Euan Ashley, MD, a cardiologist and Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and Professor of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine, became chair of the Department of Medicine on September 18, 2024. In his new role, Dr. Ashley’s leadership will help shape the future of medicine, genomics, and technology.

“We are at the nexus of so many important changes in the way medicine and science are practiced,” Dr. Ashley says. “Our department is in a unique position to lead the world in the safe and cautious execution of the next generation of therapies for the betterment of all patients.” 

Leadership to transform medicine

Dr. Ashley has been a visionary leader in his 18 years with Stanford Medicine. He has made groundbreaking contributions to genomic research and has accelerated innovation in precision medicine, earning him worldwide acclaim. His team was the first to analyze and interpret a complete human genome in just over five hours, setting a Guinness World Record.

In 2010, Dr. Ashley founded the Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, the first to bring specialized heart genetics experts together to provide coordinated care for people with genetic disorders of the heart and blood vessels. He is also director of Catalyst, a Stanford Medicine program that supports inventors in developing and accelerating innovations with the potential to transform health. His Ashley Lab studies precision medicine with a focus on the heart, the human genome, digital health, and AI.

In addition, Dr. Ashley maintains an active clinical practice and treats patients with a wide array of concerns, from inherited cardiovascular diseases to heart failure and rare and undiagnosed diseases. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, which recognizes exceptional scholars across the arts and sciences who have demonstrated outstanding work and continued promise in their field.

Directions in technology and medicine over the next five years

According to Dr. Ashley, advancements in language model technology and AI will revolutionize multiple areas of medicine. For instance, a tool called an ambient scribe, which records and transcribes clinical notes, can reduce the burden of paperwork and create a stronger connection between doctors and patients, he says.

Physicians are also now at the point where genome sequencing is a regular part of at least one segment of clinical care for some specialties, such as for rare diseases and genetic disorders. Moving forward, more doctors can start to incorporate genetic data into the medical record. 

Genome sequencing will revolutionize patient care

Dr. Ashley’s team helped establish genome sequencing as a routine part of patient care worldwide, which has been recognized in an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. This work led to an engagement with the Obama Administration, where he was recognized for his contributions to personalized medicine.

“Genome sequencing will allow physicians to predict how a patient will respond to medications (pharmacogenomics). The system will determine if a new medication that we prescribe might interact negatively with your patient’s genome, and if they might need a different dose or a different type of medication. That’s part of the future that’s really close now,” Dr. Ashley says. “We’re also seeing a dramatic shift in our ability to treat conditions with technologies, such as cell and gene therapy, and to quite literally cure diseases. And we’re only at the beginning.”

Moving medicine forward with technology and human interaction

Dr. Ashley says incorporating technology into everyday practice can have a huge impact on both physicians and patients. “It can save the health care system money and save our patients from adverse effects,” he says. “So there’s an opportunity for us to really bring our practice of medicine up a level with the application of pharmacogenomics.”

He says Stanford Medicine aims to change the way medicine is practiced globally by thinking about technologies that can improve health in settings around the world. “I’d love to see us take full advantage of the incredible technology, while at the same time putting the human element of medicine at the absolute center of what we do,” Dr. Ashley says.

Cardiovascular treatment at Stanford Health Care

Discover more about advanced heart and vascular care at Stanford Health Care. Stanford’s physician-scientists propel the field forward, continually making advancements in cardiovascular medicine and providing leading-edge care for patients throughout California and the United States.