Dr. Andrew Abi-Chaker was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) after which he moved to Miami, Florida for his medical training. He attended the highly acclaimed University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and did his General Surgery and Vascular Surgery training at the prestigious and highly competitive University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital (the second largest hospital in the United States).

Dr. Abi-Chaker received advanced training in Vascular Trauma, during his tenure at the world-renowned Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, Florida. His training includes the most advanced techniques for performing open surgical revascularization, minimally invasive endovascular procedures, and hybrid surgeries utilizing a mix of both open and endovascular techniques. Dr Abi-Chaker is proficient in all aspects of vascular surgery including carotid surgery, aortic surgery, thoracic outlet, dialysis access, peripheral vascular surgeries, endovascular procedures, limb salvage, and venous disorders.

Education

• Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, Florida
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
  Doctor of Medicine
• University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
  Master of Science – Biostatistics
• University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
  Bachelor of Science – Mathematics & Economics

Residency & Fellowships

• University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
  Vascular Surgery Resident
• University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
  General Surgery Resident

Publications & Research

Textbook Chapters

• Sanchez PG, Abi-Chaker A, Almeida J. Atlas of Endovascular Venous Surgery, 2nd Ed. Chapter 4: Intravenous Ultrasound and Venography. Elsevier. 2017.
• Sanchez PG, Abi-Chaker A, Almeida J. Atlas of Endovascular Venous Surgery, 2nd Ed. Chapter 18: Iliocaval and Femoral Venous Occlusive Disease. Elsevier. 2017.
• Abi-Chaker A, Sanchez PG, Almeida J. Editor: Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar. Current Management of Venous Diseases. Chapter 16: Strategies to Treat Venous Reflux Disease. Springer. 2016.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

• Kenel-Pierre S, Ramos Duran E, Abi-Chaker A, Melendez F, Alghamdi H, Bornak A, Lopez AJ, Rey J. The role of heparin in endovascular repair of blunt thoracic aortic injury. J Vasc Surg. 2019 Dec; 70(6):1809-1815.
• Yang E, Tabbara M, Sanchez PG, Abichaker A, Patel J, Bornak A, Jones KM, Rey J. Ultrasound0guided thrombin injection of short neck pseudoaneurysms. Ann Vasc Surg. 2018 Feb; 47:121-127.
• Abi-Chaker A, Jones KM, Sanchez-Aguirre PG, Sasson J, Li X, Rey J. Successful Revascularization of Aortic Arch in a 39 Year Old Blunt Trauma Patient with Acute Intraparenchymal Hemmorhage and Diffuse Axonal Injury Without the use of Systemic Anticoagulation. Ann Vasc Surg. 2017 Oct; 44:418.e1-418.e5.
• Rick FG, Abi-Chaker A, Schally AV, Block NL, Krishan A, Szalontay L. Mechanisms of synergism between antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone and antagonists of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in shrinking experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia.. Prostate. 2013 Jun; 73(8): 873-883.
• Szepeshazi K, Schally AV, Block NL, Halmos G, Nadji M, Szalontay L, Vidaurre I, Abi-Chaker A, Rick FG. Powerful Inhibition of Experimental Human Pancreatic Cancers by Receptor Targeted Cytotoxic LHRH analog AEZS-108. Oncotarget. 2013 May; 4(5): 751-760.
• Rick FG, Abi-Chaker A, Szalontay L, Block NL, Halmos G, Schally AV. Experimental therapy of PC-3 and DU-145 human androgen-independent prostate cancers with targeted cytotoxic analog of somatostatin an-162. (Abstract). Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2013 Feb; 31(Supplement 6): 236.
• Rick FG, Abi-Chaker A, Szalontay L, Perez R, Halmos G, Block NL, Schally AV. Gastrin-releasing Peptide Antagonist When Combined with Luteinizing-hormone-releasing Hormone Antagonists Enhances Shrinkage of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats (Abstract). Urology. 2013 Sep; 82(3): S80.
• Rick FG, Abi-Chaker A, Szalontay L, Perez R, Jaszbereny M, Jayakumar AR, Shamaladevi N, Szepeshazi K, Vidaurre I, Halmos G, Krishan A, Block NL, Schally AV.. Shrinkage of experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia and reduction of prostatic cell volume by a gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2013 Feb; 110(7): 2617-2622.
• Rick FG, Szalontay L, Abi-Chaker A, Block NL, Halmos G, Schally AV. Effect of novel growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists on growth of experimental renal cell carcinomas. (Abstract). Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2013 Feb; 31(Supplement 6): 469.

Abstracts/Oral Presentations

• Abi-Chaker A, Jones KM, Sanchez-Aguirre PG, Sasson J, Li X, Rey J. Successful Revascularization of Aortic Arch in a 39 Year Old Blunt Trauma Patient with Acute Intraparenchymal Hemmorhage and Diffuse Axonal Injury Without the use of Systemic Anticoagulation. Presented at Florida Man Trauma Conference March 2020. 1st place award for best presentation.
• Abi-Chaker A, Tabbara MR, Sanchez P, Rey J. (2016) Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Peripheral Inserted Central Catheter Access. Oral Presentation presented at South Florida Vascular Surgery (SFVS), Naples, FL.
• Rick FG, Abi-Chaker A, Szalontay L, Perez R, Halmos G, Block NL, Schally AV. (2013). Gastrin-releasing Peptide Antagonist When Combined with Luteinizing-hormone-releasing Hormone Antagonists Enhances Shrinkage of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats. Oral Presentation presented at: Societe Internationale D’Urologie; Vancouver, Canada.
• Bowles RJ, Abi-Chaker A, Iglesias A, Spector S. (2012). 10 Year Review of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomies at the Miami VA. Oral Presentation presented at: Association of VA Surgeons; Miami, FL.

Languages

• English
• Arabic
• Spanish