Salim Abunnaja , MD

MBChB University of Benghazi Faculty of Medicine  1996-2003

 

Rotating Internship Affiliated Hospitals University of Benghazi Faculty of Medicine  2003-2004                    

General Surgery Residency Al-Jalla Teaching Hospital, Benghazi, Libya  2004-2007

Surgical Internship (preliminary) Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO  2009-2010                                     

General Surgery Residency Saint Mary’s Hospital Yale University Affiliate  2010-2016                               

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship University of Connecticut Health Center  2012-2013                            

Postgrad. Certificate Clinical Nutrition (online degree) University of Roehampton London  2012-2013       

Advanced GI, MIS and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship CSF Fresno  2016-2017                                                         

 

American Board of Obesity Medicine 2018

American Board of Surgical Assistance  2008                      

American Board of Surgery  2016                                                

 

1- Salim Abunnaja, MD, Pearl Ma, MD, Kelvin Higa, MD. Laparoscopic revision of a transected silastic vertical gastric bypass (Fobi pouch) with totally hand sewn gastrojejunostomy for complicated marginal ulcer. SORD- Published: January 21,2020. PMID: 32107169 

2- Ian McCulloch; Jad Abdelsattar, MBBS; Salim Abunnaja, MD. Emergency Laparoscopic Partial Resection of The Excluded Stomach and Gastric Pouch in a Gastric Bypass Patient with Acute Gastrogastric Fistula Bleeding. - SOARD-Published: December 4, 2019. PMID: 31932206 

3- Afridi FG, Johnson M, Musgrove KA, Abunnaja S, Tabone LE, Borgstrom DC, Szoka N. Laparoscopic Removal of Angelchik Prosthesis Followed by Interval Sleeve Gastrectomy. Case Rep Surg. 2019 May 21;2019 :2479267. doi: 10.1155/2019/2479267. eCollection 2019.  

4- Abdelqader A, Poushanchi B, Vallabh H, Abunnaja S, Nasr J. Endoscopic closure of gastrocolic fistula using clips and detachable ligatures. VideoGIE. 2018 Sep 26;3(10):311-312.PMID: 30276352 

5- McCusker S, Trangucci J, Frederick W, Richi AA, Abunnaja S. Primary Myeloid Sarcoma of the Small Intestine: Case Report and Literature Review. Conn Med. 2016 Jun-Jul;80(6):349-52. 
 

6- Abunnaja S, Clyde M, Cuviello A, Brenes RA, Tripodi G. Concomitant deep venous thrombosis, femoral artery thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism after air travel. Case Rep Vasc Med. 2014;2014:174147. 
 

7- Abunnaja S, Chysna K, Shaikh I, Tripodi G. Acquired abdominal intercostal hernia: a case report and literature review. Case Rep Surg. 2014;2014:456053. 
 

8-  Chysna KR, Joshi M, Saad I, Abunnaja S. The marriage of robotics and medicine: The current role and critical review of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy. OA Robotic Surgery 2013 Jun 01;1(1):7. 
 

9- Abunnaja S, Cuviello A, Dhamija A, Nguyen B, Richi A, Macaron S. Do routine postoperative upper gastrointestinal studies following laparoscopic gastric bypass affect clinical outcomes? Conn Med. 2013;77(7):395-8. 
 

10- Abunnaja S, Cuviello A, Albini MS, Mirmehdi I, Shah J, Sanchez JA. Robotic surgery in gynecology: program initiation and early outcomes at a community hospital. Conn Med. 2013;77(4):223-5. 
 

11- Abunnaja S, Cuviello A, Sanchez JA. Enteral and parenteral nutrition in the perioperative period: state of the art. Nutrients. 2013;5(2):608-23. 
 

12- Abunnaja S, Panait L, Palesty JA, Macaron S. Laparoscopic splenectomy for traumatic splenic injury after screening colonoscopy. Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2012;6(3):624-8. 
 

13- Abunnaja S, Saad I, Bendardaf A, Burjo M. Utility of closed pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. The Libyan Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2007 Jul; 1(2): 116 - 119. 
 

14- Elahboni S, Elhasi S, Abunnaja S. Gallstone Ileus. (A case report). The Internet Journal of Surgery 2007; 12(1) 
 

Abstracts Presented 

1- Abunnaja S, Richi A, Eghbalieh S, Dhamija A, Panait L, Ajemian M. Laparoscopic Omentopexy for Mal-functioning Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters – A Novel Technique. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 2010 and SAGES Annual Meeting 2011 

2- Panait L, Abunnaja S, Tripodi G, Macaron S, Ajemian M. Early Results of Ventral Hernia Repair with Endoscopic Component Separation. Brazilian Hernia Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2010, Southwestern Surgical Congress 2011 and New England Surgical society 2011. 

3- Abunnaja S, Cuviello A, Albini MS, Mirmehdi I, Shah J, Sanchez JA. Robotic surgery in gynecology: program initiation and early outcomes at a community hospital. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 2011 and SAGES Annul meeting2012 

4- Abunnaja S, Shetty S, Palesty JA. Assessment of Manual Skills Proficiency of Medical Students Considering Surgical Training. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons2012 and SAGES Annual Meeting 2013 

5- Abunnaja S, Selvaraju V, Thirunavukkarasu M, Mcfadden D, Sanchez J, Palesty JA, Nilanjana M. Overexpression of Glutaredoxin-1 Stimulates Revascularization and Improves perfusion in a Murine Hind Limb Ischemia Model. Annual Meeting of the New England Surgical Society 2013 and the Annual Meeting of the American College of Surgeons 2013  

6- Abunnaja S, Selvaraju V, Thirunavukkarasu M, Sanchez J, Palesty JA, Nilanjana M. Deletion of FLK-1 and MAPkinase-2 Impairs Neovascularization and Perfusion in a Murine Hind Limb Ischemia Model: Kinase Gene Knockout study. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 2013 and the Annual Meeting of the American College of Surgeons 2014 

7- Jones J, Abunnaja S, Cuviello A, Eghbalieh S, Gersten G, Palesty JA. An Endovascular Approach to a Celiac Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 2014  

8- Abunnaja S, White CK, Shetty S, Palesty JA. Recognition of Prior Learning: A promising Tool in the Selection of Surgical Trainees; A Laparoscopic Simulation Study. SAGES 2015 Annual Meeting 2015 

9- McCusker S, Trangucci J, Abunnaja S, Frederick W, Richi A. Primary Myeloid Sarcoma of the Small Intestine: Case Report and Literature Review. Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 2015 

10- Ma P, Lloyd A, Abunnaja S, Swartz D, Boone K, Demaria E, Higa K. Definitive treatment for chronic marginal ulcers after gastric bypass. 34th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2017 

11- Abunnaja S, Ma P, Swartz D, Boone K, Higa K. Laparoscopic Revision of a Transected Silastic Vertical Gastric Bypass (Fobi Pouch) with Near-Esophagojejunostomy for Complicated Marginal Ulcer. 34th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2017 

12- Ma P, Abunnaja S, Swartz D, Boone K, Demaria E, Higa K. Salvage and revision of vertical sleeve gastrectomy for complications. 34th Annual ASMBS Meeting ObesityWeek 2017 

13- Ma P, Abunnaja S, Swartz D, Boone K, Demaria E, Higa K. Nissen fundoplication over nondivided roux-en-y gastric bypass for intractable reflux. 34th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2017 

14 - Ma P, Abunnaja S, Akusoba I, Suchleib A, Swartz D, Boone K, Higa K. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy with Concurrent Splenectomy. 34th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2017 

15- Jad M. Abdelsattar, Salim Abunnaja, David Kelly, Lawrence E. Tabone, David C. Borgstrom and Nova Szoka. Challenging Revisions after RYGB: Panel Case Discussion: Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Using Gastric Remnant for Intractable Reflux after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Virginia Bariatric Society State Chapter Meeting 2018. 

