Dr. Rafif Z. Moussa

MEDICAL LICENSE

California Medical License A177569
Ohio Medical License 35.133846
Virginia Medical License 0101263512
Illinois Medical License 036.1511871
Indiana Medical License 01080588A

CURRENT POSITION

American Fertility Medical Center, Medical Director, Diamond Bar, CA, August 2023- present
Assistant Professor at School of Health Professions, Reproductive Clinical Science Programs, Eastern Virginia Medical School, November 2023 – present

GRADUATE TRAINING

Eastern Virginia Medical School
Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). Norfolk, Virginia, USA. 2014-2016.
Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine

Eastern Virginia Medical School
Clinical Embryology and Andrology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Degree: Master Degree, 2012- 2014

Damascus University, Syria
School of Medicine
Degree: M.Sc. (OB/GYN), 1989

Damascus University, Medical School Syria.
Combined residency and Master Program, Obstetrics/Gynecology 1983-1987
Syrian-certified, OBGYN

Damascus University Medical School Syria
Internal Medicine Residency, Arab Board, 1982-1983

EDUCATION

Eastern Virginia Medical School
Clinical Embryology and Andrology
Degree: Master Degree, 2012-2014

Syrian Ministry of Education
Certified and licensed REI specialist, 2006

Damascus University Syria
School of Medicine
Degree: M.Sc.,
Syrian National Board certified 1989

Damascus University Syria
School of Medicine
Degree: M.D., 1983
Rank: first in class

Syrian Ministry of Education
Degree: Baccalaureate in Science (B.S), 1979
Score: 96.92%

EXTRACURRICULAR TRAINING

• Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy. Summer clinical externship, 1982
  
  
  

IVF SKILLS

• ICSI technique, PGD technique.
• Our center did the first PGD case in Syria (2010).
• Gynecological Surgical Oncology (practiced 1988- 2006)
• Clinical and operative OB/GYN (practiced 1988-2006)
• Patient consultation (Infertile couple), from H&P to simple treatment to dealing with complex cases.
• Conventional ovarian stimulation, Antagonist, long Agonist, Short fertility preservation protocols. & Poor responders.
• Oocyte retrieval.
• Embryo transfer
• Imaging: TVUS, 3D TVUS, SIS, HSG, OB (3D).
• Intra uterine Insemination, IUI
• Operative Hysteroscopy, myomectomy, polypectomy, adhesiolysis, and uterine septum resection.
• Operative laparoscopy: advanced adhesiolysis techniques, myomectomy, and resection of endometriosis tubal anastomosis.
• Da Vinci laparoscopic surgery.
• PGD, the first case in Syria, was done in our center, RFC.
• Center director ( I was medical director for RFC 2006 – 2012).
• Medical Knowledge of all IVF, Andrology & cryo labs. (Studied in the Master’s program at EVMS).
• Ability to manage and deal with high-volume patients (Syria practice).
• Knowledge of all IVF techniques, indications when to suggest them, and discussions with patients (Assisted hatching, genetic consoling).
  
  
  

IVF Researches

• Noninvasive genetic testing using embryo media: ongoing research with Pacific Reproductive Center, Torrance, CA
• Impact of military deployment on Fertility treatment: ongoing study, Fort Irwin, CA
• Impact of intrauterine fibroids, vs. myomectomy on IVF outcome, retrospective study at Jones Institute, 205-2015. A fellowship thesis at EVMS, 2016
• Evaluation of different ovarian stimulation protocols (Long Gn-RH Agonist protocol versus Gn-RH Antagonist protocol) on oocyte, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome, a retrospective study at Raed Fertility Center (RFC). A Master Degree thesis, EVMS.2014.
  
  

Surgical SKILLS

• Management of complicated Gynecologic cases
• Da Vinci Assisted laparoscopic surgery (EVMS)
• Laparoscopic surgery (1988 –present)
• Infertility, with laparoscopic interventions (2006 – present).
  
  
  

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

• Menopause, osteoporosis and puberty, and contraception management: as part of my fellowship REI (E stands for Endocrinology)
  
  
  

AMERICAN OB/GYN EXPERIENCE

Surgical endoscopic boot camp, Orlando, FL, July 24-26, 2015.

Maternal Fetal Medicine: Fairview Hospital, June –July 2012, Cleveland, Ohio.

Pacific Reproductive Center, Los Angeles, California. Visiting Physician, Infertility management, complex cases, three months 2010, 3 months 2009, 2 months 2008, 3 months 2007, 3 months 2005, 3 months 2004.

