Dear Colleagues,

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Atul Butte, MD, PhD, a visionary scientist, educator, and leader whose work fundamentally reshaped biomedical research and health care. On behalf of UCSF, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Butte’s family, colleagues, trainees, and collaborators around the world.

Dr. Butte’s career was driven by a bold belief: “Once we let data flow, lifelong discoveries become possible.” As the inaugural director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, he transformed frozen data into actionable insights, championing the principle that real doctors plus big data equals better medicine. This ethos continues to shape UCSF’s commitment to precision health and the ethical use of data.

“Ideas change everything.” This mantra, featured in one of Dr. Butte’s TED Talks, inspired a generation of scientists to merge clinical insight with computational innovation. Under his leadership, UCSF became a global hub for artificial intelligence, informatics, and translational science – advancing health care in service of patients and discovery alike.

In 2024, Dr. Butte was honored with the Morris F. