UC's Anita Afzali, MD, receives American College of Gastroenterology International Leadership Award
Anita Afzali, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and internationally recognized leader in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, has received the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2026 International Leadership Award for advancing digestive health education, research and partnerships worldwide.
Anita Afzali, MD, receives the ACG 2026 International Leadership Award from ACG President William D. Chey, MD, during the ACG 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. Photo/Provided by Nazish Butt.
The award recognizes an ACG member for outstanding and substantial contributions to the college and the international gastroenterology community. Those contributions may include training physicians from other countries who become community leaders, leading international organizations that improve patient care and participating in humanitarian efforts. ACG's Awards Committee reviews nominations with input from its International Affairs Committee and Board of Governors, and the ACG Board of Trustees must approve each recipient. ACG honored Afzali at the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
She is a professor of medicine and the James F. Heady Endowed Chair in Medicine in the College of Medicine, where she serves as interim chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. She is also a UC Health physician in gastroenterology and its physician operations executive.
"This recognition is especially meaningful to me, both personally and professionally," Afzali said. "I could never have imagined the opportunities I would have to collaborate with extraordinary colleagues across the globe, advance digestive health and contribute to a profession that has given me so much. I am deeply grateful for the relationships, shared purpose and opportunities to make a meaningful impact along the way."
She shares this year's award with David Fleischer, MD, a former president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy who leads efforts to reduce esophageal cancer in Africa.
Building bridges in global digestive health
Afzali serves on the ACG Institute Board of Directors and previously chaired the college's Educational Affairs Committee.
Afzali serves as secretary general of the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), which represents more than 120 member societies and 60,000 gastroenterologists. In that role, she advances international partnerships, education and capacity building across member societies worldwide.
She has collaborated with physician leaders, scientific societies and academic institutions across six continents. As principal investigator on numerous multicenter clinical trials and a contributor to international practice guidelines, she has helped shape IBD care worldwide. Her research includes the pivotal Phase 3 guselkumab studies published in The Lancet, as well as a recent five-year analysis of long-term outcomes in Crohn’s disease that she led and that was published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
"I have always believed that medicine, education and leadership transcend borders," Afzali said. "Some of our greatest contributions come through the relationships we build, the knowledge we share and the opportunities we create for others."
Afzali is also committed to developing future leaders through nonprofit service. She co-founded the Scrubs & Heels Foundation, which advances women leaders in medicine, and serves on the board of directors of Ascend Leadership, which expands leadership development and educational opportunities for women and girls globally, with a particular focus on Afghanistan.
Before joining UC, Afzali established the first standalone multidisciplinary IBD center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She completed her residency, gastroenterology fellowship, advanced IBD fellowship and Master of Public Health at the University of Washington and earned a Master of Health Care Management from Harvard University.
"I am grateful to ACG and to the friends, mentors, colleagues and collaborators who have been part of my journey," Afzali said. "This honor leaves me even more motivated to continue building bridges, advancing our profession and supporting the next generation of leaders."
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