Executive Officer

 

 

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Captain Afarin graduated magna cum laude from Hope College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry/Chemistry. Subsequently, he attended Indiana University School of Medicine under the Health Professions Scholarship. In summer of 2003 he reported to his first duty station with the Marines at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan as the General Medical Officer for 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group. Follow on tour was to Bangor, Washington in support of the submarine community.
 

During his time at Bangor, Washington, he deployed with the Army as an individual augmentee from 2005-2006 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Farah, Afghanistan simultaneously serving as a Medical Officer and S1 officer. He helped coordinate medical care for his teammates, coalition team, Afghan national forces, and civilians in an austere environment while forging relationships with Afghan clinics and hospitals as a medical asset for the Provincial Reconstruction Team. He was recognized by his command for his humanitarian efforts having paved the way for first class health care for severely burnt Afghan children.
 

Dr. Afarin commenced radiology residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) in 2008 and was selected by his peers and staff to become co-chief resident during his senior year. He successfully became board certified by The American Board of Radiology in 2012. CAPT Afarin would stay on at NMCP as Staff and served as Assistant Ultrasound Department Head. As a mentor, teacher, and researcher he was granted Assistant Professor of Radiology/Radiological Sciences at USUHS.
 

In 2013, CAPT Afarin arrived at Naval Hospital Bremerton focused on patient safety with radiation dose reduction and implementing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force low dose CT lung cancer screening protocol. Various memberships within the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) including Vice Chair of MEC gave him critical perspective of the hospital’s health care operations prior to being promoted to interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
 

As Radiology department head and interim CMO, he navigated the department and command through the adoption and implementation of the new electronic health record, MHS GENESIS (MHSG) as an initial operating capability (IOC) site effectively collaborating with other IOC sites CMOs and mitigating potential patient safety issues in real time. His follow-on accession to Director of Clinical Support Services laid the foundational blueprint for Tri-services radiologic coverage in MHSG and successful command Tri-annual Joint Commission Survey.
 

He reported to Naval Health Clinic Annapolis as the command’s Chief Medical Officer in 2019. His keen focus on people, processes, and patient safety were key during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobilized, coordinated, and executed innumerable mass COIVD-19 testing evolutions for the Brigade of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, and implemented risk mitigation strategies to meet beneficiary medical needs. As Chief Medical Informatics Officer, the foundational work and formation of the informatics steering team led to the successful pre-deployment planning and execution of MHSG.

Captain Afarin’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, and various service awards.