Maya Abdallah MD
Assistant Professor, Hematology & Oncology
820 Harrison Ave | (617) 638-7530
Biography
Maya M. Abdallah, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and a board-certified hematologist, oncologist, and geriatrician practicing at Boston Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from the University of Balamand in Lebanon, completed internal medicine residency and chief residency at University of Massachusetts Medical School–Baystate, and completed a combined fellowship in geriatrics, hematology, and oncology at Boston University.
Dr. Abdallah provides care for patients with hematologic malignancies, focusing on myeloid disorders and the care of older adults. Her research integrates geriatric assessment tools into hematology practice to guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes for older adults, particularly in safety-net and underserved populations. She was selected as an Implementation Science Fellow at the Boston University Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Sciences, where she applies rigorous frameworks to identify and address barriers to adoption of evidence-based geriatric oncology practices in real-world settings.
Dr. Abdallah has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents at national and international conferences on hematologic malignancies, geriatric oncology, and health equity. Beyond her institution, she holds several key leadership roles within the American Society of Hematology, including Chair of the International Medical Graduate Working Group, Chair of the ASH Horizons in Hematology Working Group, and member of the Subcommittee on Dissemination and Implementation Science. She also holds leadership positions in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Trainee and Early Career Advisory Group, the Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology Governance Team, and the Cancer and Aging Research Group Clinical Implementation Core and Junior Board.
Her long-term goal is to establish a clinical and research program focused on improving evidence-based, equitable care for older adults with hematologic malignancies, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Publications
Tsang M, Abdallah M, Klepin H, Loh KP. Community oncologists' perspectives on hospice and palliative care for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia: A qualitative study. J Geriatr Oncol. 2025 Sep; 16(7):102314. PMID: 40652796.
Published on 12/30/2024Abdallah MM, de Oliveira BD, DuMontier C, Orkaby AR, Nussbaum L, Gaziano M, Djousse L, Gagnon D, Cho K, Preis SR, Driver JA. Risk of Incident Cancer in Veterans with Diabetes Who Use Metformin Versus Sulfonylureas. J Cancer Prev. 2024 Dec 30; 29(4):140-147. PMID: 39790228.
Published on 12/10/2024Abdallah M, Arters F, Patel J, Edwards C, Lerner A, Petrocca F, Dockerty M, Fuller B, Godfrey A, Staron A, Sanchorawala V, Sloan JM, Bertrand K, Szalat R. Febrile neutropenia in patients with Duffy-null-associated neutrophil counts and multiple myeloma or AL amyloidosis. Blood Adv. 2024 Dec 10; 8(23):5935-5938. PMID: 39348709.
Published on 6/1/2024Diaz FC, Hamparsumian A, Loh KP, Verduzco-Aguirre H, Abdallah M, Williams GR, Hsu T, Soto-Perez-de-Celis E, Elias R. Geriatric Oncology: A 5-Year Strategic Plan. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2024 Jun; 44(3):e100044. PMID: 38709980.
Published on 5/31/2024Abdallah M, Jensen-Battaglia M, Patil A, Digiovanni G, Sanapala C, Watson E, LoCastro M, Wang Y, Mortaz-Hedjri S, Magnuson A, Ramsdale E, McHugh C, Loh KP. Prognostic awareness and willingness to explore prognosis in older adults with cancer. J Geriatr Oncol. 2024 Jul; 15(6):101810. PMID: 38823374.
Published on 4/11/2024Abdallah M, Akhtar OS, Major A, Mian H, Tsang M, Torka P. Perspectives on geriatric oncology research presented at the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting: Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology report. J Geriatr Oncol. 2024 Jun; 15(5):101762. PMID: 38609752.
Published on 2/8/2023Zhao J, Abdallah M, Sanapala C, Watson E, LoCastro M, Castillo DA, Richardson D, LeBlanc TW, Loh KP. A Systematic Review of Decision Aids in Hematologic Malignancies: What Are Currently Available and What Are We Missing? Oncologist. 2023 Feb 08; 28(2):105-115. PMID: 36342114.
Published on 12/28/2022La J, DuMontier C, Hassan H, Abdallah M, Edwards C, Verma K, Ferri G, Dharne M, Yildirim C, Corrigan J, Gaziano JM, Do NV, Brophy MT, Driver JA, Munshi NC, Fillmore NR. Validation of algorithms to select patients with multiple myeloma and patients initiating myeloma treatment in the national Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2023 May; 32(5):558-566. PMID: 36458420.
Published on 9/3/2022Abdallah M, Kadambi S, Parsi M, Rai M, Mendler JH, Wittink M, Duberstein PR, Tsang M, Klepin HD, Loh KP. Older patients' experiences following initial diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia: A qualitative study. J Geriatr Oncol. 2022 Nov; 13(8):1230-1235. PMID: 36064536.
Published on 4/1/2022Outlaw D, Abdallah M, Gil-Jr LA, Giri S, Hsu T, Krok-Schoen JL, Liposits G, Madureira T, Marinho J, Subbiah IM, Tuch G, Williams GR. The Evolution of Geriatric Oncology and Geriatric Assessment over the Past Decade. Semin Radiat Oncol. 2022 04; 32(2):98-108. PMID: 35307123.