Unpacking the Future of Medical Education| Christopher Callahan

Christopher Callahan, the 26th President of the University of the Pacific discusses launching a new School of Medicine to address severe physician shortages across 20 underserved Central Valley counties.  Callahan explains why Pacific is positioned to take on the long, resource-intensive accreditation process, targeting a first class by fall 2030, and how building from scratch enables a future-focused, patient-centered curriculum emphasizing early clinical experiences, teamwork, communication, and student well-being.  They discuss using AI ethically to enhance care, recruiting “homegrown” students who will train and stay locally, and Pacific’s history of innovation, including its original 1858 medical school that became Stanford’s. Callahan highlights the essential partnership with Dignity Health, aligned with St. Joseph’s major expansion to support rotations and residencies. 00:00 Future Legacy Vision 00:30 Meet President Callahan 01:46 Why Central Valley Needs Doctors 04:54 Why Pacific Why Now 07:56 Building From Scratch 10:08 Mission Homegrown Physicians 12:06 Fast Track Possibilities 14:26 Pacific Medical School Roots 15:34 Innovation And AI 17:33 Advice For Future Doctors 26:11 Wellness And Whole Person 29:44 Pacific Campus On Screen 32:26 One Sentence Success Metric 32:59 Serving Diverse Communities 34:41 Partnerships And Next Steps 37:50 Closing Thanks