Nezam H. Afdhal, MD, Named Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

BOSTON – Nezam H. Afdhal, MD, has been named Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), effective June 1, 2019. Afdhal assumes this role where he has been practicing as a clinician, researcher, teacher and mentor after 19 years with the division.

“Dr. Afdhal is an outstanding physician and a superb teacher who built our hepatology section and has continued to mentor many of our faculty members,” said Mark Zeidel, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine at BIDMC. “We are so pleased that Dr. Afdhal will be expanding his leadership and launching his strategic vision in his new role as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.”

A distinguished clinical leader and highly productive translational researcher, Afdhal has made many important innovations in the care of patients with liver disease. He spearheaded many of the major clinical trials which led to curative therapy for hepatitis C, has been a leader in the global eradication strategies for hepatitis C virus elimination and pioneered the application of transient elastography technology in the ongoing evaluation of liver fibrosis.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue working with the outstanding faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the Department of Medicine in my new role,” said Afdhal, who is also a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Together, we will continue to offer world-class care to our patients and transform the future of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition medicine through our research and medical education programs.”

Afdhal has served on multiple state, national and international advisory boards for liver disease and has also contributed to the field by serving on editorial boards and as a reviewer for multiple journals in gastroenterology and liver diseases.  He is the author of more than 250 original manuscripts, reviews and editorials, whose work has been featured in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Hepatology and other respected journals. Afdhal has received numerous awards, including the American Liver Foundation Award for Excellence, a Fulbright Scholarship and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Afdhal earned his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons and completed his residency with St. Laurences Hospital. He also participated in fellowship programs with St. Vincent's Hospital & University College, Dublin and Boston Medical Center. 

Afdhal succeeds J. Thomas Lamont, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, who has been serving as Interim Division Chief Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition since 2016. “We are enormously grateful to Dr. Lamont for his dedicated and highly effective leadership over the past several years,” said Zeidel. “He has worked tirelessly to enhance the teaching and research efforts of the division, and we know he will continue to be a key member of our faculty.”