Gurpreet Dhaliwal

Gurpreet Dhaliwal MD is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and serves as the site director of the internal medicine clerkship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. At the medical center, he engages in teaching medical students and residents across various settings including the emergency department, urgent care clinic, inpatient wards, and outpatient clinic. His academic focus encompasses the cognitive processes underlying diagnostic reasoning and clinical problem-solving, as well as the study of diagnostic expertise.

Dr. Dhaliwal is widely recognized as a leading diagnostician and clinician-educator in the U.S. He is known for his ability to accurately diagnose complex medical cases, often in educational settings designed to challenge and educate other medical professionals. His skill in this area has led to notable recognition, with descriptions of his diagnostic process akin to watching an expert at work in their craft. In his presentations, he dives deeply into the mechanics of thinking and decision-making, discussing how various cognitive processes from biases to shortcuts can impact the outcomes of clinical decisions.

In addition to his clinical and educational roles, Dr. Dhaliwal actively contributes to the broader medical community. He co-chairs the education committee for the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine and is a strong proponent of the "cognitive apprenticeship" model of teaching diagnosis. He argues for the integration of clinical reasoning and cognitive psychology into the core curriculum for medical students and residents, emphasizing its importance on par with fundamental sciences like anatomy or physiology. Dr. Dhaliwal is also a member of the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators and the UCSF Department of Medicine Council of Master Clinicians.

His commitment to education is further evidenced by his receipt of prestigious awards such as the University of California-San Francisco Osler Distinguished Teacher Award in 2019 and the national Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award. He has published extensively, with more than 70 articles in high-impact medical journals, and his expertise is sought after both nationally and internationally as a visiting professor. His writings and lectures cover a broad range of topics including physician leadership, the importance of high-value care, and the intersection of technology and healthcare, specifically the impact of artificial intelligence on medical diagnostics.