Physician Executive  ·  Enterprise CMIO  ·  AI Governance

Most healthcare AI does not fail
because the model is weak.

It fails because governance is weak,
workflows are wrong, and no one
owns accountability after go-live.

I am a physician executive who works in that gap, where clinical leadership, AI governance, and legal accountability intersect.

MD · MBA · MSc JD Candidate FAAP · FHIMSS CHCIO · CEDS · CCISO HIMSS Co-Chair 11 Books Published
Dr. Reza Sadeghian, MD, MBA, MSc
45+Clinical AI Apps
11Books
85+Keynotes
As seen in 📺 HIMSS TV ◆ Forbes Healthcare IT News MobiHealthNews Healthcare Finance News 🎙 AI Today Podcast · PMI×HIMSS 🎙 HIMSSCast HIMSS Co-Chair
~90%Documentation backlog reduction, first ambient AI deployment in Northwest Ohio
$4.2M→$72KThird-party EMR support contract reduction in a single fiscal year
50%+Enterprise payer denial reduction across inpatient and ambulatory
18%→97%Clinician engagement following $235M Epic transformation
600+AI-driven clinical workflows deployed across health system environments
Career Highlights

Selected Accomplishments

Clinical Informatics
Founded 55+ FTE Clinical Informatics Department
Built and launched University of Toledo Health’s Clinical Informatics Department from the ground up, growing it to over 55 full-time staff and establishing six operational pillars spanning inpatient, ambulatory, revenue cycle, analytics, and training.
Epic Governance
Directed $235M Epic Transformation
Led enterprise-wide Epic implementation and post-go-live optimization that moved clinician engagement from 18% to 97%, consolidated legacy systems, and established long-term governance infrastructure for ongoing optimization and AI integration.
Ambient AI
First Ambient AI Deployment in Northwest Ohio
Led the region’s first ambient AI documentation program across 40 providers and 3,000+ encounters in 8 weeks, reducing documentation backlog by approximately 90% and demonstrating measurable physician satisfaction improvement.
Revenue Cycle
Reduced Enterprise Payer Denials by 50%+
Deployed AI-driven CDI tools, utilization management workflow automation, and payer performance analytics that cut enterprise denial rates by more than half across inpatient and ambulatory environments, directly improving net revenue.
Vendor Strategy
Cut EMR Support Contracts from $4.2M to $72K
Negotiated and restructured over 145 vendor contracts. Reduced third-party EMR support expenditure from $4.2M to $72K in a single fiscal year through internal capability building, vendor consolidation, and strategic renegotiation.
HIMSS Leadership
Co-Chair, HIMSS Physician Committee and AI Committee
Serves as Co-Chair of the HIMSS Physician Committee and Founding Co-Chair of the inaugural HIMSS AI Committee. One of four members of the HIMSS AI Advisory Group selected nationally. Featured in Forbes on healthcare AI risk and safety.
85+Keynotes & Public Speaking
National and International Keynote Speaker

Dr. Reza Sadeghian has delivered 85+ keynotes and public speaking engagements across national conferences, health system executive forums, and health law CLE programs. Separately, he has delivered over 300 invited educational presentations to physician residents, fellows, and medical students at academic medical centers nationwide.

HIMSS GlobalBecker’s AnnualHIMSS AI ForumHealth Impact Forum NYAI Leadership Strategy SummitExecutive Leadership ForumsPhysician Leadership ProgramsCME ProgramsHealth Law CLE
Dr. Reza Sadeghian MD, Enterprise CMIO
CHCIOCEDSCCISOCHC CHPCCISMABAIMPMP FAAPFHIMSS
About Dr. Reza Sadeghian

My path into clinical informatics was not a pivot. It was a progression.

I trained first as a pediatrician because I wanted to understand medicine from the bedside, the clinical reality, the documentation burden, the moments where the system either supports or fails the physician trying to care for a patient. That foundation never left. It is why my approach to AI and informatics is clinical first, not technology first.

I hold dual fellowship training in Clinical and Biomedical Informatics from the University of Washington and the University of Pittsburgh, with post-doctoral NIH-funded training in machine learning at the National Library of Medicine. That combination means I can evaluate an AI model’s design, deploy it inside a real clinical environment, measure whether it changes outcomes, and defend it when it is challenged clinically or legally.

Healthcare AI is only as good as the clinical and operational infrastructure around it. I have spent my career building that infrastructure, and fixing it when it fails.

