Instagram story viewer> @ibd_afzali> Posts

Dr Anita Afzali

@ibd_afzali

2.7K

followers

698

following

🇦🇫🇺🇸 Interim Chair of Med @uofcincy @cincinnaticollegeofmedicine
Physician Operations Executive @uc_health
Secretary Gen @worldgastroorg
Entrepreneur

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

I am deeply honored to share that I have joined the Board of Directors of @ascendathleticsngo

Ascend: Leadership Through Athletics, an extraordinary women-led organization that empowers young women and girls in Afghanistan with the tools to lead, thrive, and shape their futures.

Ascend’s trauma-informed program provides girls with safe spaces to learn, grow, rebuild confidence, cultivate resilience, and discover their leadership through athletics, mental wellbeing, education, and community service.

As an Afghan American, former refugee, and immigrant who fled Afghanistan as a child, this work carries profound meaning for me. My own journey, from navigating displacement to becoming a physician executive leader, reminds me every day of what becomes possible when communities invest in girls.

We are closing out the year at a time when Afghan girls need us more than ever.

If you believe in the power of education, leadership, safety, resilience, and representation, I invite you to stand with us.

✨ Your end-of-year donation has impact far beyond funding.

It tells these young women: We see you. We believe in you. You matter.

Marina LeGree - Thank you for your vision and leadership and congratulations on 10 years of Ascend #SheLeads

Give today: https://www.pledge.to/support-afghan-girls by @ibd_afzali

3

6

10 months ago

I am honored to be appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and the opportunity to continue to work alongside such talented colleagues.

My sincere appreciation to Dr. John Byrd for his exceptional leadership and partnership - big shoes to fill! I wish him every success in his next leadership chapter.

I look forward to continuing our shared mission of advancing exceptional patient care, pioneering education, and impactful research while fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and dedication.

Let's go! 🥊

#AcademicMedicine #NextLivesHere #UCincyMedicine #UCDOIM #SheLeadsHealthcare by @ibd_afzali

3

25

a year ago

🌍 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐆𝐎 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 🌍

I am deeply honored to be nominated and appointed as the 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐖𝐆𝐎).

As an Afghan immigrant who was given the gift of education and opportunity, I carry this role with profound gratitude and responsibility. 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧—𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. * I take this role to serve as a beacon of hope and an example of what is possible when that right is honored. #LetHerLearn

My passion for the global GI community is unwavering. I aim to:
✨ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
✨ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬
✨ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 to advance gastroenterology and empower the next generation of leaders

To serve as a global leader is a privilege I do not take lightly. Together, we can advance care, knowledge, and equity in digestive health around the world.

*This week, this message feels even more urgent. Afghanistan is under a 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 - the Taliban have shut down internet and phone services. This #SilentGenderApartheid has extinguished access to learning and silenced the voices of Afghan girls and women.

.
#WCOG25 #WCOG26 #SheLeadsHealthcare #WomenInGI #Gastroenterology #WeAreWGO #GIGlobalCommunity #WeAreWorldGI #WorldGastro #DiversityInGI #InspireInclusion #OneGlobalForce #FutureOfGI I am deeply honored to be nominated and appointed as the Secretary General of the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO).

As an Afghan immigrant who was given the gift of education and opportunity, I carry this role with profound gratitude and responsibility. Afghan girls and women have the right to education—it is a fundamental human right. I take this role to serve as a beacon of hope and an example of what is possible when that right is honored. #LetHerLearn

My passion for the global GI community is unwavering. I aim to:
• Strengthen global collaborations
• Expand education and mentorship programs
• Build sustainable partnerships to advance gastroenterology and empower the next generation of leaders

To serve as a global leader is a privilege I do not take lightly. Together, we can advance care, knowledge, and equity in digestive health around the world. by @ibd_afzali

3

38

a year ago

Truly honored and grateful to receive the @amcollegegastro International Leadership Award.

This recognition is especially meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. As an Afghan American who came to the United States as a young refugee, I could never have imagined the opportunities I would have to work alongside extraordinary colleagues around the world, advance digestive health, and contribute to a profession that has given me so much.

I have always believed that medicine, education, and leadership transcend borders 🌎 Some of our greatest contributions come through the relationships we build, the knowledge we share, and the opportunities we create for others.

My sincere gratitude to the ACG, my friends, mentors, colleagues, and collaborators who have been part of this journey.

Congratulations to Dr. David Fleischer, my fellow recipient of this year's award. It is a privilege to share this recognition with him.

Grateful for this honor and even more motivated to continue building bridges, advancing our profession, and supporting the next generation of leaders 🌎

#GlobalGICommunity #GlobalHealth #ACG2026 by @ibd_afzali

326

40

3 days ago

🔔 Who are we? 🔔

One of the greatest privileges of my career has been serving as Interim Chair of @cincinnaticollegeofmedicine Department of Internal Medicine -one of our largest departments and the foundation of adult academic medicine in our region.

