Afshan Anjum, MD, MS

I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist with a focus on childhood-onset psychiatric illnesses at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. I graduated from the University of Chicago with honors in psychology before completing an MD/PhD program in Neurobiology. I went to UCLA for general psychiatry training and completed an extended clinical research child fellowship at UIC. I am board-certified in general adult as well as child & adolescent psychiatry.

My primary focus as a scientist and clinician is to advance our understanding of neurodevelopment. These efforts build on my PhD work in neuroscience investigating the biological mechanisms underlying social behaviors and interactions. My current research focuses on novel and data-driven approaches to elucidate developmental trajectories. I co-lead the CANlab (Converging Approaches to Neurodevelopment) with Dr. Conelea. My team investigates biobehavioral differences that predict dimensional outcomes or categorical psychiatric disorders; this includes testing new measures and using alternative statistical and machine learning analyses to delineate developmental risk profiles and to follow lifespan mental health outcomes. I have also studied biopsychosocial modulators (e.g., neurohormones) and reproductive physiology during the critical pre-/post-pubertal stage in development. After post-doctoral and clinical training, I ran an independent research wet lab and subsequently led a clinical research lab. Large genetic/phenotypic studies and multisite clinical trials have increased our knowledge through national collaborations. My clinical experience and interest in using new technologies have honed my expertise in transdiagnostic research by leveraging our ability to quickly access data from large communities. 

My clinical specialties include developmental disorders that affect rigid, inflexible behaviors and social functioning including autism; obsessive-compulsive disorder; social anxiety, and selective mutism. Treatment modalities include group, family, and individual cognitive behavioral therapy along with medication management. I also serve as the Chief Medical and Sciences Officer for Fraser as they integrate biomedical services and become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

I am board-certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry. I have been awarded “Best Teacher Award” for several years in a row. I was voted the Top Doctor in Minneapolis for 2020.

Expertise

• Childhood-onset psychiatric illnesses 
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders
• Anxiety spectrum disorders
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Psychotic spectrum disorders
• Mood disorders

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Shelly Slominski
[email protected]

In the Media

• 2023: Featured in this article titled, “Strategic planning process in the Division of Child and Adolescent Mental Health creates a vision for the future.”