Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA, appointed Chief Innovation Officer

(Press-News.org) UC San Diego Health has appointed Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA, as the new chief innovation officer. Additionally, he will serve as interim assistant vice chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI at UC San Diego.

In this dual role, Khalessi will shape UC San Diego Health innovation strategy and lead the integration of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), across the health system and academic enterprise.

His appointment reflects UC San Diego Health’s commitment to accelerating innovations that support clinicians, strengthen patient safety, enhance operational efficiency, and expand access to world-class care. Khalessi will help advance systemwide initiatives that position UC San Diego Health at the forefront of technology-enabled care and scientific translation.

“As UC San Diego continues to push the boundaries of what is possible to develop groundbreaking health care solutions, Dr. Khalessi’s expertise and visionary leadership will advance our important work as a destination public university that is student centered, research driven, patient dedicated, and service oriented,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “He will not only reinforce the health system's reputation for leading-edge innovation, but he will also advance our ability to integrate AI and digital technology in ways that enhance the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve.”

As chief innovation officer, Khalessi will direct systemwide technology deployment, oversee surgical and procedural innovation, and align capital and operational priorities to support digital transformation and system AI readiness. He will partner closely with UC San Diego Health information services and the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation.

"Dr. Khalessi brings exceptional leadership and vision to this critical role at a pivotal time for health care innovation," said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. "His unique combination of clinical excellence, research expertise, and proven track record in building innovative programs positions him perfectly to lead our enterprise innovation strategy and accelerate our AI integration and digital transformation efforts as we help define the national model for innovation in academic medicine."

Khalessi serves as chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UC San Diego Health, one of the nation's top neurosurgery programs consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report. An internationally regarded cranial and endovascular neurosurgeon, he has led the growth of a comprehensive subspecialty department performing more than 4,500 major procedures annually.

“UC San Diego has a remarkable foundation of clinical excellence, scientific discovery and technological leadership,” said Khalessi. “This role brings together the historic strengths of our ecosystem with the ingenuity of our world-class faculty — accelerating innovation, advancing the safe and thoughtful use of AI, and ensuring our patients benefit from the most effective tools and approaches in modern medicine. Together, we are ideally positioned to shape a healthier future.”

As interim assistant vice chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI, Khalessi will strengthen alignment across UC San Diego Health Sciences by connecting academic discovery with clinical application and commercialization. His responsibilities include strategic oversight of Health Sciences innovation initiatives, collaboration with campus innovation leadership, and engagement with biotechnology partners across the region to advance translational impact.

“Dr. Khalessi is uniquely positioned to help unite our research, clinical and educational missions around a shared vision for innovation,” said John M. Carethers, MD, vice chancellor for Health Sciences. “His leadership will strengthen collaboration across campus and with our partners in industry, enabling us to translate new ideas into real-world solutions that improve health for communities throughout our region and beyond.”

Khalessi is professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine and holds the Don and Karen Cohn Chancellor’s Endowed Chair of Neurological Surgery. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and served as principal or co-investigator on over 25 clinical trials. A national leader in medical innovation and regulatory science, Khalessi is an inductee of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, chairs the Neurosurgery Advisory Council for the American College of Surgeons, serves on National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) study sections, advises the FDA as a founding member of the Medical Device Innovation Consortium on neurovascular technology, and is a past president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the largest global academic society in neurosurgery.

Khalessi earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Southern California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in health services research from Stanford University, as well as an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.

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