Contact
Omar S. Aljitawi, M.B.B.S.
View Contact & SchedulingLocations
Strong Memorial Hospital
90 Crittenden Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14642
About Me
I believe that knowledge is power; I want my patients to be informed when they make decisions that involve their care and their lives. I achieve that by discussing the patient's case with the patient's referring oncologist and by consulting with my colleagues at Wilmot Cancer Center or at other institutions.
I am a firm believer that physician-patient trust is important to deliver effective and complete medical care. This trust develops based on the patient's own experience dealing with their medical team. My goal is to work closely with our medical team to help our patients deal with their illnesses.
My goal in choosing a career in treating cancer patients is to "make a difference" in their lives. I do that not only by doing my best to take care of my patients, but also by researching new ways to help our patients. Our current treatments are not optimal and certainly can be improved to help our patients have better outcomes, which is my ultimate goal in my research career.
Faculty Appointments
Professor - Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology (SMD)
Credentials
Residency & Fellowship
Fellowship, Blood & Marrow Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center. 2007 - 2008
Fellowship, Hematology & Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center-Kansas City. 2004 - 2007
Residency, Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine. 2002 - 2004
Internship, Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine. 2001 - 2002
Internship, Internal Medicine, Bashir Hospital (Jordan). 1999 - 2000
Education
MBBS | University of Jordan (Jordan). 1999
Awards
Faculty Travel Award to present Abstract Poster. 2014
Faculty Travel Award to Present Abstract. 2011
2010 Best Abstract Award. 2010
Karl & Irene Eisemann Fellowship Award for best Hematology Paper. 2006
Caduceus Award Nominee. 2004
First Place Award, residents/fellows division, 18th Annual Student Research Forum, James H. Quillen College of Medicine. 2002
Research
1.Studying umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ cell interaction with erythropoietin (EPO) as a soluble factor in UCB CD34+ microenvironment. Dr. Aljitawi has been investigating EPO signaling through EPO receptor (EPOR) effects on UCB CD34+ cell homing and engraftment. Dr. Aljitawi and his research team discovered that exposure to erythropoietin impairs UCB CD34+ cell homing to the bone marrow. To translate this finding to patient care, Dr. Aljitawi and his research team investigated the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) as a modality to lower systemic EPO with the aim of improving UCB CD34+ cell homing and engraftment. This work in its entirety was recently published in Blood.
2. Developing in vitro 3D leukemia and myeloma models for chemotherapy drug testing: Dr. Aljitawi's lab has developed a 3D stromal-based co-culture model to grow leukemia and myeloma cells with stromal cells and used it to test the sensitivity of these cancer cells to chemotherapy. More recently, his lab has focused on studying decellularized Wharton's jelly matrix to create an extracellular matrix-based model to test leukemia cell responses to chemotherapy.
3. Studying the interactions between Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells and Wharton's jelly decellularized matrix for tissue regenerative medicine applications. Dr. Aljitawi's has been studying decellularized Wharton's jelly matrix as a scaffolding material for tissue regenerative applications, including wound and bone healing.
Research Lab
The Hematology and Transplantation Lab
Clinical Trials
Lead Researcher: Omar S Aljitawi
This study is an access and distribution protocol for unlicensed cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) in pediatric and adult patients with hematologic malignancies and other indications.
Lead Researcher: Omar S Aljitawi
Subjects with multiple myeloma (MM) who are considered eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation by the transplant team at WCI will be enrolled in the study.
Lead Researcher: Omar S Aljitawi
The UCB transplant is a type of stem cell transplant used to treat cancer of the blood or lymph glands. The UCB transplant has advantages over other types of transplants such as ease of obtaining the umbilical cord blood, absence of donor risks, redu...
Lead Researcher: Omar S Aljitawi
This study is a single-center, treatment protocol with 4 possible preparative regimens, designed to validate the process of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation at our institution.
Publications
Journal Articles
Bawany F, Tbakhi B, Mendler JH, Richardson CT, Bennett JM, Aljitawi OS
Blood advances.. 2020 November 244 (22):5698-5701. Epub 1900 01 01.
