilitation facility.

I have broad research interests that complement the spectrum of patients I care for in the NICU. My research includes characterizing the molecular substrates for energy production in neurons and glial cells, and determining how those substrates may promote functional recovery after neurological injury. Clinically, my research is aimed at investigating how to feed, and what to feed, patients who sustain significant neurological injury, in order to increase the odds of a good functional outcome. (ICU nutrition has been shown to affect patient outcomes, and though it may be the safest among all the ICU interventions we undertake, it may be the most underutilized.)

My other research interests include TBI, the neurological impact of sepsis and the clinical outcomes of intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage.

I am also an educator. Education is a key component of my practice in the NICU, where I focus on daily bedside teaching. I teach trainees how to diagnose and care for patients who present with the syndromes listed above. I also teach the fundamental principles of neurocritical care, such as maintaining cerebral blood flow, and how to diagnose and manage intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus. I teach using advanced neurosurgical and radiographic approaches and other neurodiagnositic techniques. Trainees also learn from me how to undertake invasive procedures that are commonly performed in the critical care setting. During daily rounds, I review and discuss with trainees essential doctrines of general critical care medicine, with a clear focus on evidence-based practice.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Neurocritical Care, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2017)
  • Residency, Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (2015)
  • Internship, Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (2012)
  • MD, Medicine, St. George's University School of Medicine (2011)
  • PhD, Neuropharmacology/Neurophysiology, University of Toronto (2007)
  • BS, Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Toronto (2001)


Journal Articles:

See all (10 more)

Books and Book Chapters:

  • Abdelmalik PA, Ziai W. (2021) Intraventricular Hemorrhages. In: Caplan's Stroke Syndromes, 4th edition. Cambridge University Press

Presentations:

  • "Coma and brain death" UB Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds (2024)
  • "Critical Care Considerations for the Myasthenia Gravis Patient." Invited lecture to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (2022)
  • "Accurate prediction of neurological recovery after acute brain injury: Foresight 2020" UB Department of Neurology Grand Roungs (2020)
  • "Identifying and managing the non-stroke complications in the acute stroke patient" Stroke education for nursing professionals, Kaleida Health (2018)
  • "Intracranial Pressure, Patient outcomes and the future of Neurocritical Care" Invited Neurosurgical Grand Rounds, UB Department of Neurosurgery (2018)
  • "When a Person Dies" Invited lecture to the incoming undergraduate freshman at the University at Buffalo (2018)
  • "Feeding advancements in Stroke and Neurocritical Care" Neuroscience Grand Rounds, Department of Neurology, Trillium Health Partners (2018)

Service Activities:

  • Office of Inclusion and Diversity; Diversity Advocate (2019–present)

School News:

In the Media:


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Contact Information

Buffalo General Hospital
100 High St.,
Neuro Suite C-421
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 7168592674
peterabd@buffalo.edu