Afzali hopes fellowship will lead to impactful health systems change

Afzali is the James F. Heady Professor of Medicine and the executive vice chair of clinical operations in the Department of Internal Medicine. She also serves as associate chief medical officer for UC Health. An internationally known gastroenterologist, she has conducted extensive clinical research in novel therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. She received her medical degree and completed her internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Washington. She later added a master’s degree in public health from the University of Washington and a master’s in health care management from Harvard University. Afzali joined the college’s faculty July 1, 2022, coming from Ohio State University's College of Medicine, where she held the Abercrombie and Fitch Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

ELH is one of two tracks of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program at Drexel University College of Medicine. ELH, which began in 2022, is designed for senior-level female leaders interested in advancing in hospitals and health care systems and focuses on clinical operations and health care delivery. The other track — the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship — was established in 1995 and prepares women for senior leadership roles in schools of medicine, public health, dentistry and pharmacy and focuses on education and research in academic health centers.

Afzali is the second College of Medicine faculty member to be accepted into the ELH track. Ndidi Unaka, MD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics, was a member of the ELH Class of 2024.

“The need for the highest quality leaders in academic health care has never been greater, and we are doing everything we can to help meet that need by providing outstanding and innovative leadership training for women,” said Nancy Spector, MD, executive director of ELAM.

Afzali said the ELH track aligns with her professional career aspirations and will help her expand her professional network to connect with other health care leaders. She sees valuable mentorship and collaboration opportunities coming from her participation in the fellowship. Additionally, projects she will do during the program can also be applied within her department.

“It lends an opportunity to directly apply these skills within our current organization,” she said. “I anticipate driving meaningful improvements in patient care, operational efficiency and overall organizational performance.”

Lifelong learning is important to Afzali and, despite her busy schedule as a departmental administrator, physician and researcher, she sees the additional efforts in the fellowship as paying big dividends for her Department of Internal Medicine and the entire UC Health system, as well as her professional career.

“My passion and career purpose are central to my ability to effectively balance what I do and this motivates my aspirations, focus and drive,” she said. “My primary goal is to enhance patient care and make a lasting positive impact within all my roles and responsibilities. By focusing on this mission, I can effectively manage my time, prioritize meaningful activities and drive significant improvements within organizations. I am eager to leverage this ELH opportunity to continue to grow, lead and contribute to the advancement of health care at the highest levels.”