This year, together, we have strengthened clinical care, advanced discovery and education, improved operations, and *most importantly* invested in our people and culture.

Great departments are built by great teams. I’m incredibly proud of the momentum we’ve created and even more excited about where we’re headed.
Together, we are caring for patients, advancing medicine, developing future leaders, and transforming healthcare.

A glimpse into who we are ⬇️

#AcademicMedicine #HealthcareLeadership #UCincyDOIM by @ibd_afzali

29

3

20 days ago

Another fantastic ACG GI Fellows #IBD101 program! Congrats to Dr. Lisa Malter for her visionary leadership & Robyn Graff for the incredible support 🙌 as well as course co directors Drs Kane, Rubin & Team. Always delighted to be invited to teach & educate #FutureofGI in the best subspecialty there is ➡️ IBD! 💜 taken in Washington D. C. by @ibd_afzali

111

0

a month ago

Night on the Serengeti presented by @uc_health @villagelifeoutreachproject Every dream starts with a seed 🌱 by @ibd_afzali

41

3

a month ago

And that's a wrap! 🎬 A privilege to travel from Brazil 🇧🇷 to Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 off to Australia 🇦🇺 ✈️
✈️ Sydney:
St. Vincent Hospital with Dr. Simon Ghaly & Team
Concord Hospital with Dr. Rupert Leong & Team
Symposium with @dr_rupey
✈️ Perth: for #AGW26 GESA Dr. Ashish Srinivasan and IBD planning team, with Dr. Peter Irving
Symposium with Prof Leong
✈️ Melbourne:
Alfred Hospital with Dr. Miles Sparrow & Team
Symposium with Prof Sparrow
✈️ Brisbane:
Mater Hospital with Dr. Yoon An @dryoonan & Dr. Jake Begun & Team
Symposium with Dr. Gareth Walker

Such an amazing J&J Australian TEAM and speaking tour with Symposia each evening for collective learning about IL23 inhibition, results from our GALAXI trials and clinical experience for IBD management. Greatly appreciate the support and hospitality, and the spectacular memories and wonderful new friendships created Down Under! 🇦🇺

#GlobalGICommunity #WeAreWGO #WeAreWorldGI
@worldgastroorg taken in Australia by @ibd_afzali

28

1

a month ago

What a fantastic gem I found in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 today! @kabulsocial Led by a Team of Afghan Women refugees 🇦🇫 With Plate It Forward to donate a meal to Afghanistan and refugees of Australia for every meal we eat 🙏🏼
Kudos @shaunchristiedavid 🙌 by @ibd_afzali

61

4

2 months ago

Another fantastic @sebradii has come to an end #SEBRADII2026 🇧🇷 An amazing conference filled with great Lectures, Speakers, Education, Science and Community. Always an honor to be invited back!
Até a próxima!!! 🙌 #GlobalGICommunity by @ibd_afzali

137

12

2 months ago

🌟Reimagining Grand Rounds: Building Community with Intention🌟

One of the lessons many academic medical centers learned after COVID was that while virtual education increased accessibility, it often came at the expense of connection.

Within the Department of Internal Medicine at UC, we challenged ourselves to ask a different question: How do we transform Grand Rounds from simply a lecture into an academic learning community?

With thoughtful leadership from #UCincyDOIM Dr. Eric Warm, Vice Chair for Education, we redesigned the experience - creating dedicated time and space for faculty, trainees, learners, and staff to reconnect, network, exchange ideas, and strengthen our academic community.

The result?

➡️ More than 200 faculty & staff at our reimagined University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds!

What was once attended by only a small in-person audience (and majority virtual attendance) has become an opportunity to bring our department together again. 🌟 The conversations before and after the lecture, new collaborations, mentorship, shared learning, and renewed sense of community are every bit as valuable as the presentation itself.

A special thank you to Nephrology Division Director Dr Amit Govil for taking the lead for our first reimagined Medical Grand Rounds and invited speaker, previous University of Cincinnati faculty Dr. Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, UNC Nephrology for delivering an inspiring, practical, and thought-provoking Grand Rounds that set the tone for this new chapter.

Academic medicine is built not only on education - but on relationships, collaboration, and a shared purpose. We're excited to continue building all three.

#AcademicMedicine #MedicalEducation #LearningCommunity #UCincyDOIM by @ibd_afzali

59

0

3 months ago

We’ve partnered with @worldgastroorg to recognize a physician who has made meaningful change to overcome the social determinants of health in gastroenterology.

Here are the nominees for this year’s Healio Health Equity Award:

🌎Victor Chedid, MD, MS

🌎Nikki Duong, MD

🌎Akwi Asombang, MD, MPH (@drasombang)

🌎Pascale M. White, MD, MBA, MS, FACG (@thestomachdocnyc)

🌎James H. Tabibian, MD, PhD, FACP, FASGE (@drjamestabibian)

🌎Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH

Vote now via the link in our bio!🗳️ by @ibd_afzali

30

2

3 months ago