16- Jad M. Abdelsattar, Rachel Allio, Michelle Garcia, Lauren Shull, Salim Abunnaja, Nova Szoka, Lawrence Tabone. QI Initiatives Presentations: Does Preoperative Education Time Influence Patient Satisfaction, Confidence in Self Care, Short and Long-Term Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery? 
Virginia Bariatric Society State Chapter Meeting 2018 

17- David Kelly, Salim Abunnaja, Lawrence E. Tabone, David Borgstrom, Nova Szoka. Optimizing Sleeve Gastrectomy Technique Using Near Infrared Camera and Lighted Bougie.  SAGES 2018 Annual Meeting 

17- Lawrence E Tabone, Nova Szoka, Salim Abunnaja, William Hsueh, Kelly David, David Borgstrom, John Nasr. Endoscopic Guided Gastrojejunostomy Formation (EGG). SAGES 2018 Annual Meeting 

18- Salim Abuunaja, Lawrence E Tabone, Nova Szoka, John Nasr. Management and Sequel of Stent Dislodgment in Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-Directed Transgastric Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. A case video presentation. 2018 IFSO Dubai UAE.  

19- Jad Abdelsattar, MD; David Kelly, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Lawrence E. Tabone MD; Nova Szoka, MD. Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Using Gastric Remnant for Intractable Bile Reflux After Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass. 23th IFSO WORLD CONGRESS 2018 Dubai UAE.  

20- Jad Abdelsattar, MD; David Kelly, MD; Lawrence E. Tabone MD; Nova Szoka, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD. Emergency Laparoscopic Remnant Gastrectomy with a Pouch Gastroplasty in a Gastric bypass Patient with Acute Gastrogastric Fistula Bleeding. SAGES 2019 Annual meeting.  

21- David Kelly, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Lawrence E. Tabone MD; John Nasr, MD; Nova Szoka, MD. Endoscopic Septotomy & Dilation of Chronic Sleeve Gastrectomy Leak. SAGES 2019 Annual meeting. 

22- Sarah Assali, DO; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Nezar Jrebi, MD; Lawrence E. Tabone MD; Paolo Fontes, MD; Nova Szoka, MD. Use of Near-Infrared Imaging and Lighted Bougie to Improve Sleeve gastrectomy Technique. SAGES 2019 Annual meeting. 

23- Alexander Leung MD; Lawrence E. Tabone MD; Nova Szoka, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD. Perforated Posterior Marginal Ulcer in a Retrocolic Retrogastric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Challenge to Find and a Challenge to Repair. 24th IFSO WORLD CONGRESS 2019. Madrid, Spain.  

24- David Kelly, MD; John Mourany, MD; Abdulrahman Al Halak, MS; Lawrence E Tabone, MD; Nova Szoka, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD. Laparoscopic Revision Of Biliopancreatic Diversion With Duodenal Switch For Severe Malnutrition And Recurrent And Recurrent Urinary Stones. 36th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2019 

25- Lawrence E Tabone, MD; Rachel Allio, MS RD LD; Michelle Garcia, RD LD; Lauren Shull, MS RD LD; Gina Kontur, RD LD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Nova Szoka, MD; David Borgstrom, MD. A170 Prolonged Dietary Insurance Requirements Reduce Post-Operative Weight Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy. 36th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2019 

26- Eva Panigrahi, PhD; Ian Kudel, PhD; Stephanie Cox, PhD; Lawrence E Tabone, MD; Nova Szoka, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Cassie Brode, Is Initial Psychological Clearance Status Related to Weight Loss Outcomes In Patients Seeking Bariatric Surgery? 36th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2019 

27- Lawrence E Tabone, MD; Nova Szoka, MD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Michael DeRosa, B.S; David Borgstrom, MD; Kimberly Bailey, MD;The Use Of A Pedometer To Objectively Measure Ambulation On Postoperative Day One After Bariatric Surgery.36th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2019.  

28- Lawrence E Tabone, MD; Rachel Allio, MS RD LD; Michelle Garcia, RD LD; Lauren Shull, MS RD LD; Gina Kontur, RD LD; Salim Abunnaja, MD; Nova Szoka. Bariatric Surgery Preoperative Nutrition Education Recall Test Associated with Greater Postoperative Knowledge Of Vitamin Requirements And Increased 3-Month Postoperative Weight Loss. 36th Annual ASMBS Meeting Obesity Week 2019. 

 

Salim Abunnaja, Juan A. Sanchez. Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease. Cardiovascular Diseases: Nutritional and Therapeutic Interventions by Nilanjana Maulik. CRC press – April 201