David Wetherhold, M.D.
About David Wetherhold, M.D.
David Wetherhold, M.D., serves as the Chief Medical Information Officer for Ambulatory Systems at Scripps Health and holds multiple roles at Scripps Clinic and UCSD School of Medicine. He has led significant initiatives in electronic health records and AI solutions in healthcare.
Current Roles at Scripps Health
David Wetherhold, M.D. is currently serving as the Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) for Ambulatory Systems at Scripps Health, located in La Jolla, California. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of medical information systems for outpatient care facilities within the organization. His role involves leading innovative projects and ensuring the effective utilization of health information technology to enhance patient care.
Senior Consultant and Division Head at Scripps Clinic
In addition to his CMIO role, Dr. David Wetherhold is a Senior Consultant at Scripps Clinic, where he provides expert advice on internal medicine and related fields. He also heads the Division of Internal Medicine at Scripps Green Hospital. His contributions in these roles are central to the clinic’s ongoing initiatives to improve clinical practices and patient outcomes.
Academic Position at UCSD School of Medicine
David Wetherhold, M.D. serves as an Associate Clinical Professor (volunteer) at the UCSD School of Medicine in Greater San Diego Area. In this voluntary academic role, he contributes to the education and training of medical students and residents. He participates in clinical rotations for third-year medical students and is involved in teaching residents as part of the Scripps Clinic/Scripps Green residency program.
Previous Leadership Roles at Scripps Health
Dr. Wetherhold has held several significant leadership positions at Scripps Health. From 2017 to 2019, he served as the Executive Medical Director of Ambulatory Systems, preceded by his role as the Medical Director of the Scripps Foundation Ambulatory Electronic Health Record from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure, he led the conversion of 32 ambulatory clinics and five hospitals to the Epic system, a major health IT initiative.
Educational Background in Medicine and Chemistry
Dr. Wetherhold obtained his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he studied from 1987 to 1991. Prior to this, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Premedicine from Penn State University, having studied there from 1982 to 1986. His early education includes completing his secondary education at Emmaus High School, where he studied from 1979 to 1982.
Innovative Projects in Health Information Technology
Throughout his career, Dr. Wetherhold has led several pioneering projects in health information technology at Scripps Health. These include initiating a comprehensive virtual health program, directing the 'EHR 2.0' initiative which integrates voice and AI to interact with electronic health records, and developing internal prompt engineering for large language model (LLM) GPT solutions. He has also rolled out AI solutions like ambient documentation (DAX copilot) and in-basket AI suggested responses. Additionally, he co-developed AI governance for Scripps Health and keeps a close watch on government regulations to ensure compliance and early readiness for changes.