Afshan Anjum
,
Credentials
MD, MS

Associate Professor
Biography

Bio

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
slomi001@umn.edu

In the Media

Teaching Summary

Dr. Anjum teaches medical students, residents, child and adolescent fellows and psychology interns.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Anjum directs the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic training for the fellows. She sees patients with a variety of childhood onset psychiatric illnesses including developmental delays, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, Anxiety Spectrum disorders, Autism Spectrum disorders, Schizophrenia and Psychotic Spectrum disorders and Mood disorders.

Education

MS, University of Texas Medical Branch
Major: Microbiology
Intern, Gandhi Hospital and Affiliated Hospitals
MBBS, Osmania University Medical School

Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Fellowship
University of Minnesota
Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorder, Fellowship
University of Minnesota
Psychiatry, Residency
University of Minnesota

Licensures and Certifications

Adult Psychiatry, American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry

Honors and Recognition

Teacher of the Year Award
Best of Minneapolis Awards- Doctor
Making a Meaningful Difference, Child and Adolescent Fellowship
Ranked 14th among 320 students (top 5% of class) at Osmania University
First Division MBBS (final), Osmania University
Edited medical college year books, Osmania University
Represented medical college at several inter-collegiate literary competitions and won several awards, Osmania University
Minnesota Monthly's 2021 & 2022 Top Doctors

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Asian American Pacific Islander Desi Faculty and Staff Association
American Psychiatric Association
Selected Publications

Selected Publications

Cullen, K., Guimaraes, A., Wozniak, J., Anjum, A., Schulz, S. C., White, T., 2011. Trajectories of Social Withdrawal and Cognitive Decline in the Schizophrenia Prodrome. Clinical Schizophrenia & Related Psychoses, 4 (4): 229-238.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3371/CSRP.4.4.3 PubMed ID: 21177240.
Jensen, J. B., Kumra, S., Leitten, W., Oberstar, J., Anjum, A., White, T., Wozniak, J., Lee, S. S., Schulz, S. C., 2008. A comparative pilot study of second-generation antipsychotics in children and adolescents with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 18 (4): 317-26.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2007.0123 PubMed ID: 18759641.
White, T., Anjum, A., Schulz, S. C., 2006. The schizophrenia prodrome. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163 (3): 376-80.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.3.376 PubMed ID: 16513855.
Selected Presentations

Selected Presentations

Anjum, A., Herickhoff, C. "Evidence Based Assessment and Management of Early Onset Psychotic Disorders in Youth", Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, MACMH - Minnesota Association of Children's Mental Health.", Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, Presentation/Talk, April 24, 2022.
Parvez, J., (Panelist), Hussain, N., (Panelist), Anjum, A., (Panelist), Khan, F., (Panelist) "Challenges Faced by American Muslim Families of Today", Chicago Muslim Medical Alliance (CMMA), CMMA, Addison, Illinois, November 06, 2021.
Anjum, A. ""Psychological & Mental Health Impact of Coronoavirus Pandemic" A Khanversation with Dr. Afshan Anjum", Online Talk/Webinar, April 18, 2020.
Anjum, A., (Presenter) "Managing Anxiety and Healthy Communication in Families During Time of Stress and Uncertainty Due to Covid-19", NAMI, Webinar Presentation, March 27, 2020.
Steingraeber, C., Gewirtz O'Brien, J., Singh, N., Anjum, A. "A Problem-Based Learning Approach to Teaching Adolescent Mental Health to Pediatric Residents", 2019 Association for Academic Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, September 06, 2019.
Gandhi, R. N., Anjum, A., Homans, J. C. "A Child Fellow-Faculty Developed Modular Curriculum for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowships", Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Boston, Massachusetts, September 06, 2019.
Gandhi, R. N., Donoghue, A., Merriman, L., Nwankiti, C. P., Triana, J. C., Jensen, D., Jami, A., Anjum, A. "Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Boot Camp (2.0): A Clinical Orientation for New Fellows", MMCGME Quality Improvement Forum, May 28, 2019.
Gandhi, R., Anjum, A. "Telepsychiatry -- Where Does India Stand? Scope, and Challenges", Indo-American Psychiatric Association Meeting (IAPA), American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, California, May 19, 2019.
Anjum, A., Nwankiti, C., Gandhi, R "Barriers to Care and the Role of Cultural Competence in Delivering Care Among Diverse Ethnic Minorities", Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH). Presentation/Talk, Duluth, Minnesota, April 30, 2019.
Anjum, A., Gandhi, R. "Assessment and Management of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder", Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH). Presentation/Talk, Duluth, Minnesota, April 29, 2019.
Contact

Contact

Address

Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55414