Anita Afzali MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, AGAF
James F. Heady Endowed Chair and Professor of Medicine

Interim Chair of Department of Internal Medicine

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Physician Operations Executive, UC Health

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 the Interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, having recently transitioned into this role following a 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.

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 following a successful tenure at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where she established and served as Medical Director of the region’s first standalone multidisciplinary IBD Center.

She earned her medical degree followed by 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. Additionally, 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.

Dr. Afzali’s 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 public health advocacy, particularly in addressing gender and racial disparities and advancing equitable access to care and 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 for innovative therapies and diagnostics in IBD. She is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences and serves on several prestigious advisory boards and scientific committees.

In recognition of her lifelong commitment to advancing IBD care, research, and education, Dr. Afzali was honored as the recipient of the Bing Hinton Legacy Award by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, a national distinction celebrating her leadership and impact in the field.

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, further exemplifying her global influence and dedication to the advancement of gastroenterology and academic medicine.