Hwyda A. Arafat, MD, PhD, MSc, MEdL: Medicine

Hwyda A. Arafat, MD, PhD, MSc, MEdL

she/her

Professor

Department: Medicine

Research &
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Background
Media/Publications/
Presentations
Patient
Care

Education

MD – Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
MS – Pathology & Biochemistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
PhD – Cell Biology & Immunology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, N.J. and Ain Shams University
MSc/MEdL – University of New England, College of Graduate and Professional Studies

Awards & Honors

Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, 91��Ƭ�� (2023, 2025)
Young investigator Award: Rachmiel Levine Diabetes Symposium (2004)
Pilot Research Award: Thomas Jefferson University (2003-2004)
FASEB Travel Award: Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2001)

Memberships / Professional Affiliations

National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (question writer) (2017-present)
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) (2017-present)
Society of Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (2010-present)
Society of University Surgeons (2010-present)
American Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association (2008-present)
Pancreas Club (2007-present)
American Association of Cancer Research (2006-present)
American Diabetes Association (2002-present)

Residencies

Internal Medicine - Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

Fellowships

Clinical Pathology Fellowship - Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

Hwyda A. Arafat, MD, PhD, MSc, MEdL, completed her residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in clinical pathology at Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. She received a master’s degree in histopathology and biochemistry and her PhD in cell biology and immunology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Dr. Arafat completed her postdoctoral training, first at Temple University, then at the University of Pennsylvania. She was recruited to the faculty at the Thomas Jefferson’s Sydney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia and had a successful teaching and research careers in the areas of pancreatic cancer and diabetes mellitus. Dr. Arafat joined the faculty at the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine as a clinical professor, and obtained there a master's degree in medical education leadership. In addition to teaching pathophysiology and clinical skills, Dr. Arafat led the efforts to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion in the medical school curriculum through her role as the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

In 2023, Dr. Arafat joined 91��Ƭ�� as a professor in the Department of Medicine and the pathophysiology and clinical medicine thread director.

Research

Grants

University of Science QED Award (2012-2013)
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (2009-2012)
American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant Award (2009-2012)
American Diabetes Association Junior Faculty Award (2005-2009)

In the Media

“2025 Golden Apple Award Winners Impact Medical Students’ Success”
(April 2025)

2023 Golden Apple Award Winners Announced
(June 7, 2023)

Publications

Selected publications

“Angiotensin blockade therapy and survival in pancreatic cancer: a population study”
Keith SW, Maio V, Arafat HA, Alcusky M, Karagiannis T, Rabinowitz C, Lavu H, Louis DZ
BMC Cancer. 2022 Feb 7;22(1):150. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09200-4. PMID: 35130875; PMCID: PMC8819908

“Hypothyroidism in Pancreatic Cancer: Role of Exogenous Thyroid Hormone in Tumor Invasion-Preliminary Observations”
Sarosiek K, Gandhi AV, Saxena S, Kang CY, Chipitsyna GI, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
J Thyroid Res. 2016;2016:2454989. doi: 10.1155/2016/2454989. Epub 2016 Mar 31. PubMed PMID: 27123358; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4830736

“Hypothyroidism in Pancreatic Cancer: Role of Exogenous Thyroid Hormone in Tumor Invasion, Preliminary Observations”
Sarosiek K, Ankit V. Gandhi AV, Saxena S, Kang CY, Chipitsyna GI, Yeo C, Arafat HA
J. Thyroid Res, 2016, Article ID 2454989

“Angiotensin type 2 receptor: A novel modulator of inflammation in pancreatic ductal adenocarconima through Regulation of NFkB activity”
Gandhi A, Chipitsyna G, Relles D, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
J. Cancer Tum International, 2017. 5(1) 1-11

“Thymoquinone Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death and Reduction of Tumor Size through Combined Inhibition of Histone Deacetylation and Induction of Histone Acetylation”
Relles D, Chipitsyna GI, Gong Q, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
Adv Prev Med. 2016;2016:1407840. doi: 10.1155/2016/1407840. Epub 2016 Dec 26. PubMed PMID: 28105374; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5220391

“Conserved Metabolic Changes in Nondiabetic and Type 2 Diabetic Bariatric Surgery Patients: Global Metabolomic Pilot Study”
Sarosiek K, Pappan KL, Ankit V. Gandhi AV, Saxena S, Christopher Y. Kang CY, McMahon H, Chipitsyna GI, Tichansky DS, Arafat HA
J. Diabetes Res, 2016 (2016), Article ID 3467403

“Osteopotntin (OPN) isoforms in cancer diabetes and obesity, what’s one got to do with the other?”
Sarosiek K, Kang C, AlZoubi M, Chipitsyna G, Saxena S, Gandhi A, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
J Gastrointest Surg. 2015 Apr;19(4):639-50

“Heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism is associated with the development of necrotizing acute pancreatitis”
Gulla A, Evans BJ, Navenot JM, Pundzius J, Barauskas G, Gulbinas A, Dambrauskas Z, Arafat H, Wang ZX
Pancreas. 2014 Nov;43(8):1271-6

“Osteopontin Isoform OPNc: a Potential Marker of Metastasis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma”
Siddiqui A, Jones E, Lazar M+, Salem K, Chipitsyna G, Gong Q, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 Jun;29(6):1321-7

“Clinical Significance of Serum COL6A3 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma”
Kang CY, Wang J, Axell-House D, Soni P, Chu ML, Chipitsyna G, Sarosiek K, Sendecki J, Hyslop T, Al-Zoubi M, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA
J Gastrointest Surg. 2013 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24002763

Presentations

“The Power of the Particles: The Use of Nanotechnology in Medicine”
The 46^th Annual Meeting of the Egyptian Society of Clinical Histology and Cell Biology. Online. (December 2022)

“Environmental Impact on Health Disparities”
Climate and Justice Teach-In. University of New England (March 2022)

“The Role of Epicardial Fat Inflammation in Coronary Artery Disease”
Ain Shams University Annual Congress (March 2022)

“Pathologizing Race: Teaching race and racism to medical students”
UNE COM faculty development workshop (February 2022)

“Accelerating the Future Vision of Medicine: Justice”
Student National Medical Association. Keynote Address (January 2022)

“Personal responsibilities and duties in interprofessional healthcare teams”
National academies virtual conference. (October 2021)

“Exploring Power Differentials & the Hidden Curriculum in Interprofessional Education”
Nexus Summit (October 2021)

“Providing Healthcare for Muslim Patients”
Maine Osteopathic Association Midwinter Symposium (February 2021)

“Impact of Covid-19 on the Cardiovascular System”
44^th Annual meeting of the Egyptian Society of Clinical Histology and Cell Biology. (December 2020)

“Tumor microenvironment”
43^rd annual meeting of the Egyptian Society of Clinical Histology and Cell Biology. The National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt (December 2019)

“From Cell Culture to Cure: The use of pancreatic islets and beta cells for diabetes treatment”
41^st annual meeting and Research Symposium of for the Egyptian Society of Clinical Histology and Cell Biology. Cairo University, College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt (December 2017)

* This physician's clinical practice is independent of 91��Ƭ��.

Contact Information

West Reading Campus
50 Innovation Way
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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