Liesveld JL, Sharma N, Aljitawi OS
Stem cells.. 2020 October 138 (10):1241-1253. Epub 07/21/2020.
Tbakhi B, Furqan F, Scott G, Liesveld JL, Aljitawi OS
EJHaem.. 2020 July 1 (1):330-333. Epub 08/07/2020.
Elad S, Aljitawi O, Zadik Y
International dental journal.. 2020 June 28 Epub 06/28/2020.
Mina A, Aljitawi OS
Journal of comparative effectiveness research.. 2020 February 9 (3):149-153. Epub 01/29/2020.
Milito C, Masel D, Henrichs K, Schmidt AE, Kirkley S, Aljitawi O, Becker M, Blumberg N, Refaai MA
Laboratory medicine.. 2019 October 1050 (4):396-400. Epub 1900 01 01.
Lipe B, Divine C, Abhyankar S, Singh AK, Ganguly S, Lin TL, Baran A, Cantilena AR, Bhatti S, Shune L, Abdelhakim H, McGuirk J, Allin D, Aljitawi OS
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.. 2019 September 25 (9):1713-1719. Epub 06/03/2019.
Aljitawi OS, Chiu YG
Annals of translational medicine.. 2019 July 7 (Suppl 3):S116. Epub 1900 01 01.
Li D, Chiu G, Lipe B, Hopkins RA, Lillis J, Ashton JM, Paul S, Aljitawi OS
Blood advances.. 2019 April 93 (7):1011-1026. Epub 1900 01 01.
Mina A, Shune L, Abdelhakim H, Lin TL, Ganguly S, Baran A, Singh A, Abhyankar S, McGuirk JP, Allin D, Aljitawi OS
Annals of hematology.. 2019 February 98 (2):481-489. Epub 10/31/2018.
Li D, Lin TL, Lipe B, Hopkins RA, Shinogle H, Aljitawi OS
Leukemia research.. 2018 September 72 :105-112. Epub 08/16/2018.
Cheung KY, Berry A, Li D, Aljitawi OS
Cytotherapy.. 2018 January 20 (1):87-94. Epub 10/14/2017.
Converse GL, Li D, Buse EE, Hopkins RA, Aljitawi OS
Methods in molecular biology.. 2018 1577 :25-33. Epub 1900 01 01.
Lipe B, Kambhampati S, Veldhuizen PV, Yacoub A, Aljitawi O, Mikhael J
Blood cancer journal.. 2017 December 147 (12):646. Epub 12/14/2017.
Aljitawi OS, Laughlin M, Broxmeyer H
Expert review of hematology.. 2017 August 10 (8):675-677. Epub 07/12/2017.
Erythropoietin in umbilical cord blood transplantation: Defining the role and implications
Aljitawi, O.
Expert Review of Hematology. 2017; .
Jadalannagari S, Converse G, McFall C, Buse E, Filla M, Villar MT, Artigues A, Mellot AJ, Wang J, Detamore MS, Hopkins RA, Aljitawi OS
PloS one.. 2017 12 (2):e0172098. Epub 02/21/2017.
Aljitawi OS, Paul S, Ganguly A, Lin TL, Ganguly S, Vielhauer G, Capitano ML, Cantilena A, Lipe B, Mahnken JD, Wise A, Berry A, Singh AK, Shune L, Lominska C, Abhyankar S, Allin D, Laughlin M, McGuirk JP, Broxmeyer HE
Blood.. 2016 December 22128 (25):3000-3010. Epub 10/19/2016.
Abhyankar S, Lubanski P, DeJarnette S, Merkel D, Bunch J, Daniels K, Aljitawi O, Lin T, Ganguly S, McGuirk J
Journal of clinical apheresis.. 2016 December 31 (6):559-563. Epub 03/04/2016.
