Rishi Kadakia, MD

Dr. Rishi Kadakia is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland since 2022. He specializes in the anesthetic care of children with general pediatric conditions as well as those with congenital heart disease.

Dr. Kadakia completed dual fellowships in pediatric anesthesiology and pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He is an active educator with a strong interest in modernizing medical training, contributing to efforts that improve the structure, accessibility, and effectiveness of anesthesiology education. His work includes the development of digital learning platforms and AI-enabled tools intended to enhance the learning experience for clinicians training in cardiac care.

Dr. Kadakia was recently selected for UCSF’s AI Catalyst Program, a faculty-development initiative focused on helping educators integrate, interrogate, and supervise AI effectively within academic settings. This program emphasizes safe and evidence-aligned interaction with AI, and his participation reflects his commitment to preparing the next generation of educators to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

In parallel with this institutional work, Dr. Kadakia has undertaken independent efforts to study how AI-based systems can support precision learning in medicine. His current projects examine how structured AI tools can deliver individualized educational content, assist learners in navigating complex physiology, and generate engagement metrics that help educators better understand how trainees interact with material over time.

Beyond his clinical and academic roles, Dr. Kadakia is deeply committed to mentorship. He works closely with high school students to foster scientific curiosity, introduce fundamental concepts in medicine, and support their long-term aspirations toward careers in healthcare.