Muhamad Aly Rifai

He attended Ecole Amal in Aleppo, where he learned French. He later attended the Aleppo American College (Aleppo College) and received his high school diploma. Rifai earned a medical degree from the University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine in 1996.

Awarded a Neuroscience National Research Service Award funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Rifai completed a neuroscience research training fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine in Memphis (1996–1998).{{Cite web |last=Huang |first=Binghui |date=2018-05-18 |title=Newsmaker: Muhamad Aly Rifai, doctor and researcher |url=https://www.mcall.com/2018/05/18/newsmaker-muhamad-aly-rifai-doctor-and-researcher/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Morning Call |language=en-US}}

In 1998, he began training in the combined Internal Medicine and Psychiatry program at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Carilion Health System Program (Carilion Clinic) in Roanoke and Salem, Virginia.

He then completed fellowship training in psychosomatic medicine and psychiatric research at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland (2003–2005).{{Cite journal |last=Bender |first=Eve |date=2005-03-04 |title=Minority Med Students Get Insider's View of Psychiatry |url=https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/pn.40.5.00400012 |journal=Psychiatric News |volume=40 |issue=5 |pages=12–41 |language=en |doi=10.1176/pn.40.5.00400012|url-access=subscription }}

In May 2000, Rifai was awarded the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education's Janssen Scholars Fellowship for research on severe mental illness.{{Cite news |last=Regier |first=Darrel A. |date=2000-05-19 |title=Fifteen psychiatry residents have been selected to participate in a prestigious research fellowship |url=http://www.psychiatricnews.org/pnews/00-05-19/scholarships.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918105447/http://www.psychiatricnews.org/pnews/00-05-19/scholarships.html |archive-date=2012-09-18 |access-date=2017-01-30 |newspaper=Psychiatric News}}

In 2006, he became the recipient of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine's William Webb Fellowship.{{Cite news |date=2006 |title=Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine - Newsletter |url=http://www.apm.org/newslett/06winter_APMnews.pdf |access-date=2017-01-31 |page=5}}{{Cite journal |last=Salodof MacNeil |first=Jane |year=2007 |title=Polymorphism And Depression in HCV patients |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Polymorphism+and+Depression+in+HCV+patients-a0158730730 |url-status=live |journal=Clinical Psychiatry News |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=22 |doi=10.1016/s0270-6644(07)70025-5 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170131100404/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Polymorphism+and+Depression+in+HCV+patients-a0158730730 |archive-date=2017-01-31 |access-date=2017-01-31|url-access=subscription }} As of 2007, he is a fellow of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine.{{Cite news |date=2007 |title=Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine |url=http://www.apm.org/newslett/07winter_APMnews.pdf |access-date=2017-01-31}}

He is also a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association.

He is a clinical professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-18 |title=Shrinking pool of psychiatrists means long wait for those in need |url=https://www.mcall.com/2017/03/18/shrinking-pool-of-psychiatrists-means-long-wait-for-those-in-need/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Morning Call |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Huang |first=Binghui |date=2020-04-20 |title=Coronavirus pandemic spurs anxiety, stress and fear, but access to counseling has been challenging |url=https://www.mcall.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-pandemic-spurs-anxiety-stress-and-fear-but-access-to-counseling-has-been-challenging/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Morning Call |language=en-US}}

Rifai was charged with four counts of Medicare fraud, including billing one patient in two different hospitals at the same time and billing deceased patients.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Rudy |date=2022-11-09 |title=Easton psychiatrist billed Medicare for treating dead patients in $1M fraud scheme, feds say |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2022/11/easton-psychiatrist-billed-medicare-for-treating-dead-patients-in-1m-fraud-scheme-feds-say.html |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=lehighvalleylive |language=en}} In February 2025 he sued the federal government over his illegal and unjust prosecution. He was found not guilty.

Rifai demonstrated the first evidence indicating a significant association between hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders (psychotic, affective, anxiety and substance use disorders). The United States Department of Veterans Affairs commissioned a larger study to replicate these findings and confirmed the significant association between hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders.{{Cite journal|last1=El–Serag|first1=Hashem B.|last2=Kunik|first2=Mark|last3=Richardson|first3=Peter|last4=Rabeneck|first4=Linda|year=2002|title=Psychiatric disorders among veterans with hepatitis C infection|journal=Gastroenterology|volume=123|issue=2|pages=476–482|doi=10.1053/gast.2002.34750|pmid=12145801|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal |last1=Rifai |first1=Muhamad Aly |last2=Sabouni |first2=Douha |last3=Moles |first3=James K. |last4=Hauser |first4=Peter |date=September 2006 |title=Psychiatric and Substance use Disorders Are Associated with Increased Mortality among US Veterans with Hepatitis C Infection: 371 |url=https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2006/09001/psychiatric_and_substance_use_disorders_are.371.aspx |journal=American Journal of Gastroenterology |language=en-US |volume=101 |pages=S167–S168 |doi=10.14309/00000434-200609001-00371 |issn=0002-9270|url-access=subscription }} Rifai advocates for screening patients with psychiatric disorders for hepatitis C.{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Moles|first2=James Kelly|last3=Lehman|first3=Lauren P.|last4=Linden|first4=Brian J. Van Der|year=2006|title=Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Substance Use/Dependence Disorders|journal=Psychosomatics|volume=47|issue=2|pages=112–121|doi=10.1176/appi.psy.47.2.112|pmid=16508022|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal |last=Rifai |first=Muhamad Aly |date=2006 |title=Hepatitis C treatment of patients with bipolar disorder: a case series |journal=Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=361–366 |doi=10.4088/pcc.v08n0607 |issn=1523-5998 |pmc=1764521 |pmid=17245458}}