Over the past decade I have built and led clinical informatics operations at the enterprise level. I founded a 55+ FTE Clinical Informatics Department, directed a $235M Epic transformation, deployed the first ambient AI documentation program in Northwest Ohio, and reduced enterprise payer denials by over 50%. These were not consulting engagements. I owned them, staffed them, and was accountable for their outcomes.

I currently serve as Enterprise Chief Medical Information Officer and Medical Director of AI at University of Toledo Health, Co-Chair of the HIMSS Physician Committee, and Founding Co-Chair of the inaugural HIMSS AI Committee. I am also a JD candidate focused on healthcare law and AI liability, because the legal and regulatory questions around clinical AI are no longer hypothetical.

I have authored 11 books on AI in healthcare, clinical leadership, informatics, pediatrics, and compliance. I speak nationally on AI governance, responsible deployment, and the accountability gap that most health systems are not yet prepared for. I am one of only eight professionals worldwide holding all three CHIME informatics certifications.

Work With Me

AI governance fails quietly. Until it does not.

I work with health systems and health-tech companies on the part of AI that most organizations underestimate, not buying it, but making it operationally defensible.

For Health Systems

AI Governance and Clinical Transformation

CEO · COO · CFO · CMIO · CIO

You bought AI. Now it has to actually work. Most health systems that have deployed AI are managing a version of the same problem: adoption is lower than projected, ROI is hard to demonstrate, and governance is informal. I work specifically in that gap as a physician executive who has deployed AI inside a real health system, tied it to workflow, and built the governance infrastructure that makes it defensible.

  • AI Readiness and Governance Audit (6 to 8 weeks)
  • AI Failure Recovery Advisory
  • Fractional CMIO Engagement
  • Epic AI Optimization Review
  • Physician Adoption and Change Management
For Health-Tech and Startups

Clinical Validation and Enterprise Market Fit

Founder · CMO · CPO · VC · PE

Your product works in the demo. The problem is what happens inside a real health system. I have been on the buying side, evaluating AI vendors, managing physician resistance, and explaining AI failures to a board. I know why enterprise sales stall, where clinical validation claims fall apart, and what a health system compliance team will ask before approving a contract.

  • Clinical Validation and Workflow Assessment
  • Enterprise Sales Enablement
  • AI Due Diligence for VC and PE
  • Regulatory Pathway Guidance
  • Monthly Advisory Retainer
Media & Appearances

HIMSS TV · Podcasts · Press

HIMSS TV · HIMSS25
Customizing AI Tools to Support Decision-Making and Patient Education
HIMSS TV · AI/ML · 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV
Small Victories Drive Healthcare AI Gains
HIMSS TV · 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · MobiHealthNews · HIMSS25
Strengthening Precision and Safety in Algorithm Design
MobiHealthNews · May 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · Healthcare IT News
Building LLM-Powered Clinical Apps That Work for Doctors
Healthcare IT News · July 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · Healthcare Finance News
Steps to Finding the Right AI Hospital Leader
Healthcare Finance News · October 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · Healthcare Finance News
Large Language Models Revolutionizing Decision Support
Healthcare Finance News · July 2025
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · HIMSS24
AI Apps Can Benefit Clinicians Along Their Career Journeys
HIMSS TV · 2024
Watch ↗
HIMSS TV · HIMSS23
ChatGPT: Its Potential and Limitations in Healthcare
HIMSS TV · AI/ML · 2023
Watch ↗
Podcast · AI Today · PMI × HIMSS
The Future of AI in Healthcare
Apple Podcasts · Spotify · 23 min · July 2025
Listen ↗
Podcast · HIMSSCast × Straight Outta Health IT
Insights for Healthcare Execs from the AI Leadership Strategy Summit
Spotify · Apple Podcasts · October 2025
Listen ↗
HIMSS News · PMI
Dr. Reza Ryan Sadeghian on Transforming Healthcare with AI
HIMSS.org · July 2025
Read ↗
HIMSS TV · MobiHealthNews
How ChatGPT Can Help and Harm Healthcare
MobiHealthNews · HIMSS23 · 2023
Watch ↗
Speaking

85+ Keynotes and Public Speaking Engagements

National conference record by Dr. Reza Sadeghian.