Kirschbaum MH, Frankel P, Synold TW, Xie Z, Yen Y, Popplewell L, Chen R, Aljitawi O, Tuscano JM, Chan KK, Newman EM
Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2016 October 57 (10):2307-14. Epub 02/19/2016.
Jadalannagari S, Berry AM, Hopkins RA, Bhavsar D, Aljitawi OS
Biochemical and biophysical research communications.. 2016 September 16478 (2):831-7. Epub 08/05/2016.
Rinehart M, Hochard E, Rockey M, Abhyankar S, Ganguly S, Lin T, McGuirk J, Shune L, Singh A, Aljitawi O
Hematology/oncology and stem cell therapy.. 2016 September 9 (3):105-11. Epub 03/17/2016.
Singh AK, Porrata LF, Aljitawi O, Lin T, Shune L, Ganguly S, McGuirk JP, Abhyankar S
Bone marrow transplantation.. 2016 September 51 (9):1268-70. Epub 04/25/2016.
Brownback KR, Simpson SQ, Pitts LR, Polineni D, McGuirk JP, Ganguly S, Aljitawi OS, Lin TL, Singh A, Abhyankar S
Journal of clinical apheresis.. 2016 August 31 (4):347-52. Epub 05/29/2015.
Iliff A, Divine C, Diaz F, Aljitawi O, Abhayankar S, McGuirk J, Ganguly S
Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2016 May 57 (5):1189-90. Epub 10/12/2015.
Aljitawi OS, Hari P
International journal of hematologic oncology.. 2016 May 5 (1):5-10. Epub 05/31/2016.
Luu Tran H, Mahmoudjafari Z, Rockey M, Henry D, Grauer D, Aljitawi O, Abhyankar S, Ganguly S, Lin T, McGuirk J
Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners.. 2016 April 22 (2):228-34. Epub 12/03/2014.
Pokhrel SD, Persons DL, Aljitawi OS
Case reports in hematology.. 2016 2016 :8628507. Epub 02/02/2016.
Hari P, Aljitawi OS, Arce-Lara C, Nath R, Callander N, Bhat G, Allen LF, Stockerl-Goldstein K
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.. 2015 December 21 (12):2100-2105. Epub 08/29/2015.
Bray WM, Bivona C, Rockey M, Henry D, Grauer D, Abhyankar S, Aljitawi O, Ganguly S, McGuirk J, Singh A, Lin TL
Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology.. 2015 October 76 (4):691-7. Epub 08/01/2015.
Ciurea SO, Zhang MJ, Bacigalupo AA, Bashey A, Appelbaum FR, Aljitawi OS, Armand P, Antin JH, Chen J, Devine SM, Fowler DH, Luznik L, Nakamura R, O'Donnell PV, Perales MA, Pingali SR, Porter DL, Riches MR, Ringdén OT, Rocha V, Vij R, Weisdorf DJ, Champlin RE, Horowitz MM, Fuchs EJ, Eapen M
Blood.. 2015 August 20126 (8):1033-40. Epub 06/30/2015.
Jadalannagari S, Aljitawi OS
Tissue engineering. Part B, Reviews.. 2015 June 21 (3):314-22. Epub 01/30/2015.
Lin TL, Williams T, He J, Aljitawi OS, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, Fleming A, Male H, McGuirk JP
Cancer medicine. 2015 April 4 (4):519-22. Epub 01/26/2015.
Ganguly S, McRae J, He J, Divine C, Abhyankar S, Aljitawi O, McGuirk JP
Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2015 February 56 (2):518-9. Epub 07/15/2014.
Singh, AK; Divine, C; Aljitawi, O; Abhyankar, S; McQuirk, JP; Ganguly, S.
Bio of Blood and Marrow Transp. 2015; 21(2 Supp): S135-S136.
Deauna-Limayo D, Aljitawi OS, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, Wick JA, McGuirk JP
Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners.. 2014 August 20 (4):263-9. Epub 09/04/2013.
