Dr. Nikan Khatibi
Physician
Board Leader
Serial Entrepreneur
Public Affairs & Diplomacy
Dr. Khatibi is a visionary, results-driven physician executive, healthcare policy expert, and innovative communicator with experience providing company leadership, strategic planning, and policy development.
Dr. Nikan Khatibi is a Persian-American physician anesthesiologist, pain management and addiction medicine specialist. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director for Ahura Healthcare Corporation which provides mental health, pain management and addiction medicine care to the most vulnerable community members in Southern California. He also serves on the Board of Directors for CalOptima, which is the largest county-organized healthcare system in California, providing vision and fiduciary direction to close to 1 million members under a 3.4 billion dollar operating budget and on the Board of Directors for the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) where he advises and assists the NCI Director on the activities of the National Cancer Program.
Dr. Khatibi has also been involved in healthcare policy for more than ten years, serving as an inclusive and tenacious advocate for patients and providers through his visionary work on the board for the California Medical Association, American Medical Association Delegation, California Health Professions Education Foundation (Governor Appointee), CalOptima (Board of Supervisors Appointee), National Cancer Advisory Board (US Presidential Appointee), Drug Use Is Life Abuse, Illumination Foundation, American Heart Association’s California Advocacy Team, and Expert Reviewer for the Medical Board.
In addition to his policy work, Dr. Khatibi divides his time between clinical practice, research, and teaching. An astute health scholar and leader, he has authored 30 journal articles focusing on traumatic brain injury, stroke, and targeted gene medication therapy, especially for those battling with chronic pain. He has received several prestigious awards for his work and has been named a Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Scholar by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Excellence in Medicine Award by the American Medical Association, and named Orange County Metro Magazines 'Top 40 Under 40'. In 2017, Dr. Khatibi was named a Fellow at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). He also serves as a clinical instructor for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council at the University of California, Irvine, and is an expert reviewer for the Medical Board.
Dr. Khatibi lives in Southern California and is passionate about giving back to those who protect and serve our country. That is why he is honored to serve our military service members as a Captain in the California State Guard - 163rd Medical Support Team.