Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, AM (hon.), DHL (hon.)

Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, AM (hon.), DHL (hon.) has an extensive and diverse work experience in the fields of medicine and healthcare. Dimitri is currently serving as the President and CEO of Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics since August 2020.

Prior to that, Dr. Azar worked at Google as the Senior Director of Verily Life Sciences from July 2017 to September 2020. Dimitri also served on the Board of Directors at Novartis from March 2012 to March 2019.

Dr. Azar has held various leadership positions at academic institutions. Dimitri was the Dean of College of Medicine and a Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering, and Pharmacology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine from May 2011 to March 2018. Before that, they were a Professor and the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, as well as the BA Field Chair of Ophthalmologic Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago from April 2006 to December 2011.

Prior to their time at the University of Illinois, Dr. Azar was a Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute from 2003 to 2006. Dimitri also worked at Mass. Eye and Ear, where they served as the Director of Cornea, Refractive Surgery, and Contact Lens Services, as well as an Associate Professor at Harvard from 1996 to 2003.

Dr. Azar's career started at Johns Hopkins Medicine, where they served as the Director of Refractive Surgery Service from 1991 to 1996. Dimitri also worked at Harvard Medical School as the Chief Resident and Assistant Director of Residency Training at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary from 1990 to 1991.

Throughout their career, Dr. Azar has received numerous honors and recognitions for their contributions to the field, including honorary degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago and De La Salle University.

Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, AM (hon.), DHL (hon.), began their education by earning their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the American University of Beirut in 1986. Dimitri then went on to pursue a Research Fellowship in Cell Biology and Morphology at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, which was affiliated with Harvard University. Concurrently, from 1986 to 1990, Azar also completed their Residency in Ophthalmology and Fellowship in Cornea & External Diseases at Harvard Medical School.

In 2003, Azar received an honorary degree of AM from Harvard University. Later, from 2009 to 2011, they attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where they obtained an MBA with High Honors. Throughout their education, Azar focused primarily on ophthalmology, with their research and clinical training centered around this field.