
As AI transitions from research to the frontlines of patient care, healthcare faces a critical inflection point where the benefits of AI may be increasingly uneven. Using the computational power of massive-scale models with clinical ethics and responsibility in mind, this conference is a deep dive into the work shaping a more desirable future of health bringing together pioneers, policy makers, and clinicians.
Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Check-In & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Speakers: Ida Sim MD, PhD · Maya Petersen MD, PhD · Catherine Lucey MD, MACP
9:15 – 9:45 AM
Opening Keynote: Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future
- Speaker: Robert Wachter, MD
- Dr. Wachter — chair of UCSF's Department of Medicine and author of the 2026 book A Giant Leap — opens with a sweeping look at what AI is already doing in healthcare and what the next wave will demand of clinicians, institutions, and patients.
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Fireside Chat and Audience Q&A
- Speakers: Ida Sim MD, PhD · Robert Wachter, MD
- A moderated discussion and Q&A reflecting on the keynote.
10:15 – 10:35 AM
Coffee Break & Networking
- Book signing.
10:35 – 11:25 AM
Scaling the Frontier: Large Models for Health
- Moderator: Adam Yala, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computational Precision Health
- Panelists: Jon Kolstad, PhD, Professor, UC Berkeley Haas · Travis Zack, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, UCSF | Chief Medical Officer, OpenEvidence · Karan Singhal, Health AI Lead, OpenAI · Pedro Pinheiro-Chagas, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, UCSF
- This panel explores large models beyond language models, opening a wider view of the expansive potential of AI to reshape the clinician and patient experience.

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
From the Frontlines: The Clinical Reality
- Moderator: Sandya Subramanian, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computational Precision Health
- Panelists: Paul Tang, MD, MS, Adjunct Professor, Clinical Excellence Research Center, Stanford University · Maggie Chung, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, UCSF · Elisabeth Askin, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Dept of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, UCSF · Stacey Tinianov, MPH , Founder and Executive Director, Advocates for Collaborative Education
- We are moving past the "what if" and diving headfirst into the "what is." This panel captures the momentum of those deploying AI in the world's most demanding environments, the clinical reality. We will take a look at deployments already in motion, gaining insights from the frontliners leading the charge.

12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch
1:15 – 2:20 PM
Dialogue Session: Interrogating Your Own Medical Records
- Speakers: Hugo Campos, Patient Advocate · JP Pollak, PhD, Co-Founder, The Commons Project Foundation
- An interactive dialogue session exploring the patient perspective and the technical challenges of accessing and interpreting personal medical data.
2:20 – 2:50 PM
Afternoon Break & Free-Form Networking
2:50 – 3:40 PM
The Integrity Gap: Earning Trust in AI Systems
- Moderator: Irene Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computational Precision Health
- Panelists: Zack Lipton, PhD, Cofounder and CTO, Abridge | Raj Reddy Associate Professor of Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University · Sanmi Koyejo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Stanford University · Ahmed Alaa, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computational Precision Health · Madhumita Sushil, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine and Neurosurgery, UCSF
- AI systems earn trust through transparency, evaluation, and accountability. This panel will discuss the cutting-edge methods and evaluation structures for delivering a responsible and ethical health AI future.

3:40 – 4:30 PM
The Health AI Deployment Landscape
- Moderator: Maya Petersen, MD, PhD, Co-Director, Computational Precision Health
- Panelists: Palav Babaria, MD, MHS, Chief Quality & Medical Officer; Deputy Director, Quality and Population Health Management, California Department of Health Care Services · Cora Han, JD, Chief Health Data Officer, UC Office of the President · JP Pollak, PhD, Co-Founder, The Commons Project Foundation
- The "rules of the road" for deploying health AI are fluid and unsettled. This panel explores the societal context in which health AI innovation, investment, and policy are playing out in the real world.

