Arash Afshinnik, M.D., MBA, FNCS, was born in Tehran, Iran. At the age of three months, his parents immigrated from Iran to Sacramento. After graduating high school, Dr. Afshinnik obtained his Bachelor of Science in neurophysiology from the University of California, Davis. While at UC Davis, Dr. Afshinnik was engaged with his community, worked as a stage director for a dance company and was an assistant coach for his high school football team.

After graduating from UC Davis, he attended medical school at St. George’s University and graduated in 2005 with his medical degree. As a result of his foundation in neurophysiology, after medical school, he joined the University of Chicago and trained in adult neurology. During his time at the University of Chicago, Dr. Afshinnik was trained by some of the founders of neurocritical care and, as a result, was inspired to pursue further training in neurocritical care. During his residency, Dr. Afshinnik was awarded the best resident research project for each year of his residency and also presented at the Neurocritical Care Society national meeting. As a result of his early academic accolades, he earned a neurocritical care fellowship position at Emory University.

Once Dr. Afshinnik completed his fellowship, he joined the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute as a neurointensivist. During his time at Ochsner, he helped build multiple programs and was a co-author for nationally recognized research and development of novel stroke systems of care. He developed the first neurocritical care fellowship at Ochsner and helped develop their now multi-state telestroke program. As a result of his contributions, Dr. Afshinnik has published in neurocritical care and telehealth delivery of stroke care. During his fellowship, Dr. Afshinnik met his wife, Dr. Shahinpour, a pharmacist specializing in cystic fibrosis for the Community Health System. In 2015, Dr. Afshinnik was recruited to build a neurosciences ICU team for Community Health System.

Dr. Afshinnik has been extensively involved in leadership positions within the Neurocritical Care Society. With over 11 years of service within the society, Dr. Afshinnik has participated in creating annual meetings, developing corporate sponsorships, developing fellowship grant opportunities and mentoring scientific presentations. Dr. Afshinnik also participates in NIH and industry-funded clinical trials and has published articles on stroke management and telehealth development. In recognition of years of contributions to the field of neurocritical care and Neurocritical Care Society, he was awarded the title of Fellow of Neurocritical Care, FNCS. In his leisure time, Dr. Afshinnik is an avid gardener and enjoys woodworking.