Asif W Rafi, MD
Board Certified Allergy & Immunology
Board Certified Geriatrics & Gerontology
Dr. Rafi is board certified in Allergy and Immunology and Geriatrics and Gerontology. He also holds advanced certification in Geriatrics with a focus on immune function.
Dr. Rafi began his interest in Immunology as a Senior Research Associate at the Georgetown University Medical Center. While there, he completed a 2-year project investigating the epidemiology of HIV and AIDS in the DC metropolitan area. His research team was also one the key sites to be awarded one of the prestigious Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) grants.
After attending medical school at Howard University College of Medicine, he completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. During his residency, Dr. Rafi was actively involved in Allergy and Immunology research at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
After residency, Dr. Rafi entered a 3 year research fellowship in Allergy & Immunology and Geriatrics & Gerontology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). During his fellowship, he completed his pediatric Allergy and Immunology training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He has completed extensive research in the fields of chronic sinusitis, atopic dermatitis & allergic skin disorders, co-morbidities associated with allergic diseases, and food allergies. His other interests include immune disorders, asthma, transient wheezing of childhood, drug allergy, multiple drug sensitivities, and exercise induced asthma.
During his training at UCLA, Dr. Rafi also completed a Special Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics. He completed extensive research in the fields of anti-aging medicine, immune enhancing medications, and drug interactions.
Dr. Rafi is on faculty at UCLA and is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine/VA Greater Los Angeles Medical Center. He is a core member of the Allergy & Immunology Fellowship faculty within the VA Greater Los Angeles Medical Center. He heads the research of the fellows, and also teaches medical residents and medical students.
Dr. Rafi has written and published multiple first author manuscripts in the field of Allergy and Immunology and Geriatrics. He has also co-written a book chapter involving immunity in the elderly and infection control in nursing homes. These publications are available upon request.
Focusing Extensive Research
- Chronic sinusitis and chronic bronchitis. From my extensive training, I have developed a novel multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of chronic sinusitis which has superior efficacy to standard treatments.
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Food Allergies
- Allergy Skin Disorders
- Immunology of Aging
- Exercise Induced Asthma
- Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID)
- Immune Deficiencies
- Adult-Onset Allergies