Muhamad Aly Rifai

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Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai
M.D.
الدكتور محمد علي الرفاعي
Dr. Rifai in a suit in front of a U.S. flag background
Photo of Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai
BornMay 1973 (age 52)
Aleppo, Syria
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Physician, CEO, professor
Known forResearch on hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders
Academic work
DisciplinePsychiatry
Sub-disciplinePsychosomatic medicine


Muhamad Aly Rifai (Arabic الدكتور محمد علي الرفاعي) is a Syrian American physician specializing in psychiatry and internal medicine.[1] He is recognized for his research on the correlation between psychiatric disorders and hepatitis C.[2][1][3][4][5][6] As the President and CEO of Blue Mountain Psychiatry in Pennsylvania.[7][8][9] Rifai has contributed to the understanding of psychosomatic medicine.[9]

Training and career

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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).[10]

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).[11]

Professional recognition

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In May 2000, Rifai was awarded the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education's Janssen Scholars Fellowship for research on severe mental illness.[12]

In 2006, he became the recipient of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine's William Webb Fellowship.[13][14] As of 2007, he is a fellow of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine.[15]

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.[16][17]

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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.[18][19] He was found not guilty in May 2024[20][21]. In February 2025 he sued the federal government over his illegal and unjust prosecution.[20]

Medical research

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Rifai demonstrated the first evidence indicating a significant association between hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders (psychotic, affective, anxiety and substance use disorders).[2] 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.[4][5] Rifai advocates for screening patients with psychiatric disorders for hepatitis C.[22][6]

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.[14][23][24][25] 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."[26][27]

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.[28][29] He sometimes serves as a consultant to media, clinical, and judicial entities on a variety of topics related to behavioral sciences.[7][30][31][32][33] 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.[34][35]

