Image by Cecilia Lopez

published on June 16, 2026 – 4:22 PM
Written by Ben Hensley

A physician who previously provided medical care to professional soccer players at New York City Football Club is set to take ownership of a Fresno concierge medical practice when its founders retire this summer.

Optimal Medical Group announced this week that Dr. Muhammad J. Anwar will assume leadership of the practice following the retirement of co-founders Drs. Juan Chavez and Lucia Mireles-Chavez at the end of July.

Anwar is board-certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. His specialties include hormone optimization, longevity medicine and GLP-1-based weight management therapies.

Before coming to Fresno, Anwar served as concierge physician for New York City Football Club, providing care to professional athletes. He also served as inaugural medical director of student health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and completed his medical residency at Montefiore Medical Center, also in New York. He holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Chavez and Mireles-Chavez said their search for a successor began nearly two years ago. The couple sought a physician who shared their patient-centered approach to care and decided to move up the transition timeline after becoming confident in Anwar’s fit with the practice.

“We’re thrilled to bring Dr. Anwar’s world-class expertise to our Central Valley community,” Chavez said. “His unique background treating elite athletes and leading academic medicine programs means our patients receive the same caliber of precision, personalized care delivered to professional sports teams and top-tier medical institutions.”

“I’m honored to join Optimal Medical Group and serve the Fresno community,” Anwar said. “My focus is partnering with patients who refuse to settle for conventional care.”

Optimal Medical Group will host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, for patients to meet Anwar ahead of the formal transition.