In the mid 2000s, Rifai was involved in several studies on interferon-alpha (IFN-α) induced depression in hepatitis C patients and possible use of Paroxetine and other antidepressants for its treatment.{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Bozorg|first2=Bahman|last3=Rosenstein|first3=Donald L.|date=2004-12-01|title=Interferon for Hepatitis C Patients With Psychiatric Disorders|journal=American Journal of Psychiatry|volume=161|issue=12|pages=2331–2332|doi=10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2331|pmid=15569919|issn=0002-953X}}{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Moles|first2=James K.|last3=Short|first3=Delmar D.|date=2006-04-01|title=Hepatitis C Treatment Eligibility and Outcomes Among Patients With Psychiatric Illness|journal=Psychiatric Services|volume=57|issue=4|pages=570–572|doi=10.1176/ps.2006.57.4.570|pmid=16603757|issn=1075-2730}}{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Indest|first2=David|last3=Loftis|first3=Jennifer|last4=Hauser|first4=Peter|year=2006|title=Psychiatric management of the hepatitis C patient|journal=Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology|language=en|volume=9|issue=6|pages=508–519|doi=10.1007/s11938-006-0007-6|pmid=17081484|s2cid=45167175|issn=1092-8472}} He and his colleagues only recommend the use of IFN-α to eradicate hepatitis C along with "a comprehensive pretreatment assessment, a risk-benefit analysis, and intensive ongoing medical and psychiatric follow-up."{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Rosenstein|first2=Donald L.|date=2005-04-01|title=Hepatitis C and Psychiatry|url=http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/foc.3.2.194|journal=FOCUS|volume=3|issue=2|pages=194–202|doi=10.1176/foc.3.2.194|s2cid=74099130 |issn=1541-4094|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Rifai|first1=Muhamad Aly|last2=Gleason|first2=Ondria C.|last3=Sabouni|first3=Douha|date=2010-12-16|title=Psychiatric Care of the Patient With Hepatitis C|journal=The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry|language=en|volume=12|issue=6|pages=PCC.09r00877|doi=10.4088/pcc.09r00877whi|pmid=21494349|issn=2155-7780|pmc=3067984}}

Rifai has coauthored a study on the proper intervention of agitated patients with goal of deescalating situations without the use of restraints or involuntary medication.{{Cite journal|last1=Richmond|first1=Janet|last2=Berlin|first2=Jon|last3=Fishkind|first3=Avrim|last4=Holloman|first4=Garland|last5=Zeller|first5=Scott|last6=Wilson|first6=Michael|last7=Rifai|first7=Muhamad Aly|last8=Ng|first8=Anthony|date=2012-01-01|title=Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup|journal=Western Journal of Emergency Medicine|language=en|volume=13|issue=1|pages=17–25|doi=10.5811/westjem.2011.9.6864|issn=1936-9018|pmc=3298202|pmid=22461917}}{{Cite journal |last1=Richmond |first1=Janet S |last2=Berlin |first2=Jon S |last3=Fishkind |first3=Avrim B |last4=Holloman |first4=Garland H |last5=Zeller |first5=Scott L |last6=Wilson |first6=Michael P |last7=Rifai |first7=Muhamad Aly |last8=Ng |first8=Anthony T |date=February 2012 |title=Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup |journal=Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=17–25 |doi=10.5811/westjem.2011.9.6864 |issn=1936-900X |pmc=3298202 |pmid=22461917}} He sometimes serves as a consultant to media, clinical, and judicial entities on a variety of topics related to behavioral sciences.{{Cite web |title=New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Presents: New Frontiers in Integrated Health |url=https://www.newvitaewellness.com/news-events/new-vitae-wellness-and-recovery-presents-new-frontiers-in-integrated-health/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=New Vitae Wellness and Recovery |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Stover |first=Jamie |date=2020-01-03 |title=People experiencing mental health issues face hurdles in seeking help |url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/people-experiencing-mental-health-issues-face-hurdles-in-seeking-help/article_77d17432-2e73-11ea-899c-1f6c85fa3814.html |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=WFMZ.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-13 |title=Judge wants answers from accused baby killer's shrink |url=https://www.delcotimes.com/2016/07/13/judge-wants-answers-from-accused-baby-killers-shrink/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Delco Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-07-06 |title=Additional psychiatrist sought in death penalty trial of Ummad Rushdi |url=https://www.delcotimes.com/2015/07/06/additional-psychiatrist-sought-in-death-penalty-trial-of-ummad-rushdi/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Delco Times |language=en-US}} Speaking to The New York Times about diseases including hepatitis C, he posited that the shame associated with diagnosis was also a major negative factor in treatment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/health/psychology/in-a-judgmental-world-she-was-ashamed-of-getting-sick.html|title=In a Judgmental World, She Was Ashamed of Getting Sick|last=Cook|first=Gretchen|date=2005-04-12|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170131034118/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/health/psychology/in-a-judgmental-world-she-was-ashamed-of-getting-sick.html?_r=0|archive-date=2017-01-31|url-status=live|access-date=2017-01-31}}{{Cite web |title=Muhamad Aly Rifai |url=https://muhamadalyrifai.medium.com/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Medium |language=en}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://alyrifai.com/Home_Page.php Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD], official website
• [http://www.bluepsychiatry.org/ Blue Mountain Psychiatry]

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Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Syrian psychiatrists

Category:Syrian medical researchers

Category:American people of Syrian descent

Category:American medical researchers

Category:American medical academics

Category:University of Aleppo alumni

Category:University of Virginia School of Medicine alumni

Category:University of Tennessee Health Science Center alumni