At this year’s AIMed25 conference in San Diego, one of the most anticipated moments came when Rubin Pillay, M.D., PhD., professor in the division of Internal Medicine and Population Science, was honored with the 2025 AI Educator of the Year Award.

AIMed25, held Nov. 9-12, brought together clinicians, data scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, administrators, and investors from around the world. The conference is known as the premier gathering at the intersection of AI and medicine. Pillay’s recognition highlighted two major initiatives that have helped shape the global conversation about how healthcare professionals learn, adapt, and lead in the era of artificial intelligence.

The first is the development of a comprehensive suite of academic programs in AI in Medicine, spanning graduate certificates to advanced master’s pathways. The programs are built to prepare clinicians, leaders, and innovators for the realities of AI in real clinical environments.

The second milestone acknowledged by the award is the creation of the FutureMed Academy, a global learning platform dedicated to reducing the cost of technology and AI education for healthcare professionals. The initiative is driven by a simple but powerful belief: that the future of healthcare should not be gated by geography, resources, or privilege.

“This recognition honors two journeys I’m especially proud of,” Pillay reflected. “Both are rooted in the belief that if we want healthcare innovation to be ethical, inclusive, and equitable, we must invest in the people who will ultimately bring it to life.”