As Physician-in-Chief for Phoenix Children’s, Ashish Patel, MD, provides clinical and administrative leadership for key health system operations including emergency and diagnostic medicine, the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the aerodigestive clinic and medical subspecialties. In addition, he oversees hospital medicine, mental and behavioral health, and Phoenix Children’s Pediatrics. He is also a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist.
Dr. Patel joined Phoenix Children’s in 2020 as division chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. During his time as division chief, he grew the division to 25 physicians plus 55 specialists, dietitians, nurses and medical assistants who deliver care throughout the healthcare system. Dr. Patel is committed to training the next generation of physicians and was instrumental launching a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This program was the first at Phoenix Children’s and the first in Arizona.
Dr. Patel received his medical degree from Texas A&M University Health Science Center. He completed his pediatric residency at Texas A&M Health where he also served as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. While at University of Texas Southwestern in 2006-2007, he was in the original group of Trailblazers that helped establish what we know now as ImproveCareNow! He served as their site leader from 2007 to 2020 before moving to Phoenix Children’s.