Dr Anita Afzali

10/13/2025

Counting down ⏳️ until 🌵
Looking forward to meeting new & seeing old friends/colleagues

Post Grad Course: Dr. Linda Nguyen {} and Dr. Tauseef Ali {}

Annual Conference with Madam Prez Dr. Amy Oxentenko {}

🩺 Clinically relevant
🔬 Evidence based
🥼 Practical
🫂 Networking

📸 Will we see you there? Snap your photo, share what you look forward to, and share where we can meet you!

10/09/2025

In : Updated 2025 ACG Clinical Guideline for the Management of Crohn’s Disease
Mike Z. Zhai, MD, MBA &

📖 gi.org/ebgi/zhai_dalal_sep2025

10/03/2025

🌍 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.

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 has extinguished access to learning and silenced the voices of Afghan girls and women.

World Gastroenterology Organisation American College of Gastroenterology American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Scrubs & Heels

09/03/2025

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

"The most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to help people with various pathologies of the digestive system recover in a fairly short time." - Yana Nikiforova, MD

08/15/2025

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! 🥊

08/03/2025

Another year. Another evolution. 🙌

This past year brought deep challenges - my parents’ health struggles, my sister’s battle with breast cancer, my own health, painful losses, and major professional transitions. Through it all, I chose to rise.

These moments didn’t break me - they shaped me. They sharpened my focus, expanded my compassion, and reminded me of what truly matters.

Growth rarely comes easy, but it brings power, clarity, purpose.

I’m especially grateful for those whose presence - in big and small ways - made the load a little lighter. Your kindness mattered.

In a year that tested so many of us, I’m reminded of the power of humanity and community, our collective care and moral responsibility to stand up when it matters, to speak up when it’s hard, and to act when it’s needed. Silence is not always neutral. And growth without purpose is incomplete.

I step into this next chapter with strength, intention, and joy.

~The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why~ Mark Twain

Blessed to have another birthday - and to the continued becoming. Let’s go! 🥊

07/15/2025

*Memo*
After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as President & Board Director of . As a Co-Founder, I remain proud of what we’ve built over the years. Unfortunately, the organization’s current direction no longer aligns with my values or vision. I remain deeply committed to advancing education, equity, and innovation in IBD and look forward to continuing that work through new and aligned platforms. With appreciation to all who have supported this journey 🤲
Anita Azali, MD, MPH, MCM, FACG, AGAF

07/04/2025

Early Registration Extension!! ⏳️



🔗 wgo-agw25.gesa.org.au

📩 DM & let's meet at our WGO World Café ☕️

Join myself, President G. Metz, our Inspiring Incoming President 🎉 & The Entire Governing Council in 🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia

Register now and can't wait to meet you!


🌎

07/03/2025

Graduated. Grateful. Growing. 🎓 (late post!)

I’m honored to share that I’ve completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine/Executive Leadership in Health Care (ELH) Fellowship through Drexel University.

This year has been truly transformational - both professionally and personally.

From deepening my leadership philosophy, to expanding my strategic lens as a Physician Executive, this fellowship pushed me to think bigger, lead bolder, and stay rooted in values that matter: authenticity, impact, and integrity.

To my ELH Learning Community: Thank you for being a source of support, reflection, challenge, and inspiration. Drs. Sabrena Noria Jennifer Helderman, Leigh Cantrell, Kathryn Carlson, Abeer Azzuqa, and Madhu Mazumdar (amazing advisor!)

Thank you, Nancy D. Spector, MD for your encouragement, strength, grace, and inspiration, and Sara Jo Grethlein, MD MBA, for your support and dedication.

To the many authentic, brilliant, and like-minded leaders I've met through this experience, including my APHSU group, you’ve become more than colleagues - you are collaborators and lifelong friends. You have reaffirmed my belief that leadership isn’t a title - it’s an act of service.

This journey sharpened my ability to build teams, drive operational change, and influence systems in ways that prioritize people and purpose. I step forward even more committed to lifting others as I climb - and to always leading with a growth mindset.

Leadership is not about having the answers - it's about building the conditions where bold ideas and people can thrive.

I’m ready for what’s next. Let's go! 🥊

05/08/2025

While we recognize Emily as this year’s healthcare hero, her journey with IBD started long before earning her degree and career in this field. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at age 16. While it is important to acknowledge some of the challenges she has faced with Crohn's, this disease does not define her. Instead, it sparked her desire to pursue a career helping people who are fighting the same disease and grow a deeper empathy for each patient along the way.
She is a proud team member of University of Cincinnati’s IBD Program. Their team knows that IBD is not “one size fits all”. She is excited to come to work each day, impacting patient stories, knowing they are advancing the field of IBD through quality care, clinical trials, crucial research, and continuing education.
Support Emily: https://bit.ly/44S6Bo9

05/06/2025

Register for ACG’s 2025 Endoscopy School and Eastern Regional Postgraduate Course, featuring Dr. David Hudesman on Updates on Newly Approved Therapies for IBD and Where They Fit in Practice

June 6-8 in Washington, DC
➡️ gi.org/acg-2025-eastern

01/25/2025