UC San Diego Health has appointed Dr. Karandeep Singh as its first chief health artificial intelligence (AI) officer, marking a significant move into the future of digital health innovation. According to UC San Diego Health, Singh will also hold the title of Joan and Irwin Jacobs Endowed Chair in Digital Health Innovation at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He is set to take on the role starting December 29.
Singh's primary responsibilities will be to largely focus on leveraging AI to enhance patient safety and health outcomes within the medical center. As outlined in an announcement by UC San Diego Health, he will be responsible for integrating AI into clinical workflows and cutting down on documentation time, all while ensuring the technology is used responsibly and efficiently.
The significance of this new leadership role lies in its potential to bring high-tech solutions straight to the bedside. John M. Carethers, MD, vice chancellor for Health Sciences at UC San Diego, said in a statement obtained by UC San Diego Health, "Having worked with Dr. Singh previously in our careers, I have witnessed his impressive track record and deep expertise in health care technology firsthand." Carethers emphasized that Singh's national leadership in evaluating proprietary AI technologies and his specialization in AI governance are among the reasons why he's been chosen for this pioneering position.
Christopher Longhurst, MD, executive director of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation (JCHI) and chief medical officer and chief digital officer at UC San Diego Health, also shared his enthusiasm. "Dr. Singh’s expertise and reputation for being nationally recognized in the application of AI and digital health in the clinical setting will have a strong impact in the direction of JCHI and beyond," he explained, according to UC San Diego Health. Longhurst described Singh as a dedicated trailblazer set to significantly bridge the gap between human expertise and technological advances.
Singh's background includes a mastery in biomedical informatics from Harvard Medical School and a previous role as associate chief medical information officer of AI at Michigan Medicine. His work has also influenced AI policy at levels ranging from the federal government to international entities. Notably, in 2022, Singh was part of the first invite-only Google Health Bioethics Summit, where he advocated for transparency in Google’s approach to AI in healthcare.
As AI continues to integrate within various departments at UC San Diego Health, the institution has already seen advancements such as the application of AI in emergency departments to predict sepsis risks and the integration of generative AI to aid in drafting compassionate message responses in their electronic health record system. "I’m eager to work with UC San Diego Health’s leadership to expand our shared goals of making care better, faster, and more accessible," Singh told UC San Diego Health, showcasing his commitment to the transformative power of AI in healthcare.
Dr. Amy Sitapati, chief medical information officer for population health at UC San Diego School of Medicine, commended Singh's prowess in tech leadership, looking forward to his ability to navigate the digital era in healthcare and drive the health system to the forefront of responsible AI development and implementation.
With this latest move by UC San Diego Health, the institution joins the ranks of UCSF Health and UC Davis Health, all of which have recognized the importance of such a role within a modern health system to harness the potential of AI while upholding excellence in patient care.