Southwest Medical Center Middleburgh Heights, Ohio, Infertility treatment 2005

Vaginal Hysterectomy workshop, 2007

Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio
Urogenital surgery and female pelvic surgery 1999
Laparoscopic Surgery, Summer 1998

Oklahoma University Oklahoma
Laparoscopic Surgery, September – October 1993

Henry Ford Hospital Detroit, Michigan
Maternal and Fetal Medicine, June – July 1991
Gynecology, January 1990
Colposcopy workshop, December 1989

PRIOR POSITIONS

• 2020- 2024 Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin, San Bernardino, CA. Head of the reproductive program January 2020- present.
• 2018 – 2020 New Life Medical Center, Fairview Park, OH
• 2012- 2014 Advanced Fertility & Genetics, Infertility Consultant, Muscat, Oman.
• 2012-2013 Patient medical management, Grand Medical Group, LA, CA, USA.
• 2006-2012 Medical director, Raed Fertility Center (RFC), Homs, Syria.
• 1994-2012 Chief, department of OB/GYN, Razi Hospital, Homs, Syria
• 1999-2012 Associate professor, Department of OB/GYN, Baath University Medical School, Homs, Syria
• 2000-2012 Vice-President, Syrian Cancer Society, Homs.
• 2010-2012 Chair of Health Committee and member of National Executive Council,
• Syrian Red Crescent (SARC). Damascus.
• 2006-2012 Chair of Health Committee, member of the administrative council, Syrian Red Crescent (SARC), Homs Branch
• 2007-2012 Scientific Chair, Syrian Association of Laparoscopic Surgery (SALS)
• 1989 – 1992 Ommali Hospital Homs, Syria. Attending physician, OB/GYN dept.
• 2000 – 2001 Bir Hospital Homs, Syria, Attending physician, OB/GYN dept.
• 1999-2001 Syrian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, president of Homs chapter
• 1999-2001 Syrian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, (National Board) scientific chair
  
  

PUBLICATIONS

Moussa R, Evaluation of different ovarian stimulation protocols (Long GnRH Agonist protocol versus GnRH Antagonist protocol) on oocyte, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome, a retrospective study at Raed Fertility Center (RFC). Master’s degree thesis, EVMS.

Moussa R: “Handbook of Fertility,” Al-Baath medical school, 2007

Moussa R: “Infertility in Syria,” The Arab Physician, Syrian Medical Association, vol 12, 1998

Moussa R: “Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery, A Review.” Syrian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1997

Moussa R: “Immunological Aspects of Recurrent Miscarriage,” The Arab Physician, Syrian Medical Association, 1996

Moussa R, Kurdi M: “Gynecological Laparoscopy, Damascus University Experience and Review of Literature,” Damascus University, 1988

Supervision of hundreds of master theses done by medical students and OBGYN residents in Syria

PRESENTATIONS

“Progesterone’s as an alternative to GnRH agonist/antagonists,” Middle East Fertility Society MEFS, annual meeting December 2022, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

“The Future of Infertility, where are we heading?” NAAMA National Arab American Medical Meeting, Los Angeles, December 2021.

“Management of recurrent IVF failure” Asian- American society, Los Angeles, CA 2020.

“Laparoscopic management of uterine fibroids in infertile women” NAAMA National Arab American Medical Meeting, Muscat, Oman, January 4-7, 2016.

“Rare cases of Dermoid cyst”. National Arab American Medical Meeting, Dubai, UEA, December 30-31, 2015.

“Comparison of long agonist protocol and antagonist protocol on oocyte and embryo quality in IVF patients.” 11th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology, Prague, Slovakia October 21-24, 2015.

“Management of recurrent adnexal mass with DA-Vinci assisted laparoscopy in infertility.” XXI FIGO, Vancouver, Canada. October4-9, 2015.

“Surgical Adhesions, a Common and Underestimated Cause of Infertility” is a large-scale study presented in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 2010

“Laparoscopic Management of Pelvic Masses” Arab OB/GYN conference in Jeddah/ Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2005

“Preserve Fertility in Cancer Patient,” Pan Arab Cancer Congress AND First Syrian Cancer Congress, Damascus, Syria, 199912-October 24, 2003

“Management of Adhesions,” MEFS conference, Dubai, UAE, 1999

“Laparoscopic Interventions in Infertility” Jell Deeb, Lebanon. 2000.