Aljitawi OS, Ganguly S, Abhyankar SH, Ferree M, Marks R, Pipkin JD, McGuirk JP
Bone marrow transplantation.. 2014 August 49 (8):1042-5. Epub 06/09/2014.
Prochaska L, Vacek J, Madan R, Abhyankar S, Ganguly S, McGuirk JP, Lin TL, Aljitawi OS
Transplantation proceedings.. 2014 June 46 (5):1536-9. Epub 1900 01 01.
Brownback KR, Simpson SQ, McGuirk JP, Lin TL, Abhyankar S, Ganguly S, Aljitawi OS
Annals of hematology.. 2014 May 93 (5):847-54. Epub 12/18/2013.
Wieliczka ML, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, Lin T, McGuirk JP, Aljitawi OS
Bone marrow transplantation.. 2014 April 49 (4):588. Epub 01/20/2014.
Aljitawi OS, Li D, Xiao Y, Zhang D, Ramachandran K, Stehno-Bittel L, Van Veldhuizen P, Lin TL, Kambhampati S, Garimella R
Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2014 February 55 (2):378-91. Epub 05/15/2013.
Aljitawi OS, Xiao Y, Eskew JD, Parelkar NK, Swink M, Radel J, Lin TL, Kimler BF, Mahnken JD, McGuirk JP, Broxmeyer HE, Vielhauer G
Blood cells, molecules & diseases.. 2014 January 52 (1):59-67. Epub 08/14/2013.
Pawar RD, Williams T, Khera R, Eid A, Aljitawi OS, Dusing RW
Journal of blood medicine.. 2014 5 :37-41. Epub 03/10/2014.
Pawar R, Kasi Loknath Kumar A, Woodroof J, Cui W, McGuirk J, Abhyankar S, Ganguly S, Singh A, Lin T, Aljitawi O
Case reports in hematology.. 2014 2014 :743856. Epub 12/11/2014.
Williams CB, Kambhampati S, Fiskus W, Wick J, Dutreix C, Ganguly S, Aljitawi O, Reyes R, Fleming A, Abhyankar S, Bhalla KN, McGuirk JP
Pharmacotherapy.. 2013 December 33 (12):1341-52. Epub 06/24/2013.
Ganguly S, Amin M, Divine C, Aljitawi OS, Abhyankar S, McGuirk JP
Annals of hematology.. 2013 April 92 (4):549-50. Epub 10/31/2012.
Aljitawi OS, Xiao Y, Zhang D, Stehno-Bittel L, Garimella R, Hopkins RA, Detamore MS
Stem cells and development.. 2013 January 122 (1):18-26. Epub 10/19/2012.
Alhafez A, Aljitawi OS, Lin TL, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, McGuirk JP
Case reports in hematology.. 2013 2013 :931519. Epub 02/27/2013.
Williams T, Aljitawi OS, Moussa R, McHugh S, Dusing R, Abraha J, Yarlagadda SG
Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2012 December 53 (12):2530-4. Epub 07/09/2012.
Aljitawi OS, Lin TL
Personalized medicine.. 2012 September 9 (7):679-682. Epub 1900 01 01.
Aljitawi OS, Boone JM
Blood.. 2012 August 2120 (5):932. Epub 1900 01 01.
Abhyankar S, DeJarnette S, Aljitawi O, Ganguly S, Merkel D, McGuirk J
Bone marrow transplantation.. 2012 April 47 (4):483-7. Epub 07/04/2011.
Aljitawi OS
International journal of hematology.. 2012 April 95 (4):371-9. Epub 03/23/2012.
Ganguly S, Jain V, Divine C, Aljitawi O, Abhyankar S, McGuirk J
Bone marrow transplantation.. 2012 February 47 (2):311-2. Epub 04/04/2011.
Aljitawi OS, McGuirk JP
Journal of comparative effectiveness research.. 2012 January 1 (1):57-70. Epub 1900 01 01.
Aljitawi, OS; Allen M; Zhang D; Dasouki M; Abhyabjar S, et al.
J Blood Lymph. 2012; .
