UCSF School of Medicine Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD, today (Feb. 18) announced the appointment of José M. Barral Sánchez, MD, PhD, as Vice Dean for the UCSF Fresno Regional Campus, effective May 1, 2025.
“This newly established role supports UCSF Fresno’s expansion as a regional campus,” said Dean King. “Dr. Barral Sánchez will oversee medical education, faculty development, and research growth, including our expanding partnership with UC Merced.”
The appointment comes as UCSF Fresno is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1975, UCSF Fresno was established to address the physician shortage in the San Joaquin Valley and help meet the region’s health care needs.
"With a career dedicated to academic leadership, faculty mentorship, and community-driven medical education, Dr. Barral Sánchez is well-positioned to advance the UCSF Fresno Regional Campus’s mission of improving health care in the San Joaquin Valley,” added Dean King.
Dr. Barral Sánchez joins UCSF from the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM), where he has served as the inaugural Chair of Biomedical Science and founding Co-Director of the MD-PhD Program with Caltech since 2018. He previously held leadership roles at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, including Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Vice Chair of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Anatomy.
“I am looking forward to immersing myself in UCSF Fresno and learning what the needs and aspirations are of the campus community, Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley,” said Dr. Barral Sánchez. “I want to become embedded in the environment and learn how I can become a catalyst for enhancing the overall educational and research culture — everything that comprises an academic medical center and to enhance attracting health care providers to train and remain in the region.”
Dr. Barral Sánchez’s extensive experience includes:
- Founding and leading academic departments and research programs
- Managing multimillion-dollar budgets and faculty recruitment
- Collaborating with medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions
- Engaging with accrediting bodies and national medical education organizations
- Expanding diversity, inclusion, and community engagement initiatives
He previously served as Senior Representative for the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies within the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and has been a member of its Group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training. He also held a three-term appointment on the Education and Professional Development Committee of the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB), where he contributed to shaping policies supporting educational program accreditation and academic excellence.
Dr. Barral Sánchez is an experienced educator and researcher. He has received multiple teaching accolades during his career, including the University of Texas System Regents Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Barral Sánchez is a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences and his research on protein folding and neurodegenerative disorders has been published in prestigious journals, including Nature, Cell, and Science.
He is deeply committed to the development of trainees and faculty. As a founding member of a network of basic science chairs from eight emerging U.S. medical schools, he helped address challenges in medical education and promote best practices for faculty advancement. He remains actively engaged in national collaborations with medical educators to expand career development opportunities for trainees and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
“There was a strong passion and energy from everyone I spoke with during the interview process for serving the people of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Dr. Barral Sánchez. “I have a deep commitment to serve this community, and I am excited to be part of that spirit of service that I heard loud and clear.”
As a regional campus of the UCSF School of Medicine, UCSF Fresno carries out its training and patient care through a network of affiliated partners including Community Health System, VA Central California Health Care, Family HealthCare Network, Inspire Health Medical Group and many other clinical sites.
Clinical partners and members of the search committee applauded the appointment and expressed enthusiasm for continuing the long-standing partnership with UCSF and working with Dr. Barral Sánchez in training physicians and improving health and health care in the region.
“Our partnership with UCSF and its regional campus in Fresno is absolutely essential to ensuring our community has access to timely exceptional health care,” said Craig Wagoner, Community Health System’s President and CEO. “The appointment of a Vice Dean for UCSF Fresno speaks to the commitment to medical education in the Central Valley. Our Community welcomes Dr. José Barral Sánchez to this new position and I look forward to working with him to help train as many new physicians for our Valley as possible.”
“I am excited to welcome Dr. José M. Barral Sánchez to this critical role as Vice Dean here in Fresno. For over 45 years, Inspire Health has provided much of the physician workforce leading and teaching the next generation of health care professionals through UCSF Fresno,” said Joyce Fields-Keene, MPA, CMPE, Chief Executive Officer, Inspire Health Medical Group. “We remain committed to partnering with UCSF to advance the health care of our diverse community through our shared commitment to medical education. I look forward to working with Dr. Barral Sánchez to ensure the advancement of health care here in the Central Valley. On behalf of all of us at Inspire Health Medical Group, congratulations and welcome, Dr. Barral Sánchez.”
Dean King acknowledged the search committee, chaired by Karen Hauer, MD, PhD, for their work in considering an exceptional pool of candidates for this position.