“Management of stress incontinence” Egyptian Obstetrician and Gynecologist Society, Alexandria, Egypt. 1998

Scientific Chairperson: The annual meeting of the Syrian Society of Laparoscopic Surgery, Syria, 2000

“Recurrent Miscarriages” Amman, Jordan 1998

Moderator, the Mediterranean Infertility Society annual meeting, Alexandria, Egypt. 1997

Moussa R: “Infertility in Syria, An Epidemiological Analysis,” a presentation at the Arab Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology annual meeting, Amman, Jordan, May 1995

Moussa R: “Infertility, A New Approach,” a presentation at the Mediterranean Infertility Society annual meeting, Beirut, Lebanon, June 1994

Other presentations can be furnished upon request.

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL PRESENTATIONS

“Progesterone’s as an alternative to GnRH agonist/antagonists,” Middle East Fertility Society MEFS, annual meeting December 2022, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

“The Future of Infertility, where are we heading?” NAAMA National Arab American Medical Meeting, Los Angelo, December 2021.

“Management of recurrent IVF failure” Asian- American society, Los Angeles, CA 2020.

“Laparoscopic management of uterine fibroids in infertile women” NAAMA National Arab American Medical Meeting, Muscat, Oman, January 4-7, 2016.

“Rare cases of Dermoid cyst”. National Arab American Medical Meeting, Dubai, UEA, December 30-31, 2015.

“Comparison of long agonist protocol and antagonist protocol on oocyte and embryo quality in IVF patients.” 11th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology, Prague, Slovakia October 21-24, 2015.

“Management of recurrent adnexal mass with DaVinci assisted laparoscopy in infertility.” XXI FIGO, Vancouver, Canada. October4-9, 2015.

“Iatrogenic Adhesion, Underestimated Cause of Infertility’ The Fifth International Gulf Congress in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, Jeddah Saudi Arabia, 22-25 March 2010

Infertility due to iatrogenic adhesion; a Syrian study. The 4th Lebanese Endoscopic Surgery Society Meeting
Date: March 12 – 13, 2010. Beirut – Lebanon

Third International Congress of the Jordanian Society of Fertility and Genetics (JSFG) AND specialty Center for Fertility & Genetics, Amman Jordan,8-10 April 2009

Twenty-Fourth Annual Meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), Barcelona, Spain, 6-9 July 2008

“Laparoscopic Management of the Adnexal Mass” Arab Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jeddah Saudi Arabia, 5-7 April 2005

Laparoscopy in the third Millennium 2003 Congress, Lebanese Association for Endoscopic Surgery AND Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Endoscopic Surgery Beirut Lebanon, 3-6, 2003

Tenth World Congress on Menopause, Berlin Germany, 1-14 June 2002

Third Jordanian International Conference for Infertility, Jordanian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists AND specialty Center for fertility & Genetics, Amman Jordan,16-17 May 2002

Seventh Annual Scientific Meeting of the Middle East Fertility Society, MEFS 2000, Beirut Lebanon, 15-18 November 2000

The First Pan Arab Congress on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lebanese Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Beirut Lebanon, 3-5 June 1999

Fourth International Symposium on Human Reproduction and Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon, April 24, 1999

Third International Symposium on “Human Reproduction” Lebanese Fertility Society, Lebanese Gynecology Society, Lebanese Urology Society, Lebanese Society of Endocrinology, a Société Lebanese de Medicine Perinatal, Abou Jaoude Hospital, Beirut Lebanon, April 18, 1998

Farah hospital Symposium on fertility and Genetics, Amman Jordan,3-4 April 1997

Third Jordanian Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics AND First Congress of Pan-Arab Federation of Obst. & Gyn. Societies, Amman Jordan,19-21 April 1995

First Annual Scientific Meeting, Middle East Fertility Society, Brou-Mmana Lebanon, 25-28 May 1994.

HONORS, AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS

Certificate of attendance, ASRM Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LO, October 14 to 18, 12023

Certificate of attendance, 33rd Annual in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, San Diego, CA. July 30- August 2, 2023.

Certificate of attendance, ASRM Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, October 22 to 26, 12022

Certificate of attendance, 33rd Annual in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, San Diego, CA. July 17-20, 2022.

Certificate of attendance, PCRS Annual Meeting, Indian Wells, March 22-26, 2019.

Certificate of attendance, PCRS Annual Meeting, Indian Wells, March 21-25, 2018.

Certificate of attendance, ASRM Annual Meeting, Saint Louis, Texas, October 27 to November 1/ 2017

Certificate of attendance, PCRS Annual Meeting, Indian Wells, March 22-26, 2017.

Certificate of attendance, ASRM Annual Meeting, Salt Lake, Utah, October 15-19/ 2016.

