Society of Hospital Medicine Awards Nasim Afsar, MD, MBA, MHM With Exclusive Master in Hospital Medicine Designation

Dr. Afsar Recognized for Dedication to Hospital Medicine as Leader in Optimizing Complex Systems of Care 

The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) recently named three new Masters in Hospital Medicine to honor those who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the principles of leadership, teamwork, and quality improvement within the specialty of hospital medicine.

“As a society, we have always called the Masters the ‘hospital medicine hall of fame,’ and this year’s inductees exemplify why,” explains Eric E. Howell, MD, MHM, Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Hospital Medicine. “Our newest Masters in Hospital Medicine are beyond deserving of this distinction and have contributed immeasurably to the field of hospital medicine. We are extremely grateful for the impact they have had on our profession and on our patients.”

Nasim Afsar, MD, MBA, MHM has been elected a Master in Hospital Medicine, honoring her unwavering dedication to hospital medicine and the Society as an accomplished medical leader. Dr. Afsar is known for her accomplishments in establishing and optimizing complex systems of care in the ambulatory and inpatient settings. Her contributions to hospital medicine can be seen through her extensive leadership experience in healthcare operations, quality, finance, and management.

Dr. Afsar currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Ambulatory Care for UCI Health, with the vision of delivering flawless care for the population of patients in Orange County and beyond, while creating the best place to work in healthcare. Prior to this role, she served as the Chief Operating Officer for Ambulatory Care for UCI Health and Associate Chief Medical Officer at UCLA Health. Throughout her career, she has led the development and successful implementation of forward-thinking and ambitious healthcare strategies across multiple organizations.

She served on SHM’s Board of Directors from April 2012 through April 2020, including as president and treasurer. During her time on the board, she was instrumental in defining SHM’s role in population health management.
She has also held a variety of positions within the Society, including as Chair of SHM’s Hospital Quality & Patient Safety Committee, founder and past Co-President of SHM’s Los Angeles Chapter, and faculty at numerous annual conferences. Dr. Afsar was also an esteemed mentor within SHM’s Project BOOST, a program within SHM’s Center for Quality Improvement focused on care transitions and served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Hospital Medicine for nearly 13 years.

Dr. Afsar received her MD from UC Davis, School of Medicine and completed her residency and internship at UCSD and UCLA, Internal Medicine programs. She received her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Masters in Hospital Medicine were recognized on May 5, 2021 at SHM’s annual conference, SHM Converge, which was held virtually. For more information on SHM’s Master in Hospital Medicine designation, visit hospitalmedicine.org/fellows.