Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, AGAF, FACG, is the James F. Heady Endowed Chair and Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. She currently serves as Interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, following a highly successful tenure as Executive Vice Chair of the Department. She also serves as the Physician Operations Executive for Health Systems Service Portfolio Optimization at UC Health, where she leads system-wide initiatives focused on operational excellence, clinical innovation, and access to care.

A board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Dr. Afzali is a nationally and internationally recognized physician executive leader. She joined the University of Cincinnati after a distinguished tenure at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where she established and directed the region's first and largest standalone multidisciplinary IBD Center.

An Afghan American immigrant, Dr. Afzali's journey from refugee to physician executive leader embodies resilience, perseverance, and purpose. Her experiences navigating adversity and opportunity have shaped her lifelong commitment to leadership, global education, mentorship and professional growth of others.

Dr. Afzali earned her medical degree and completed her residency in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology fellowship, and an advanced fellowship in IBD at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she also completed a Master's in Public Health with a focus on outcomes research and epidemiology. She holds a Master's in Health Care Management (MHCM) from Harvard University, reflecting her expertise in healthcare operations, business administration, and physician executive leadership. She also completed the nationally acclaimed Executive Leadership in Healthcare (ELH)/ELAM Fellowship through Drexel University.

Her research interests center on clinical outcomes and investigative therapies in IBD. She is widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare redesign, clinical operations, and the transformation of care delivery. Her work extends beyond clinical research to improving access to high-quality care and promoting opportunities in medical education.

With a portfolio of over 300 academic contributions, including peer-reviewed publications, clinical guidelines, book chapters, abstracts, and educational webcasts, Dr. Afzali has also served as principal investigator on more than 20 clinical trials exploring innovative therapies and diagnostics in IBD. She is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences and serves on several prestigious advisory and editorial boards and scientific committees.

Dr. Afzali was honored as a 2023 recipient of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, recognizing her exceptional commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in medicine. She is also the recipient of the Bing Hinton Legacy Award 2025 from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, a national distinction celebrating her leadership and impact in IBD research, education, and advocacy.

She currently serves as Chair of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Educational Affairs Committee and Chair of the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) Media & Community Engagement Committee. Beginning in January 2026, Dr. Afzali will assume the role of Secretary General of the WGO, further reflecting her global leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing gastroenterology, academic medicine, and healthcare leadership worldwide.

As Co-Founder of the Scrubs & Heels Foundation, Dr. Afzali is passionate about creating platforms for people to lead with authenticity, confidence, and purpose, supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders through mentorship, engagement and global connection.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Afzali finds strength and joy through boxing, tennis, and spending time with her husband, family, and close friends. She brings the same energy and discipline from sport into her leadership philosophy - anchored in resilience, authenticity, and the belief that true success is measured by how we lift others as we climb. Let's go!