2026
HIMSS Global Conference, Las Vegas
Keynote · AI Governance and Responsible Deployment
2026
Becker’s Hospital Annual Conference, Chicago
Featured Session · AI Implementation and ROI Accountability
2025
HIMSS AI Leadership Strategy Summit, Chicago
Live Podcast Panel · HIMSSCast × Straight Outta Health IT
2025
HIMSS AI Forum, Chicago
Featured Speaker · Clinical AI Governance Frameworks
2025
Health Impact Forum, New York
Keynote · AI Risk and Legal Accountability in Clinical Environments
2023
HIMSS23 Global Conference
HIMSS TV Feature · ChatGPT in Healthcare, Potential and Limitations
Book Dr. Sadeghian

Speaking engagements grounded in operational reality, not theory.

Designed for health system executive teams, national conferences, physician leadership forums, and health law CLE programs. Every talk is built from direct deployment experience.

  • Where Healthcare AI Breaks and What It Costs
  • AI Governance Without Teeth: Why Most Frameworks Fail
  • The Accountability Gap: Legal and Clinical Risk in Deployed AI
  • From Pilot to Production: Making AI Operationally Defensible
  • EHR Forensics and the Future of Clinical Documentation Integrity
  • Physician-Led AI: Building Trust, Not Just Tools
Inquire About Speaking →
Published Works

11 Books on Amazon

AI in healthcare, clinical leadership, informatics, pediatrics, law, and physician finance by Dr. Reza Sadeghian.

Executive Evolution by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Leadership
Executive Evolution: A Guide for the Modern Leaders
ChatGPT Simplified by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
AI in Healthcare
ChatGPT Simplified: Transforming Healthcare with AI
Intelligent Healing by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
AI in Healthcare
Intelligent Healing: Clinicians at the AI Forefront
Rebooting Care by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Physician Burnout
Rebooting Care
The Talent Exodus by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Leadership
The Talent Exodus: How Poor Leadership Decisions Erode Top Teams
From Cradle to College by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Pediatrics
From Cradle to College: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Child Development
AI Unlocked by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
AI Strategy
AI Unlocked: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Artificial Intelligence
Litigating the Invisible by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Law & Compliance
Litigating the Invisible: AI, Cybersecurity, and the Digital War on Truth
Guiding Change by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Change Management
Guiding Change: A Leader’s Blueprint for Healthcare IT Transformation
Wealth Prescription by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Physician Finance
Wealth Prescription: From the Clinic to the Stock Market
HALM Exam Prep by Dr. Reza Sadeghian
Board Exam Prep
Mastering Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (HALM) Exam
View All Books on Amazon →
Insights

Writing on AI, Governance,
and Clinical Transformation

Substack ↗
Oct 2024 · 4 min read
Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI: The Impact of 45 Clinical GPTs
How 45 clinical AI applications deployed across medical specialties are transforming documentation, clinical decision support, and patient education, with measurable outcomes from real health system environments.
Jan 2024 · 7 min read
The Future of Pediatric Care: How AI and Big Data Are Revolutionizing Treatment
AI’s ability to process genomic data, identify early markers of autism spectrum disorder, and personalize pediatric oncology treatment is reshaping how we approach child health.
Jan 2024 · 12 min read
The Bidirectional Nature of Interviews: A Two-Way Street to Success
An interview is not an audition. It is a mutual assessment. How physician executives and health IT leaders can approach the interview process with the same diagnostic rigor they bring to clinical decisions.

Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI: The Impact of 45 Clinical GPTs and Two Groundbreaking Books

Dr. Reza Sadeghian  ·  October 25, 2024  ·  4 min read

Healthcare is undergoing a profound transformation, thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence in clinical settings. As a pediatrician and Chief Medical Information Officer at the University of Toledo Health, I have been driving a new era of digital healthcare through cutting-edge innovations in AI.

With 45 Clinical AI GPTs designed across various medical specialties, these applications demonstrate how AI can transform clinical workflows, enhance patient care, and reduce physician burnout. These are not theoretical models. They are practical tools that clinicians use daily to improve outcomes.

The Evolution of AI in Healthcare

Artificial intelligence in healthcare is no longer a futuristic concept. From predictive analytics to clinical decision support, AI has become an integral part of modern medicine. My contribution lies in harnessing the power of AI in a way that is both intuitive for clinicians and highly effective in solving real-world problems. The 45 Clinical AI GPTs I have developed seamlessly integrate into existing healthcare systems like Epic, optimizing both operational and clinical processes.

The Power of GPT Applications in Healthcare

These clinical applications span a variety of medical specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgical care. They are designed to assist with differential diagnoses, clinical documentation, patient education, and decision support, making them indispensable tools for healthcare providers.

