Akbar Ashrafi

As a urologist and robotic surgeon, Dr Akbar Ashrafi is driven by a passion to push the limits of what is possible in his field and to constantly “move the needle forward”.

But an even deeper motivator is his commitment to helping his patients through their most vulnerable moments.

“It’s a privilege to be trusted with their lives and wellbeing, offering them expert care, hope and healing through years of dedication and training,” he says.

Based in Adelaide, Akbar specialises in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, particularly for kidney, prostate and bladder cancers. He is equally passionate about mentoring the next generation of surgeons.The son of two doctors, Akbar says there was never any question he would follow in his parents’ footsteps.

“My father, a general surgeon, and my mother, a gynaecologist, dedicated their lives to helping others, and their stories of patient care inspired me from a young age,” he says. “My mother taught me compassion and generosity, while my father instilled a love for surgery and discipline in clinical excellence.”

Born in Bangladesh, Akbar grew up in the UK and New Zealand before moving to Australia as an adult.

“I cherish my multicultural roots,” he says. “These early life experiences shaped my values, broadened my perspective and deepened my sense of empathy – qualities that continue to guide both my personal and professional life.”

Having enrolled in medical school aged just 16, Akbar says his studies at the University of Auckland not only provided a world-class education, they “also instilled in me the discipline and curiosity essential for lifelong learning”.

“My training in Auckland gave me both the clinical grounding and critical thinking skills to thrive as a clinician, researcher and teacher, as well as the confidence and vision to pursue a dynamic, international career in medicine,” he says.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Akbar moved to Australia to complete an internship and basic surgical training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He later undertook advanced urological training in Brisbane and Sydney before pursuing qualifications enabling him to practise in the United States.

Expanding his knowledge and skillset remains a constant theme for Akbar, who also completed the Harvard Medical School Surgical Leadership Program in 2023.

“I don’t view success as a fixed destination,” he says. “For me, it’s about continuous growth, learning and striving to do better. Each milestone – whether passing exams, receiving recognition or helping a patient – adds to the journey, but I’m always looking ahead to the next opportunity for improvement.”

In this spirit, Akbar remains committed to innovation and is “always aiming to raise the bar in both clinical outcomes and patient experience”.

As part of this mission, in 2021 he founded Adelaide Urology Care, which specialises in robotic and minimally invasive urology. In addition to his surgical work, Akbar contributes to teaching, mentorship and research. Since 2020, he has served as a senior urologist at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, where he leads robotic surgery in the urology portfolio and supervises urology trainees. He is also a clinical adjunct associate professor with the University of Notre Dame Australia and the University of South Australia.

Akbar’s commitment to live with compassion and to always improve also flows into his personal life.

“I want to continue growing in my roles as a father, husband, son, colleague and community member – striving to make a meaningful contribution not only to medicine but also to the communities around me.”