Ali Houjaij MD
Ali Houjaij
MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Anatomic Pathology; Anatomy; Andrology; Cancer Screening; Cancer Treatment and Prevention; Clinical Research; Community Health Research; Education; Health Disparities Research; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Medical Education Research; Military & Veterans Health/Healthcare; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Oncology; Racial Disparities Health Research; Robotic Surgery; Sexual Dysfunction; Sexual Medicine; Surgery - Laparoscopic; Surgery – Minimally Invasive and Robotic; Urinary Tract Infection; Urology
Professional Summary:
My main clinical practice in Urology is at the Veteran‘s Administration Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, NY, where I am the Urology Division chief and UB residency site director. It is a high volume practice, with 2 full time and 2 part time urologists, with a variety of cases of general urology and urologic oncology, ranging from minor procedures to complex major cancer cases. Being fellowship trained in Surgical Oncology in Urology at the Roswell Park Cancer Center, my special interests are urologic oncology and robotic surgeries. Urologic Oncology comprises about 40% of our practice. Residents enjoy a considerable level of autonomy in the clinic and operating room while closely supervised and directed by the more senior residents and urology Staff. Medical students enjoy their early hands-on experience and are part of all teaching activities.
In addition to my contribution to the formal didactic weekly conferences and presentations, and daily informal clinical training during patient care, I believe in the efficacy of small group teaching. I am a fan of the NCCN and AUA guidelines, AUA update series, and the SASP MCQ exercises. Those resources are available for us and are used for educational activities during a rotation at the Buffalo VA Hospital. In fact, an important project of mine is dividing the current SASP questions by subject to help residents prepare, and going through those one topic at a time, in an interactive small group way, during the first half of the academic year. This has proven to markedly improve the in-service exam grades in 2019 as compared to prior year. This was on hold during the pandemic and was resumed 2022. It is important also to be open to resident's needs and suggestions during their rotations. New ideas are always welcome.
My research interests are oncology, mostly prostate, bladder and kidney cancers, as well as general urology, complications, and disparity in care. We try to involve any interested medical student and resident in any project of their interest. This usually results in multiple abstracts that get presented at national meetings every year and sometimes publications.
Education and Training:
- Certificate, Jacobs Educator Excellence Program (JEEP), University at Buffalo (2019)
- Fellowship, Surgical Oncology in Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2009)
- Residency, Urology, American University of Beirut (2008)
- MD, Medicine, American University of Beirut (2002)
- BS, Biology, American University of Beirut (1998)
Employment:
- Site Director, Family Medicine Residency Rotations at the VA, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (2021-present)
- Site Director, Family Medicine Residency Urology Rotation at the VA, Urology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (2014-present)
- Chief of Urology, Department of Surgery, VA Western NY Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY (2011-present)
- Chief of Urology, Department of Surgery, Surgery, VA Western NY Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY (2011-present)
- Site Director, Urology Residency Rotations at the VA, Urology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (2010-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology, Urology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (2010-present)
- Staff Urologist, Department of Surgery, VA Western NY Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY (2009-present)
- Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology, Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2014–2018)
Awards and Honors:
- 10-year Service Award (2019)
Journal Articles:
- Sumlin AB, Camacho S, Fayazi Z, Houjaij A, Darwish O, Groman A, Hutson A. (1900) Knowledge and Understanding Differs Between African American Men and Caucasian Men When Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Accepted for Publication. J Neurol Disord (Jan)
- Ellman E, Henning F, Houjaij A, Dalimov Z, Shahait M, Nader N, Darwish O. (1900) Predictors of Emergency Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Urology (Gold) (Jan)
- Darwish OM, Lutnick E, Dalimov Z, Waisanen KM, Wang D, Houjaij A, Jung I, Nader ND. (2021) Neuraxial vs General Anesthesia: 30-Day Mortality Outcomes Following Transurethral Resection of Prostate. Urology (Nov), 157: 274-279.