Clinical Documentation Improvement

One of the most significant challenges in healthcare today is the burden of clinical documentation. Physicians often spend hours entering patient data into electronic health records, which can lead to burnout. My AI GPTs streamline this process by providing real-time, AI-driven suggestions that improve both the accuracy and efficiency of documentation.

Differential Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis is the bedrock of effective treatment. These GPT applications assist physicians in generating differential diagnoses by analyzing patient data and correlating it with vast medical knowledge bases, suggesting potential diagnoses that clinicians might consider and leading to more informed decision-making.

Patient Education

Educating patients about their conditions and treatments is essential to achieving positive health outcomes. These AI GPTs can generate patient-friendly explanations of complex medical conditions, helping physicians improve patient communication and satisfaction.

Two Groundbreaking Books on AI in Healthcare

In addition to this clinical work, I have authored two influential books on AI in healthcare. ChatGPT Simplified: Transforming Healthcare with AI provides a practical guide for clinicians. Intelligent Healing: Clinicians at the AI Forefront examines the ethical and practical implications of AI in clinical settings. Both are available on Amazon.

Transforming Healthcare with AI: A Vision for the Future

My work represents a glimpse into the future, one where AI is not just a tool but a trusted partner in patient care. The 45 Clinical AI GPTs and books are at the forefront of this revolution, demonstrating how AI can improve clinical decision-making, reduce errors, and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes. The integration of AI into healthcare is not just an option. It is a necessity.

The Future of Pediatric Care: How AI and Big Data Are Revolutionizing Treatment

Dr. Reza Sadeghian  ·  January 18, 2024  ·  7 min read

As a pediatrician and Chief Medical Information Officer, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of AI and big data on pediatric healthcare. The intersection of these technologies with pediatric care is not just a glimpse into the future. It is a rapidly evolving reality reshaping our approach to child health and wellness.

The Dawn of a New Era in Pediatric Healthcare

The integration of Artificial Intelligence and big data into pediatric healthcare marks the beginning of a transformative era. This is more than a technological advancement. It is a paradigm shift in how we approach, diagnose, and treat illnesses in children.

Revolutionizing Pediatric Diagnostics with AI

AI’s ability to process and analyze large volumes of data rapidly and accurately is a game-changer in pediatric diagnostics. AI algorithms, when applied to genomics, can sift through thousands of genes simultaneously, identifying mutations and genetic markers associated with disorders much faster than any human could. Many pediatric disorders require early intervention for optimal outcomes. With AI, conditions like congenital heart defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and inherited metabolic disorders can be identified swiftly, often even prenatally or shortly after birth.

AI in Early Autism Diagnosis

The traditional approach to diagnosing autism spectrum disorders typically relies on behavioral assessments and developmental screenings, often not leading to a diagnosis until the child is several years old. However, early diagnosis is critical, as it allows for interventions that can significantly improve outcomes.

AI algorithms have been used to analyze patterns in behavior, speech, and even subtle facial expressions that might elude human observation. AI systems can identify markers of autism in children as young as 18 months with remarkable accuracy, opening the door to interventions at a critical developmental stage.

Transforming Pediatric Oncology with AI

In pediatric oncology, AI is making strides in personalizing treatment plans based on the analysis of vast amounts of patient data. AI algorithms analyze genetic sequencing of tumors, medical imaging, patient medical histories, and current treatment responses. By identifying patterns within this data, AI can suggest treatment plans tailored to the individual child, reducing the trial-and-error process and minimizing unnecessary side effects.

Big Data: The Backbone of Pediatric Innovations

Big data in healthcare refers to the immense volumes of information collected from electronic health records, genomic databases, patient portals, wearable technology, and more. This information enables predictive analytics. By evaluating data from thousands of pediatric asthma patients, AI algorithms can identify environmental triggers and effective interventions, enabling proactive strategies to prevent hospital visits.

Ethical Considerations and The Human Touch

Despite these advancements, ethical considerations remain at the forefront. Questions around data privacy, especially with sensitive pediatric data, are paramount. We must balance innovation with the safety and privacy of our youngest patients. While AI and big data are powerful tools, they cannot replace the human element in pediatric care, the empathy, understanding, and human connection that form the cornerstone of treating children.

AI can free up time for healthcare providers, reducing administrative burdens and allowing more time for direct patient interaction. In this way, technology can enhance the quality of care by enabling clinicians to focus more on the patient and less on the process.

