Akbar K. Waljee, MD, MS

Akbar K. Waljee, MD, MS, is dedicated to advancing health and healthcare access, quality, and efficiency in low-resource settings around the world. He serves as the Leslie D. Yamada and Tachi Yamada M.D. Director of the University of Michigan Center for Global Health Equity and holds several prominent academic roles, including associate dean of global health research, Lyle C. Roll Professor in the departments of Learning Health Sciences and Internal Medicine, and professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan. Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Waljee's global work is driven by a commitment to health equity and focuses on using data science to address healthcare delivery, particularly in low-resource settings. He is widely recognized for leveraging advanced methodological approaches, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to deliver efficient, effective, and equitable care. His work facilitates better decision-making in areas with limited resources by addressing social and environmental determinants of health. Waljee's groundbreaking research has garnered substantial grant funding from organizations such as the Veterans Affairs Health Systems Research, the National Institutes of Health, the State of Michigan, and the Department of Defense. He holds undergraduate and medical degrees from Emory University and completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology/hepatology fellowship at the University of Michigan, where he has been a faculty member since 2009.