Robert M. Wachter, M.D Closed Now

Dr. Robert M. Wachter is an internationally recognized physician, author, and thought leader in digital health, patient safety, and health system transformation. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), one of the world’s leading academic medical centers. Widely credited with popularizing the term “hospitalist” in the 1990s, he has been at the forefront of reimagining healthcare delivery in the digital era.

Dr. Wachter’s expertise spans health IT, digital innovation, artificial intelligence in medicine, and clinical operations. His best-selling book, The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age (2015), has become a foundational text in understanding the promises and pitfalls of digitization in healthcare. He has been a strong advocate for balancing the transformative potential of electronic health records (EHRs), big data, and AI with the human elements of care, ensuring technology enhances rather than hinders the doctor-patient relationship.

In 2015, he was commissioned by the UK government to lead the Wachter Review of the National Health Service’s (NHS) digitization efforts. His recommendations shaped NHS England’s strategy for digital adoption and interoperability, emphasizing user-centered design, clinical leadership, and safety standards.

At UCSF, he continues to lead initiatives around precision medicine, AI-driven clinical decision-making, and large-scale health data integration. Dr. Wachter is also a highly sought-after speaker at global forums, regularly addressing the intersection of digital health innovation, patient safety, and organizational change.

He has been named one of the 50 most influential physician executives in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare multiple times and continues to influence healthcare systems worldwide through his writings, policy contributions, and leadership.