Certificate of attendance, 31st Annual in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA. July 30- August 1/2016.

Certificate of attendance, PCRS Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, March 9-13, 2016.

Certificate of attendance. NAAMA, National Arab American Medical Meeting, Muscat, Oman, January 4-7, 2016.

Certificate of attendance. NAAMA, National Arab American Medical Meeting, Dubai, UEA, December 30-31, 2015.

Certificate of attendance. 11th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology, Prague, Slovakia, October 21-24, 2015.

Certificate of attendance, ASRM Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. October 17 21,2015

Certificate of attendance, FIGO XXI, Vancouver, Canada, 4-9 October 2015

Certificate of Attendance Best of ASRM and ESHRE, New York, 4-7 March 2015.

Certificate of attendance, Annual meeting of Omani Gynecologic meeting. Muscat, Oman, October 2014.

NAAMA, National Arab American Medical Association, 35th National Medical
Convention, Newport Beach, CA, USA, August 30 till September 2, 2013.

Certificate of attendance “ESHRE 2013” 29th Annual Meeting of the European
Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, London, England. 7-10 July 2013.

Certificate of Attendance of Annual Conference of Syrian American Medical
Society SAMS, Clearwater, Florida, 15-17 February 2013.

Certificate of Attendance Annual Meeting of American Society Medicine, Boston,
MA, 12 – 17 October 2012.

Certificate of Attendance Annual Meeting of American Society of Medicine, San
Diego, CA, 17-19 October 2012.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation, 31 International Conference of Red Cross, Syrian representative, 26-Nov-2 Dec 2011.

Certificate of Attendance annual meeting of American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 17-19 October 2011

Certificate of attendance 11th, World Congress of endometriosis, Montpellier, France, 4-7 September 2011.

Certificate of attendance. 27th European society of human reproduction and embryology, Stockholm, Sweden, 3-6 July 2011.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation SMART 7, Merck Serono Meeting in Assisted Reproductive Technology in association with IVI, Valencia, Spain 11-13 May 2011

Certificate of Appreciation fourth international congress of the Jordanian society for fertility and genetics Amman, Jordan, 20-22 April 2011.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation 20th World Congress on Fertility & Sterility, Munich, Germany, 12-16 September 2010.

Certificate of Appreciation by the 5th International Gulf Congress in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 22-25 March 2010

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the Ninth Annual Symposium of the Syrian Association of Laparoscopic Surgery, Palmyra, Syria, 4-5 March 2010

Award of Recognition by the 9th MM Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Endoscopic Surgery Congress & the 5th Annual Congress of the Syrian Association of Laparoscopic Surgery, Damascus, Syria, Nov 11-13, 2009.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation annual meeting of Syrian Society for OB/GYN, Palmyra Syria, 2009.

Certificate of Appreciation by the 10th Congress of Syrian Society of Obstetrics & Gynecologists AND the 7th Congress of Arab Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists 22-25 March 2010.

Certificate of recognition and Appreciation by the Pan Arab Cancer Congress AND the First Syrian Cancer Congress, Damascus, 2003.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the Annual Symposium of the Syrian Association of Laparoscopic Surgery, Damascus, Syria, 29-30 March 2007.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation Laparoscopic Surgery Workshop, Ahli Hospital, Ministry of Health, Damascus Syria, 8-13 July 2006.

Certificate of Appreciation and honor Shield Arab Congress of Obstetrics and gynecology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 5-7 April 2005.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation 5th Royan International Congress, Tehran, Iran, September 1-3, 2004.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the First Congress of the Laparoscopic Surgery, Mosul, Iraq, 13-15 April 2002.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the First Medical Specialty Forum of the Syrian Association of Nephrologists, Homs, Syria, March 29, 2002.

Certificate of attendance 17th annual meeting of ESHRE, Lausanne, Switzerland, July 3, 2001.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the Annual Symposium of the Syrian Association of Laparoscopic Surgery, Latakia Syria, 0-May 11 2001.

Award of Recognition and Appreciation the Scientific Congress of the Syrian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Daraa Syria, 10-11 May 2001.

Certificate of recognition, 9th Congress of the World for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Florence, Italy, 6-10 May 2000

Teaching Excellence Award, Baath University, Homs, Syria 2000, 1999

Damascus University award
First graduating resident and first Master grad, 1988.

Medical School Award for ranking first
Damascus University, 1982, ’81, ’80.

Syrian Ministry of Education National Award for ranking second among 40,000 examinees, Baccalaureate of Science exams; Permanent scholarship, 1976.