Alexander A. Khalessi, MD, MBA
Chief Innovation Officer, UC San Diego Health
Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI, UC San Diego
Alexander A. Khalessi, MD, MBA, serves as the chief innovation officer at UC San Diego Health and interim assistant vice chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI at UC San Diego. In these dual roles, he leads the enterprise strategy for digital transformation, advanced technology adoption and artificial intelligence (AI) integration across clinical, operational and academic missions. Working in close partnership with leaders across UC San Diego Health, the School of Medicine and UC Health, he focuses on improving care delivery and strengthening the health system's national reputation for patient-centered innovation.
As the chief innovation officer, Dr. Khalessi directs UC San Diego Health's enterprise innovation portfolio, including systemwide technology implementation, perioperative and procedural innovation, and capital alignment to support digital transformation and AI readiness. He collaborates with Health Information Services and the system's chief medical information officers to ensure cohesive execution. In addition, he oversees the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation at UC San Diego Health and the West Health Intelligence Care Accelerator, advancing applied research and scalable digital solutions.
As interim assistant vice chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI, Dr. Khalessi provides strategic oversight across Health Sciences to align academic discovery, clinical translation and commercialization. He engages with campus and industry partners within San Diego's broader biotech and life sciences ecosystem to accelerate cross-disciplinary innovation and expand translational impact.
Dr. Khalessi is an active, board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in complex cranial surgery, endovascular neurosurgery and neurosurgical oncology. He serves as chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, one of the nation's top neurosurgery programs, which consistently ranks among the top specialties by U.S. News & World Report. Under his leadership, the department manages more than 4,500 major cases annually and supports comprehensive health system designations, including dual comprehensive stroke centers, Level 1 trauma care, Level 4 epilepsy care, comprehensive cancer care and advanced spine services. He is consistently recognized as a "Top Doc" in San Diego Magazine's annual "Physicians of Exceptional Excellence" survey.
A dedicated academic physician-leader, Dr. Khalessi is a professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurosciences, and he holds the Don and Karen Cohn Chancellor's Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, delivered over 230 scientific abstracts and presentations, and served as principal or co-investigator on more than 25 clinical trials. His innovation portfolio includes multiple issued patents and leadership in national efforts to advance device development, regulatory science and health technology evaluation.
Internationally recognized in neurosurgery and medical innovation, Dr. Khalessi chairs the Neurosurgery Advisory Council for the American College of Surgeons and serves on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's study sections for translational-device and small-business mechanisms. He is a founding member of the Medical Device Innovation Consortium advising the Food & Drug Administration on neurovascular technologies, an inducted member of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, and past president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Khalessi earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy and a master of science degree in health services research from Stanford University. He completed his medical degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and neurosurgical residency at the University of Southern California, and received his MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.