Ganguly S, Divine CL, Aljitawi OS, Abhyankar S, McGuirk JP, Graves L
Clinical transplantation.. 2012 26 (3):447-53. Epub 10/17/2011.
Aljitawi OS, Coats A, Zhang D, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, Lin T, McGuirk JP
Clinical transplantation.. 2012 26 (5):663-4. Epub 09/02/2012.
Brunstein CG, Fuchs EJ, Carter SL, Karanes C, Costa LJ, Wu J, Devine SM, Wingard JR, Aljitawi OS, Cutler CS, Jagasia MH, Ballen KK, Eapen M, O'Donnell PV,
Blood.. 2011 July 14118 (2):282-8. Epub 04/28/2011.
Aljitawi OS, Rodriguez L, Madan R, Ganguly S, Abhyankar S, McGuirk JP
Transplantation proceedings.. 2010 November 42 (9):3892-3. Epub 1900 01 01.
Ganguly N, Clough LA, Dubois LK, Mcguirk JP, Abhyankar S, Aljitawi OS, O'Neal N, Divine CL, Ganguly S
Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society.. 2010 October 12 (5):406-11. Epub 1900 01 01.
Male HJ, Davis MB, McGuirk JP, Abhyankar S, Aljitawi OS, Zhang D, Ganguly S
International journal of hematology.. 2010 September 92 (2):398-400. Epub 08/11/2010.
Copeland B, Aljitawi O, Fitzgerald SM, Chi DS, Krishnaswamy G
Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.. 2005 December 95 (6):510-7. Epub 1900 01 01.
Aljitawi O, Shabaneh B, Whitaker J
Southern medical journal.. 2005 August 98 (8):814-6. Epub 1900 01 01.
Aljitawi OS, Krishnan K, Curtis BR, Bougie DW, Aster RH
American journal of hematology.. 2003 May 73 (1):41-3. Epub 1900 01 01.
Aljitawi, OS; Lin, T.
Personalized Medicine. 9(7): 679-682.
Potential Mechanisms Underlying Ectodermal Differentiation of Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
Jadalannagari, S; Berry, AM; Hopkins, RA; Bhavsar, D; Aljitasi, OS;.
BBRC. .
Books
Decellularized Scaffolds and Organogenesis (2017)
Chapter: Wharton's jelly matrix decellularization for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Converse, G.L; Li, D; E. Buse, E.E.; Hopkins, R.A.; and Aljitawi, O.S.
Publisher: Springer Protocols 2017
Mast Cells, Methods and Protocols (2005)
Chapter: The human Mast Cell
Authors: Guha Krishnaswamy, Omar Aljitawi, and David S. Chi.
Publisher: Humana Press 2005
Ratings & Comments
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Ratings
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Patient Comments
I am very pleased with my treatment by Dr. Aljitawi.
May 17, 2024
Excellent
Mar 15, 2024
I have already recommended them
Sep 20, 2023
Dr. Aljitawi is EXCELLENT.
Sep 12, 2023
Dr. Aljitawi is always thorough.
Aug 10, 2023
Dr. Aljitawi was excellent.
May 05, 2023
We are very happy with Dr. Aljitawi!
Apr 04, 2023
Dr. Aljitawi was very informative of the next steps in my care He even called my husband together and explained it to him. We were very appreciative of that.
Jan 05, 2023
Dr. Aljitawi is wonderful. He always explains everything thoroughly and in terms I can understand.
Dec 30, 2022
The doctor and his team are great and I appreciate them very much. But I hope not to have to recommend bone marrow transplant for others!
Sep 27, 2022
Dr. is outstanding.
May 25, 2022
Dr. Aljitawi is excellent and staff the BEST!!
Apr 21, 2022
Dr. Omar Aljitawi is very pleasant and helpful explaining my condition as I progress. Very clean and gives me all my options.
Mar 23, 2022
Dr. Aljitawi is excellent and someone I trust completely
Feb 11, 2022
Dr. Aljitawi is an EXCELLENT provider.
Feb 03, 2022