Dr. Meghan O’Brien, MD, MBE named DHM Director of Faculty Development
Dr. O’Brien has been named the ZSFG DHM Director of Faculty Development. She brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical education. As an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at UCSF, she has been a pivotal figure in clinical practice and education at ZSFG.
Key Highlights of Expertise and Leadership:
- Leadership in Faculty Development: Re-envisioned the faculty coaching program as interim Director of Faculty Development in DHM. Co-authored UCSF’s Anti-racism and Race Literacy Primer for Medical Educators, a tool widely used across the institution to support diversity and equity in curricular material revision. She has also developed several faculty development workshops for the UCSF Center for Faculty Educators (CFE).
- Commitment to Mentorship: Recognized with multiple awards, including the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching Award and the ZSFG Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.
- Immediate Priorities: Will work to develop a culture of feedback and continuous learning among faculty; and will help develop and launch the ASCEND Program (Advancing Scholarship, Clinical Excellence, Education, and Innovation Development) in July 2025, a structured faculty development program prioritizing faculty in their first three years of practice.
The ASCEND Program is designed to provide early-career faculty with the skills, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities needed to thrive in academic safety-net medicine. The program will focus on clinical excellence, teaching, and leadership, while creating meaningful connections through peer workshops, mentorship networks, and shared projects. Participants will also complete a capstone project aligned with Division priorities, culminating in a Certificate in Academic Hospital Medicine with Distinction in Safety-Net Medicine.
Through these efforts, Dr. O’Brien aims to strengthen professional growth, build a collaborative faculty community, and support the Division’s broader mission.