The Bidirectional Nature of Interviews: A Two-Way Street to Success

Dr. Reza Sadeghian  ·  January 18, 2024  ·  12 min read

As someone who has navigated the complexities of the interview process from both perspectives, I have developed a deep understanding of this intricate dynamic. My journey, filled with experiences of interviewing thousands of individuals, hiring hundreds of staff over the past two decades, and also stepping into the interviewee’s shoes on numerous occasions, has been enlightening.

A Two-Way Mirror

The metaphor of the interview as a two-way mirror aptly captures its true essence. Traditionally, interviews are often viewed as a one-way street, with the employer in the driver’s seat, evaluating and judging. This perspective is not just limiting. It is fundamentally flawed. It overlooks the critical fact that an interview is, in essence, a mutual discovery process.

In my experience, shifting this perspective transforms the interview from a daunting interrogation into an enlightening conversation. For the employer, yes, it is about finding the candidate who not only has the right skills and experience but also one who resonates with the company’s culture and values. But there is another side to this reflective surface. From the candidate’s point of view, an interview is an invaluable opportunity to peek into the workings of a potential workplace and assess the company’s ethos, work environment, growth opportunities, and how these align with their own career goals.

The Employer’s Lens

For any organization, the primary objective is to identify a candidate who not only brings the requisite skills and experience to the table but also harmonizes with the company’s unique culture. Having hired hundreds of staff, I have come to recognize the multi-layered nature of this evaluation process. It is not just about ticking boxes on a skill set checklist. It is about projecting into the future, visualizing how this individual will integrate into the team, contribute to ongoing projects, and adapt to the company’s ethos.

In a rapidly changing environment, the ability to learn, adapt, and evolve is just as important as current expertise. The interview process becomes a platform to gauge not just current competencies but also future potential. While assessing the candidate’s fit, employers also need to be cognizant of how they present the company. Employers must articulate the company’s vision, its working environment, its approach to innovation, and how it values and supports its employees.

The Candidate’s Perspective

From the candidate’s vantage point, the interview is more than a gateway to a job. It is a window into a potential future. Understanding the company culture is a crucial aspect of this evaluation. It is about getting a sense of the organization’s ethos, how it operates, how it treats its employees, and what it stands for.

Growth opportunities are another vital consideration. As a candidate, you want to ensure that the company invests in its employees’ development. This includes training opportunities, career advancement paths, and the possibility for skill enhancement. A company that actively fosters employee growth is one that values its human capital and is likely to offer a more fulfilling work experience.

Building a Successful Interview Dynamic

The key to a successful interview lies in creating an environment of mutual respect and open dialogue. For employers, this means going beyond the standard question-and-answer format to create a conversational atmosphere where candidates feel valued and heard. For candidates, it means entering the interview room not just with answers but with questions, thoughtful and informed questions that demonstrate both their interest in and their critical assessment of the opportunity.

In the end, the most successful interviews are those where both parties leave feeling like they have gained something valuable, insight, understanding, and perhaps a glimpse of a promising professional partnership. This is the true essence of the bidirectional interview, and this is what makes it a powerful tool in building strong, dynamic organizations and fulfilling careers.

What Colleagues Say

Trusted by Clinicians, Informaticists, and Leaders

Dr. Sadeghian is an incredibly talented individual. He is methodical and quality-minded in his approach to his work. Coupled with his extensive formal training and his ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts, he makes an excellent leader and teacher.
R. Glick
Healthcare Executive
Dr. Sadeghian exemplifies the new breed of thoughtful innovators that will take healthcare technology to the next level. He is passionate, hard-working, and always exhibits leadership with contagious enthusiasm for all informaticians to strive to make things better for his colleagues, patients, and healthcare overall.
A. Mohan
Healthcare Technology Leader · 13-year collaborator
He is able to make complex problems appear simple and is expert in communicating goals to fellow team members. A results-driven, tenacious visionary who deftly incorporates the talent of others to accomplish difficult goals.
D. Migita
Physician · Seattle Children’s Hospital
Contact

Start a conversation.

For health system advisory, AI governance consulting, speaking engagements, health-tech advisory, and general inquiries, use the form below. All messages go directly to Dr. Sadeghian.

Health SystemsAI governance, Epic strategy, clinical transformation advisory
Health-Tech & StartupsClinical validation, enterprise fit, due diligence, advisory
Speaking & MediaKeynotes, executive education, podcasts, editorial
Books & PublishingMedia inquiries, bulk orders, foreign rights

Messages forwarded to rsadeghian@gmail.com · Response within 48 hours