4:30 – 4:50 PM
Translating Momentum
- Moderator: Serina Chang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computational Precision Health
- Panelists: Radhika Bhalerao, PhD Student, Computational Precision Health · Hugo Campos, Patient Advocate
- In this final session, our panel of voices distills the day's insights from their perspectives. Together, we will reflect on the path ahead and identify priority insights to take back into our daily work.
4:50 – 4:55 PM
Closing Remarks
- Speakers: Ida Sim MD, PhD · Maya Petersen MD, PhD
4:55 – 6:00 PM
Posters, Reception, and Networking
- 📍 Fisher Banquet Room, 1st Floor
Keynote Speaker: Robert Wachter, MD

Robert Wachter, MD is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Author of 300 articles and 6 books, he coined the term “hospitalist,” the fastest-growing medical specialty in U.S. history. He is past-president of the Society of Hospital Medicine, past-chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2004, he received the John M. Eisenberg Award, the nation’s top honor in patient safety. Modern Healthcare magazine has ranked him as one of the 50 most influential physician-executives in the U.S. more than a dozen times; he was #1 on the list in 2015.
His 2015 book, “The Digital Doctor,” was a New York Times bestseller. His new book, “A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future,” was published by Portfolio/Penguin in 2026.
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FiCPH Conference Frequently Asked Questions

The UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center at 1675 Owens Street. Our conference is primarily located on the second floor at Robertson Auditorium, with the Poster Session & Reception happening at Fisher Banquet Room on the first floor.
Ticket Information
- What does ticket pricing include? Ticket pricing includes all day admission to the conference including keynote, panels, and dialogue session, meals provided for the entire day, and access to a world-class community of researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, and thought leaders.
- What meals are included? Breakfast, Coffee, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Snack, and hors d'oeuvres during the Poster Session & Reception will be included.
- What if I need to cancel my registration? For cancellations, please contact cph.info@berkeley.edu.
- Are there student discounts available? Yes, while student tickets are already discounted, UCSF and UC Berkeley students are welcome to submit a poster by Tuesday, March 10th at 11:59 PM PST in exchange for a free ticket.
- Are reduced-rate tickets available? Yes, please contact cph.info@berkeley.edu for options.
- I cannot attend the entire conference — am I eligible for a discount or can I share my ticket with someone else? No, unfortunately ticket transfers are not allowed and there is no discount for partial attendance.
- Will the conference be recorded or livestreamed? The conference will be recorded for internal purposes. Stay tuned for updates on public availability.
Poster Submission Information
- When will posters be accepted until? Our Poster Call will close on Tuesday, March 10 at 11:59 PM PST.
- When will I hear back if my poster has been accepted? We aim to send out acceptance emails 2–3 weeks prior to the conference (late March).
- How many authors are allowed to participate and receive free tickets? While we welcome all authors to participate, we are only able to provide 1 free ticket to the submitting author. Additional authors will need to purchase a conference ticket.
- What size and orientation should I print my poster? Please print posters at 48" by 36".
Travel Information
- Public Transportation
- The nearest BART station is Powell BART Station, followed by a direct transfer to the Union Square/Market Street Station.
- From there, board the Muni T Third line, and the train will drop riders off on 3rd Street directly in front of UCSF.
- The Muni UCSF/Chase Center platform is located on 3rd Street between Warriors Way and 16th Street, right across the street from the arena's West Plaza.
- Rideshare Services
- Use this address: 1675 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158.
- UCSF Shuttles and Maps
- The shuttle is free for UCSF affiliates. View the shuttle schedule here.
- Parking
If you are driving, we recommend parking in the Community Center Garage adjacent to the Mission Bay Conference Center: 1625 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94143.
- More Mission Bay parking garage information.
- Rate information.
- Will FiCPH reimburse or provide parking permits? No, at this time, FiCPH will not be providing parking for the event. We encourage you to arrive via public transit to avoid congestion.
Accessibility Information
- View UCSF campus information on accessibility here.
- If you have accessibility needs in order to attend the Frontiers in Computational Health Conference, please contact us at cph.info@berkeley.edu.

