- Maiers TJ, Wang DC, Houjaij AH, Darwish OM. (2019) Renal Oncocytoma and Retroperitoneal Ancient Schwannoma: A Benign Mimic of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Case reports in urology (Jan), 2019: 2561289. doi:10.1155/2019/2561289
- Bulbul MA, El-Hout Y, Haddad M, Tawil A, Houjaij A, Bou Diab N, Darwish O. (2007) Pathological correlation between needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimen in patients with localized prostate cancer. Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada (Sep), 1(3): 264-6. doi:10.5489/cuaj.80
- Khauli RB, El-Hout Y, Hussein M, Dagher FJ, Medawar W, Houjaij A, Sawah S, Houjaij A, Daouk M, Uwaydah M, Abdelnoor A. (2005) A controlled sequential evaluation of open donor nephrectomy versus classical and modified laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: an update. Transplantation proceedings (Sep), 37(7): 2944-6.
- Khauli RB, Houjaij A, Sawah S, El-Hout Y, Medawwar W, Hussein M, Habbal A, Daouk M, Uwaydah M, Maacaron H, Abdelnoor A. (2005) Observations on quadruple immunosuppression maintenance therapy using rapamycin, low-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone following ATG induction. Transplantation proceedings (Sep), 37(7): 3031-3.
- Khauli RB, El-Hout Y, Hussein M, Dagher FJ, Medawar W, Houjaij A, Sawah S, Daouk M, Uwaydah M, Abdelnoor A. (2005) A controlled sequential evaluation of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy versus open donor nephrectomy: an update. Transplantation proceedings (Mar), 37(2): 633-4.
Professional Memberships:
- American Urological Association; Associate Member (2010–present)
- Society of Laparo-Endoscopic Surgeons; Member (2010–present)
Presentations:
- "Process of Improvement of Surgical Infections in Urology at VA Western New York Healthcare System." Surgical Care Integrated Clinical Community meeting (for regional VA Hospitals) (2022)
- "Superficial Bladder Cancer and Intravesical Treatments" Urology Grand Rounds (VA Educational month) (2021)
Service Activities:
- Member of the UB Community Response Team, virtually meeting on Mondays to discuss community needs and hardships, and working on a plan for assistance, focusing on the underserved population.; Member of the UB Community Response Team (2022–present)
- Established a Urology clinic at the Rochester VA to encourage veterans in Rochester area to pursue care without having to drive to Buffalo; Urologist in Outreach Clinic (2021–present)
- Resident Research Oversight Committee member: evaluate, assist, guide residents as they work on research programs; Resident Research Oversight Committee member (2021–present)
- Member of Residency Remediation Committee for Struggling Learner: meeting regularly to evaluate progress and discuss further action; Member of Residency Remediation Committee for Struggling Learner (2020–2021)
- Urology Residency Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) member: annual meeting to evaluate the program; Urology Residency Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) member (2019–present)
- Faculty Development Annual Meeting, participant (2014–present)
- Oversee, teach, supervise family medicine residents during their half day per week urology rotation at the VA; VA Site Director, UB Family Medicine Residency Urology Rotation (2014–present)
- VA Site Director, UB Family Medicine Residency Urology Rotation: Oversee, teach, supervise family medicine residents during their half day per week urology rotation at the VA; VA Site Director, UB Family Medicine Residency Urology Rotation (2014–present)
- Clinical Competency Committee reviews and discusses each urology resident progress every 6 months and identifies any outstanding issues.; Review each individual resident's progress periodically through the program (2013–present)
- UB Urology Residency applicants’ interviews (2012–present)
- Timekeeping and timecard completion of Urology residents rotating at the Buffalo VA for accurate VA payment to the university for resident coverage.; UB Urology residents VA rotation timekeeper (2012–present)
- Reviewing about 2 cases per year to identify errors in management and deviation from guidelines and standard of care.; Expert Opinion Reviewer for Urology management and mortality/morbidity cases within the VA System (2011–present)
- Reviewing average 2 cases per year and providing guidance to defense attorneys as needed; National Reviewer of Legal Litigation Urology cases against the Federal VA System (2011–present)
- ; Review and provide comments of submitted manuscripts to the Journal of Endourology (2011–present)
- VA Site Director of Medical Student VA Urology rotations during SUR800: Oversee, supervise and teach medical students during their rotation at the VA; VA Site Director of Medical Student VA Urology rotations during SUR800 (2010–present)
- VA Site Director, UB Urology Residency Program: Oversee, supervise and teach urology residents during their VA rotation; VA Site Director, UB Urology Residency Program (2010–present)