References

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  1. ^ a b Huang, Binghui (18 May 2018). "Newsmaker: Muhamad Aly Rifai, doctor and researcher". The Morning Call. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b MacReady, Norra (1 January 2003). "Psychiatric disorders more likely in HCV patients. (Substance Abuse in 88%)". Clinical Psychiatry News. International Medical News Group. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  3. ^ Yovtcheva, Sonia P.; Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Moles, James K.; Linden, Brian J. Van Der (2001). "Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Hepatitis C-Positive Patients". Psychosomatics. 42 (5): 411–415. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.42.5.411. PMID 11739908.
  4. ^ a b El–Serag, Hashem B.; Kunik, Mark; Richardson, Peter; Rabeneck, Linda (2002). "Psychiatric disorders among veterans with hepatitis C infection". Gastroenterology. 123 (2): 476–482. doi:10.1053/gast.2002.34750. PMID 12145801.
  5. ^ a b Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Sabouni, Douha; Moles, James K.; Hauser, Peter (September 2006). "Psychiatric and Substance use Disorders Are Associated with Increased Mortality among US Veterans with Hepatitis C Infection: 371". American Journal of Gastroenterology. 101: S167 – S168. doi:10.14309/00000434-200609001-00371. ISSN 0002-9270.
  6. ^ a b Rifai, Muhamad Aly (2006). "Hepatitis C treatment of patients with bipolar disorder: a case series". Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 8 (6): 361–366. doi:10.4088/pcc.v08n0607. ISSN 1523-5998. PMC 1764521. PMID 17245458.
  7. ^ a b Parker, Chris (4 August 2012). "Bullies in the workplace – Intimidation doesn't end with high school graduation". www.tnonline.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  8. ^ Aly Rifai, Muhamad. "About". Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b Miller, Rudy (9 January 2016). "Psychiatrist plans to move into vacant Easton medical office". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ Huang, Binghui (18 May 2018). "Newsmaker: Muhamad Aly Rifai, doctor and researcher". The Morning Call. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  11. ^ Bender, Eve (4 March 2005). "Minority Med Students Get Insider's View of Psychiatry". Psychiatric News. 40 (5): 12–41. doi:10.1176/pn.40.5.00400012.
  12. ^ Regier, Darrel A. (19 May 2000). "Fifteen psychiatry residents have been selected to participate in a prestigious research fellowship". Psychiatric News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  13. ^ "Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine – Newsletter" (PDF). 2006. p. 5. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  14. ^ a b Salodof MacNeil, Jane (2007). "Polymorphism And Depression in HCV patients". Clinical Psychiatry News. 35 (1): 22. doi:10.1016/s0270-6644(07)70025-5. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine" (PDF). 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Shrinking pool of psychiatrists means long wait for those in need". The Morning Call. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  17. ^ Huang, Binghui (20 April 2020). "Coronavirus pandemic spurs anxiety, stress and fear, but access to counseling has been challenging". The Morning Call. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  18. ^ Miller, Rudy (9 May 2024). "Jury clears Easton psychiatrist of $1M health care fraud allegation". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  19. ^ Miller, Rudy (9 November 2022). "Easton psychiatrist billed Medicare for treating dead patients in $1M fraud scheme, feds say". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  20. ^ a b Shtika, Mario (13 May 2024). "Update: Psychiatrist Found Not Guilty of Health Care Fraud". Senior Medicare Patrol. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Psychiatrist Cleared by Federal Jury Sues U.S. Government over Unjust Prosecution". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  22. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Moles, James Kelly; Lehman, Lauren P.; Linden, Brian J. Van Der (2006). "Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Substance Use/Dependence Disorders". Psychosomatics. 47 (2): 112–121. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.47.2.112. PMID 16508022.
  23. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Bozorg, Bahman; Rosenstein, Donald L. (1 December 2004). "Interferon for Hepatitis C Patients With Psychiatric Disorders". American Journal of Psychiatry. 161 (12): 2331–2332. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2331. ISSN 0002-953X. PMID 15569919.
  24. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Moles, James K.; Short, Delmar D. (1 April 2006). "Hepatitis C Treatment Eligibility and Outcomes Among Patients With Psychiatric Illness". Psychiatric Services. 57 (4): 570–572. doi:10.1176/ps.2006.57.4.570. ISSN 1075-2730. PMID 16603757.
  25. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Indest, David; Loftis, Jennifer; Hauser, Peter (2006). "Psychiatric management of the hepatitis C patient". Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology. 9 (6): 508–519. doi:10.1007/s11938-006-0007-6. ISSN 1092-8472. PMID 17081484. S2CID 45167175.
  26. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Rosenstein, Donald L. (1 April 2005). "Hepatitis C and Psychiatry". FOCUS. 3 (2): 194–202. doi:10.1176/foc.3.2.194. ISSN 1541-4094. S2CID 74099130.
  27. ^ Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Gleason, Ondria C.; Sabouni, Douha (16 December 2010). "Psychiatric Care of the Patient With Hepatitis C". The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 12 (6): PCC.09r00877. doi:10.4088/pcc.09r00877whi. ISSN 2155-7780. PMC 3067984. PMID 21494349.
  28. ^ Richmond, Janet; Berlin, Jon; Fishkind, Avrim; Holloman, Garland; Zeller, Scott; Wilson, Michael; Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Ng, Anthony (1 January 2012). "Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup". Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 13 (1): 17–25. doi:10.5811/westjem.2011.9.6864. ISSN 1936-9018. PMC 3298202. PMID 22461917.
  29. ^ Richmond, Janet S; Berlin, Jon S; Fishkind, Avrim B; Holloman, Garland H; Zeller, Scott L; Wilson, Michael P; Rifai, Muhamad Aly; Ng, Anthony T (February 2012). "Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup". Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 13 (1): 17–25. doi:10.5811/westjem.2011.9.6864. ISSN 1936-900X. PMC 3298202. PMID 22461917.
  30. ^ "New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Presents: New Frontiers in Integrated Health". New Vitae Wellness and Recovery. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  31. ^ Stover, Jamie (3 January 2020). "People experiencing mental health issues face hurdles in seeking help". WFMZ.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Judge wants answers from accused baby killer's shrink". Delco Times. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Additional psychiatrist sought in death penalty trial of Ummad Rushdi". Delco Times. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  34. ^ Cook, Gretchen (12 April 2005). "In a Judgmental World, She Was Ashamed of Getting Sick". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  35. ^ "Muhamad Aly Rifai". Medium. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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