Pakistan-American surgeon appointed Chief AI Officer at US college of medicine

Pakistani-American surgeon-scientist Dr Adil Haider has been appointed the Inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED), the world’s first engineering-based medical school, according to a press statement issued on Wednesday.

The newly created role marks a major milestone in Dr Haider’s global career spanning Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. As CAIO, he will lead the strategic and responsible integration of artificial intelligence across medical education, research, and clinical innovation at CI MED.

Dr Haider joins Carle Illinois after completing a transformative 6.5-year tenure as Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan. During his leadership, the institution quadrupled its research funding, achieved top-100 global ranking status, and secured multiple international accreditations. Widely respected for his mentorship and accessibility, he remained a popular figure among students.

Speaking on his appointment, Dr Haider said artificial intelligence has the potential to strengthen healthcare systems at scale if implemented responsibly and grounded in real clinical needs.

CI MED Dean Mark Cohen said the appointment reflects the institution’s commitment to making artificial intelligence foundational to the future of medicine, adding that Dr Haider’s leadership would ensure innovation remains ethical and patient-centred.

Dr Haider will also serve as Medical Director for Research Informatics at Carle Foundation Hospital and as a Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering.

Dr Haider has authored over 450 publications, secured more than $200 million in research funding, and founded Boston Health AI in 2024, with a mission to improve care for one billion patients worldwide.