Bridget O'Brien

Bridget O'Brien, PhD, is a Professor in Residence in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. She serves as an education scientist in the Office of Medical Education's Center for Faculty Educators and co-directs the Teaching Scholars Program and the UCSF-University of Utrecht Health Professions Education doctoral program. As director of the Advanced Fellowship in Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research, her work focuses on improving workplace learning, interprofessional education, and lifelong learning in healthcare. Dr. O'Brien is also a Deputy Editor for Academic Medicine and has received prestigious awards including the Macy Faculty Scholar (2015) and KIPRIME Fellow (2021-2022).

Her research emphasizes qualitative methodologies, with contributions to guidelines for qualitative research reporting. She holds a BS from Cornell University, an MS from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, and a PhD from UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education. Additional training includes a 2018 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Champion certification.

Dr. O'Brien's publications span educational innovations, assessment tools, and interprofessional collaboration, with a focus on clinical learning environments and healthcare systems integration. Her work bridges educational theory and practice, aiming to enhance both clinician training and patient care outcomes.

Key scientific awards include the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators (2022). Her advisory roles and grants support interdisciplinary initiatives in medical education, including faculty development programs in quality improvement and patient safety.

She leads teams advancing educational scholarship units and interprofessional training, emphasizing DEI and systems-based practice. Her research and leadership reflect a commitment to transforming healthcare education to meet evolving societal needs.