50 Most Influential Physician Executives – 2015
Rank: 1
Robert Wachter
Associate Chairman, University of California at San Francisco
Dr. Robert Wachter, 57, is associate chairman of the department of medicine and chief of the division of hospital medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, where he has been practicing since 1995. One year later, he became widely known for coining the term "hospitalist" and forecasting the ensuing boom of inpatient medicine specialists. A renowned leader in patient safety, a best-selling author and an avid blogger, Wachter says he concentrates on topics that "just feel right." His newest book, "The Digital Doctor," delves into the complexities of computerizing medicine. "I wake up one day and say, 'Hey, this issue is really important!'" he says. "And then I dive into it pretty deeply."