EDUCATION
Graduated from the Top-Ranked University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas, TX
Alumni of Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Graduated from Texas State University Cum Laude
SURGICAL TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
Board Certified In Colon & Rectal Surgery
Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Board Certified In General Surgery
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners
Fully Licensed by the State Medical Board to practice medicine in Florida and Texas
Honorary Member of The Chilean Society of Coloproctology
Completed general surgery training at The University of Texas Medical School (McGovern Medical School) and The Texas Medical Center
Completed surgical oncology training at MD-Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX )
Fellowship Trained in Colon & Rectal Surgery at Houston's #1 Ranked Methodist Hospital
Trained and Certified in Robotic Surgery & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Expert trainer in taTME and TAMIS
Trained in minimally invasive hemorrhoidal treatments, including THD and Infrared photocoagulation
TEACHING & AFFILIATIONS
Professor of Surgery, University of Central Florida - College of Medicine
Two-term Chairman (2015-2018), Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Florida Hospital
Founding Faculty for the Colorectal Fellowship Program at Florida Hospital
Attending Surgeon - Florida Hospital Cancer Institute
Clinical Faculty - Florida Hospital General Surgery Residency Program
Clincal Faculty - Florida Hospital Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor - NOVA Southeastern University - College of Health Care Sciences
Clinical Associate Professor - St. Matthew's University School of Medicine
Clerkship Faculty - Florida State University College of Medicine
Soon Expanding to Oviedo Medical Center to Better Serve You!
INNOVATIONS IN SURGERY
Co-inventor of the groundbreaking technique of Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS)
Author for largest series on TAMIS as published in Annals of Surgery (United States)
Trained over 200 surgeons on the technique of taTME worldwide
Internationally recognized for innovation in rectal surgery
Described Surgery Beyond the Visible Light Spectrum )
Invented - Vaginal Access Minimally Invasive Surgery (VAMIS)
Invented Video Guided Stapling (United States Patent Pending)
FIRST to perfrom TAMIS / taTME for completion proctectomy in ulcerative colitis
FIRST to describe the TAMIS technique for transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME)
FIRST to apply stereotacitc navigation to rectal cancer surgery
FIRST to perform Robotic Surgery in Winter Park, Florida
FIRST to perform Robotic Transanal Surgery in a Cadaveric Model
FIRST to perform Robotic Transanal Surgery (RTS) on a live patient
FIRST to perform Robotic Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME)
FIRST to describe laparoscopic colectomy after abdominoplasty
Invented Surgical Drainoscopy
Invented the technique of "Incisionless" laparoscopic stoma construction
RESEARCH
80 Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals
Principle Investigator for Multi-center Trial on taTME (Florida Hospital, Orlando Site)
Principle Investigator for Feasibility Trial for a new, flexible robotic system (Medrobotics)
Reviewer for over 15 scientific journals
Section Editor for Innovation in Colorectal Surgery Tech. in Coloproctology
Associate Editor Dis. of Colon & Rectum
Associate Editor for MAP (Mesentery and Peritoneum)
Worked on global efforts to complete The Human Genome Project (read more/photos)
Currently performing research involving the DNA and RNA fingerprints of colorectal cancer in collaboration with scientists at Sanford & Burnham Medical Research Institute.
Read more: Dr. Atallah discusses Human Epigenetics and Cancer Genetics.
AWARDS / OTHER
Named by Orlando Magazine at TOP DOCTOR in Colorectal Surgery 7 years in a row (2011-2017)
America’s TOP SURGEON Award 2014-2017
Patients’ Choice Award Recipient
Compassionate Doctor Award Recipient
Named “Health Care Hero” by Florida Hospital Foundation 2015
Pennsylvania Society of Colon & Rectal Surgery Award - Poster of Distinction, ASCRS 2016
British Journal of Surgery - High Altmetric Score Award, October, 2017
Program Director - 1st Annual Orlando Colorectal Congress, November, 2017
Listed as TOP 100 SURGEONS in #ColorectalSurgery Worldwide (Ranked 18th)
Top Influencer for #ASCRS17 (Annual Scientific Meeting and Tripartite Meeting)