About Us: Leadership

Niraj Sehgal, MD, MPH, is the chief medical officer for Stanford Health Care. He is also a professor of medicine and senior associate dean for clinical affairs in the Stanford School of Medicine. Niraj’s clinical practice is focused in hospital medicine, while his academic career has been focused on studying and improving the quality and safety of care. The latter reinforces his commitment to emphasizing interprofessional teamwork, building multidisciplinary partnerships, developing health care leaders, and advocating for health equity.

Prior to returning to Stanford Medicine in 2020, Niraj spent 16 years at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he held several leadership roles that included directing a medical service, leading a portfolio of health care leadership programs, and serving as the associate chair for quality & safety in the Department of Medicine. His final role was as UCSF Health’s inaugural chief quality officer where he worked to further advance quality and equity across an expanding delivery system. Niraj is also a passionate and award-winning teacher and mentor who remains actively involved in those activities.

Niraj earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University and his medical degree from Rush University. He was a resident and chief resident at Stanford School of Medicine before completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, during which time he earned a master’s degree in public health from University of California, Berkeley. He was later a selected fellow and graduate of the California Health Care Foundation Leadership Program. Despite being in the Bay Area for more than 20 years, he remains deeply connected to his Chicago roots, particularly his beloved Cubs, Bears, and Bulls.