Grand Rounds

AI, Regulation, the Information Ecosystem and the Future of Medical Research: In Conversation with Rob Califf, MD

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
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AI, Regulation, the Information Ecosystem and the Future of Medical Research:
In Conversation with Rob Califf, MD

Rob Califf, who was a UCSF medical resident, has had one of the most storied careers in healthcare. Among his many accomplishments, he founded the Duke Clinical Research Institute, had a major role in healthcare strategy at Google/Verily and, most famously, served as FDA commissioner under Presidents Obama and Biden. In this fireside chat with UCSF Department of Medicine chair Bob Wachter, he’ll discuss the challenges of regulation in the AI era, the current administration’s healthcare policies, the future of clinical research, the struggle to transmit reliable health information to the public, the financialization of healthcare, and the role of academic medical centers.

Speaker:
Robert Califf served as both the 22nd and the 25th FDA Commissioner. During his tenures, he modernized the drug approval process, took steps to regulate vaping and tamp down misinformation, promoted the use of real-world evidence, and began developing a regulatory framework for generative AI. Earlier in his career, Califf headed healthcare strategy efforts at Verily and Google Health, and served as vice chancellor for clinical and translational research at Duke. He also founded the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the top institute of its kind in the U.S.

An internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular medicine, health outcomes research, health care quality, and clinical research, Califf led many landmark clinical trials and is one of the most frequently cited authors in biomedical science, with more than 1,300 publications in the peer-reviewed literature. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Califf is a graduate of Duke’s medical school, where he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. He was an internal medicine resident at UCSF in the “Holly Smith era.”

How to Attend: 
In Person: 
S-214, Medical Sciences Building (513 Parnassus Avenue) 
Lunch will be provided 

Zoom option: 
https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/97633865272?pwd=sHvIef57IXKYFnBm2lnvQtxUMeRVEn.1  
Webinar ID: 976 3386 5272 
Passcode: 609641 

Or join by phone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) 
+1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles) 
+1 669 219 2599 US (San Jose) 
+52 554 161 4288 (Mexico) 

International numbers available: https://ucsf.zoom.us/u/ac4WisOf7E  

New procedures for claiming CME credit:  
Please review this informational guide on the updated ways to claim CME credit starting in academic year 25-26. 

Add to Calendar 2026-03-24 19:00:00 2026-03-24 20:00:00 AI, Regulation, the Information Ecosystem and the Future of Medical Research: In Conversation with Rob Califf, MD AI, Regulation, the Information Ecosystem and the Future of Medical Research: In Conversation with Rob Califf, MD Rob Califf, who was a UCSF medical resident, has had one of the most storied careers in healthcare. Among his many accomplishments, he founded the Duke Clinical Research Institute, had a major role in healthcare strategy at Google/Verily and, most famously, served as FDA commissioner under Presidents Obama and Biden. In this fireside chat with UCSF Department of Medicine chair Bob Wachter, he’ll discuss the challenges of regulation in the AI era, the current administration’s healthcare policies, the future of clinical research, the struggle to transmit reliable health information to the public, the financialization of healthcare, and the role of academic medical centers. Speaker: Robert Califf served as both the 22nd and the 25th FDA Commissioner. During his tenures, he modernized the drug approval process, took steps to regulate vaping and tamp down misinformation, promoted the use of real-world evidence, and began developing a regulatory framework for generative AI. Earlier in his career, Califf headed healthcare strategy efforts at Verily and Google Health, and served as vice chancellor for clinical and translational research at Duke. He also founded the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the top institute of its kind in the U.S. An internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular medicine, health outcomes research, health care quality, and clinical research, Califf led many landmark clinical trials and is one of the most frequently cited authors in biomedical science, with more than 1,300 publications in the peer-reviewed literature. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Califf is a graduate of Duke’s medical school, where he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. He was an internal medicine resident at UCSF in the “Holly Smith era.” How to Attend:  In Person:  S-214, Medical Sciences Building (513 Parnassus Avenue)  Lunch will be provided  Zoom option:  https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/97633865272?pwd=sHvIef57IXKYFnBm2lnvQtxUMeRVEn.1   Webinar ID: 976 3386 5272  Passcode: 609641  Or join by phone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):  +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)  +1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles)  +1 669 219 2599 US (San Jose)  +52 554 161 4288 (Mexico)  International numbers available: https://ucsf.zoom.us/u/ac4WisOf7E   New procedures for claiming CME credit:   Please review this informational guide on the updated ways to claim CME credit starting in academic year 25-26.  Department of Medicine America/Los_Angeles public