Alexander B Galifianakis

M.D.

Commander, Navy

Department of Primary Appointment:
School of Medicine
Radiology
Title
Commandant, School of Medicine
Location: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Musculoskeletal imaging
Ultrasound in medical education
Office Phone

Education

Washington University in Saint Louis/ BA/ May 1998 (Biology/ Fine Arts)
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/ MD/ May 2003

Biography

A native of Salisbury, Maryland, Commander Galifianakis received his Bachelor's degree from Washington University in Saint Louis and his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).

He completed post-graduate training as a Transitional Intern at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, Maryland. Following internship, Galifianakis earned his wings as a Naval Flight Surgeon at the Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute in Pensacola, Florida. He was assigned to Third Marine Air Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Shortly thereafter, he deployed to the Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-466, flying over 100 combat-hours. Galifianakis assumed duties as interim MAG-16 Flight Surgeon and represented 3MAW at the Multi-National Corps-Iraq Conference (MNC-I) in Baghdad. Following the deployment, he was awarded a Naval Air Medal and received the Richard E. Leuhrs Award, recognizing him as the Operational U.S. Naval Flight Surgeon of the Year.

In 2007, he returned to the National Capital Region to complete his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he served as Chief Resident in his final year.

Galifianakis then served as Chair, ECOMS, Naval Health Clinic Hawaii (NHCH), where he was responsible for the clinical and administrative activities of over 200 clinical providers in six geographic locations. During his tenure, the command achieved its highest performance on Joint Commission surveys and was hailed as a model service provider. He concurrently served as Department Head, Radiology, successfully guiding the department through multiple MQSA and ACR inspections while implementing numerous system upgrades. His additional duties while at NHCH included Activity Director for Continuing Medical Education, Credentials Advisor, and Champion for Breast Health.

Galifianakis was assigned to the Uniformed Services University in 2014 where he was given the academic appointment of Assistant Professor and was selected as the Director for Advanced Radiology Clerkships. In 2016, he assumed duties for his current role as Commandant for the School of Medicine. In that capacity, he leads the nation’s finest medical students as they aim to become world class military medical officers.

Galifianakis is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology and is an active member of the Radiologic Society of North America, the American College of Radiology and the Society of Skeletal Radiology. His personal awards include an Air Medal and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards) along with numerous unit and other awards.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

U.S. Navy Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year, Richard E. Luehrs Memorial Award, 2006

Commandant, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda, MD June 2016- present

Radiology Clerkship Director/ Assistant Professor Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda, MD July 2014- present

Staff Radiologist Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, MD July 2014- present

Chair, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECOMS) Department Head, Radiology Naval Health Clinic Hawaii Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, HI July 2011-July 2014

Chief Resident, NCC Radiology (March 2010- April 2011) National Capital Consortium Bethesda, MD

Naval Flight Surgeon I Marine Expeditionary Force MAG-16 HMH-466 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar May 2005- May 2007 (Deployed MCAS Al Asad, Iraq, September 2005- April 2006)

Co-course Director- Integrated Ultrasound Curriculum, Uniformed Services University, July 2016- June 2017

Grant recipient, 2016 American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) Clinician Educator Development Program- April 2016

Washington University in St. Louis, George C. Tragos Scholar, 1997-1998

Representative Bibliography

Virtual Colonoscopy: Comprehensive Atlas and Fundamentals. A Dachman and A. Laghi. Springer Science and Business Media. 2011. (Author for chapter entitled “Implementation and Clinical Trials in the USA.”)

Polston E, Wilder J, Campbell D, Carter N, Ceen H, Meyer J, Galifianakis AB: Integrated Ultrasound Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education: An Opportunity for Global Health Engagement and Early Faculty Development. American College of Radiology, Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 21 May 2017.

O’Boyle AL, Marko J, Galifianakis A, Wolfman DJ: The HMO Grading System Used To Report Dynamic Pelvic MRI Findings Creates A Language Barrier Between Radiologists And Clinicians Who Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD), Pelvic Floor Disorder Week, Denver, CO, September 2016.

AB Galifianakis, DJ Wolfman, MD. Oncologic Imaging: From Diagnosis to Cure- Uterine Cancer Staging. American Roentgen Ray Society, Categorical Course Syllabus, 2016.

SS Dalane, MD; A Fehringer, MD. A Galifianakis, MD; Wounded Warrior Care: Complications Following Combat-Related Lower Extremity Amputation, A Pictorial Essay. RSNA 2015 Educational Exhibit – Certificate of Merit Award Winner.

CC Widule, AB Galifianakis, JG Smirniotopoulos; Education Tool for Teaching Pre-Clinical Medical Students, A Systematic Approach to Abdominal Imaging. Uniformed Services University Research Days. 05 May 2015.

A Galifianakis, MD; R Lewis, MD; GE Lattin, MD; Abdominal Manifestations of Von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Imaging and Pathologic Correlation of Benign and Malignant Neoplasms. RSNA 2009 Educational Exhibit.

Meagher S, Galifianakis A, Jannotta D, Krapiva P, Les Folio L.; Diffuse Axonal Injury with Negative CT and Positive MRI Findings. Military Medicine. 2008 Nov;173(11): xx,xxi.

Galifianakis, A.B.; Aeromedical Considerations of a VIP Mission. Contact, the Journal of the United States Naval Flight Surgeons. 2007 Apr; Vol 31. No 2.

van Swinderen B; Galifianakis A; Crowder CM; Common genetic determinants of halothane and isoflurane potencies in Caenorhabditis elegans. -Anesthesiology - 01-Dec-1998; 89(6): 1509-17.