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Governance and Operating Structure

Steering Committee

Composition: Task Force Chair and Subcommittee Chairs.

  • Task Force Chair: Jiajie Zhang
  • Subcommittee Chairs
    • Research Subcommittee: Xiaoqian Jiang (Chair), Hongfang Liu (Co-Chair), Hulin Wu (Co-Chair)
    • Education Subcommittee: Susan Fenton
    • Patient Care Subcommittee: Martin Citardi (Chair), Sean Savitz (Co-Chair)
    • Technology and Implementation Subcommittee: Xiaoqian Jiang (Chair), Martin Citardi (Co-Chair), Dustan Brennan (Co-Chair)
    • Data Platform Subcommittee: Elmer Bernstam (Chair), Bassel Choucair (Co-Chair), GQ Zhang (Co-Chair)
    • Governance and Policy Subcommittee: Amar Yousif
    • Partnerships Subcommittee: Babatope Fatuyi
  • Management Team
    • Planning Coordinator: Amy Franklin
    • Project Manager: Judy Young
    • Administrative Support: Yuki Bryson

Roles:

  • Define the institution-wide vision, strategic objectives, and success metrics for AI integration.
  • Provide directional oversight and ensure alignment across all subcommittees and workstreams.
  • Prioritize high-impact initiatives and guide resource allocation in support of strategic goals.
  • Serve as the executive decision-making body for institutional AI strategy.
  • Act as the primary liaison with external stakeholders, including UT System leadership, clinical partners, and policymakers.
  • Monitor progress, remove roadblocks, and ensure cross-functional coordination throughout the planning lifecycle.

Subcommittees:

