UC San Diego Health Names Neurosurgeon Alexander Khalessi Chief Innovation Officer

He will lead AI integration across UC San Diego Health to better connect discovery with patient care.

Overview

Along with the CIO post, Khalessi was appointed interim assistant vice chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI.
In the dual role, he will direct systemwide technology deployment, oversee surgical and procedural innovation, and align capital and operations for digital transformation and AI readiness.
He will collaborate with UC San Diego Health information services and the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, and engage regional biotechnology partners to advance translation.
University leaders, including Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, CEO Patty Maysent and Vice Chancellor John M. Carethers, described the appointment as key to executing the enterprise innovation strategy.
Khalessi remains chair of neurological surgery and brings national leadership credentials, more than 150 publications and training that includes an MD from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from MIT Sloan.