  • Research Subcommittee: Tasked with advancing the integration of AI across basic, translational, and clinical research. It will drive the development of novel AI/ML methodologies and tools, foster cross-disciplinary research collaborations across schools, and identify strategic focus areas to guide cluster hiring of faculty and researchers. In addition, the subcommittee will establish thematic working groups to cultivate specialized AI/ML expertise—such as agent-based modeling, foundation models, and multimodal analytics—ensuring methodological depth and innovation across the research enterprise. It will also lead the development of strategies for program-level proposals that position UTHealth Houston for competitive funding and national leadership.
    • Chairs: Xiaoqian Jiang (Chair, MSBMI), Hongfang Liu (Co-Chair, MSBMI), Hulin Wu (Co-Chair, SPH)
    • Members: Zhiqiang An (MMS), Maria Garcia-Villarreal (IMM), Michael Jacobs (MMS), Vishwa Parekh (MMS), Kathleen Kreidler (SPA), Carolyn Pickering (SON), Daniel Sessler (MMS), Oluwabunmi “Bunmi” Tokede (SOD), Muhammad Walji1/2 (MSBMI/SOD), Long-Jun Wu (MMS), Zhongming Zhao (MSBMI), Degui Zhi (MSBMI)
  • Education Subcommittee: Lead the integration of AI into curricula across all UTHealth Houston schools; develop institutional policies guiding AI use in educational settings; proactively address anticipated shifts in curriculum design and accreditation standards driven by AI; and design workforce development programs to upskill current and future professionals in AI competencies.
    • Chair: Susan Fenton (Chair, Academic Council)
    • Members: (From the existing group on AI for Teaching and Learning): Leslie Beckman (OPA), Lisa Cain (Faculty Affairs), Xi Chen, Mark Horman (MMS), Jeffrey Frost (GSBS), Richard Halpin (SOD), Yuh-Fong Hong (CSON), Diana Keosayian (Administration), Scott Lane (SBHS), Michelle Patriquin (SBHS), Saifur Rahman (SPH), Kelley Rojas (Administration), Mack Sheraton (MMS), Brandi Showalter (CSON), Natalie Sirisaengtaksin (GSBS), Robert Spears (SOD), Toufeeq Syed (MSBMI), Litao Wang (MMS)
  • Patient Care Subcommittee: Charged with shaping the future of clinical excellence through AI, the Patient Care Subcommittee will identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-impact opportunities to deploy artificial intelligence in direct patient care and quality improvement. The subcommittee will define a strategic roadmap for integrating AI across clinical workflows to enhance diagnostic precision, therapeutic decision-making, and care delivery; evaluate current use cases and emerging technologies that can drive measurable improvements in patient outcomes, safety, and experience; establish frameworks for clinician engagement, training, and feedback to promote trust, effectiveness, and continuous learning in AI-enabled care.
    • Chairs: Martin Citardi (Chair, MMS), Sean Savitz (Co-Chair, MMS)
    • Members: Olasunkanmi Adeyinka (MMS), Bentley Bobrow (MMS), James Griffiths (UTP), Mahrokh (Mitzy) Kobeissi (SON), Yen-Chi Le (UTP), Greg Olson (SOD), Bela Patel (MMS), Roy Riascos (MMS), Paul Schulz (MMS), Mark Sheraton (MMS), Sunil Sheth (MMS)
  • Technology and Implementation Subcommittee: Charged with translating AI innovation into scalable institutional solutions across clinical care, administration, education, and research, the subcommittee will identify high-impact use cases, design and deploy AI tools that enhance decision-making and operational efficiency, and establish a streamlined process for transitioning prototypes into enterprise-level systems. It will also foster cross-functional collaboration, ensure alignment with institutional priorities, and implement continuous evaluation mechanisms to drive sustained performance and value creation. In addition, the subcommittee will actively engage with industry partners to accelerate solution development, ensure technological relevance, and create opportunities for co-development, commercialization, and real-world validation.
    • Chairs: Xiaoqian Jiang (Chair, MSBMI), Martin Citardi (Co-Chair, MMS), Dustan Brennan (Co-Chair, IT)
    • Members: Olasunkanmi Adeyinka (MMS), Bentley Bobrow (MMS), Kristi Bradley (UTP), Christine Weaver (OTM), Bassel Choucair (IT), Babatope Fatuyi (CMIO), Richard Halpin (SOD),Tony Murry (IT), Saifur Rahman (MMS), Sunil Sheth (MMS)
  • Data Platform Subcommittee: Responsible for designing and enabling a robust, scalable, and secure data infrastructure that underpins AI-driven advancements across research, clinical care, and institutional operations. This includes ensuring seamless access to integrated clinical and biomedical datasets to support basic, translational, and clinical research, as well as quality improvement and operational efficiency initiatives. The subcommittee will establish governance models for compliant and secure data sharing, streamline institutional data access workflows, and align infrastructure investments with evolving enterprise needs.
    • Chairs: Elmer Bernstam (Chair, MSBMI), Bassel Choucair (Co-Chair, DMO), GQ Zhang (Co-Chair, MMS)
    • Members: Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban (SPH), Hongfang Liu (MSBMI), Greg Olson (SOD), Shayan Shams (MSBMI), Muhammad Walji (MSBMI/SOD)
  • Governance and Policy Subcommittee: Tasked with establishing a comprehensive institutional framework for AI governance, ensuring the ethical, secure, and compliant use of AI technologies across UTHealth Houston. This includes developing robust policies around data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and system accountability; addressing regulatory compliance and institutional risk; and proactively engaging with external stakeholders—including legislators, regulatory bodies, and partner institutions—to align UTHealth Houston’s AI strategy with evolving legal and societal expectations. This Subcommittee would supersede the ITGC AI Advisory Subcommittee. However, it would have a dotted line for the ITGC so that the ITGC members are updated on its activities on a quarterly basis. 
    • Chair: Amar Yousif (Chair, CIO)
    • Members: Dustan Brennan (IT), Mary Dickerson (CISO), Susan Fenton (MSBMI), Scott Forbes (GR), Claudia Madrigal (Chief Compliance Officer), William McElhiney (Legal), Christina Solis (Privacy Officer)
  • Partnerships Subcommittee: Responsible for strengthening and expanding UTHealth Houston’s strategic alliances with key external partners—including Memorial Hermann Health System, Harris Health, UT System, UT-HIP, and industry vendors. This subcommittee will identify mutual value-creation opportunities, establish shared objectives, and coordinate joint initiatives that advance clinical care, research, education, and operational innovation through AI. It will also develop engagement frameworks, governance models, and communication strategies to ensure aligned execution, transparent collaboration, and sustained strategic impact across institutional boundaries. 
  • Chair: Babatope Fatuyi (CMIO)
  • Members: Feby Abraham (MHHS), Siraj Anwar (Harris Health), Bruce Butler (OTM), Michael Clements (Development), Quamishia Green (UT HIP)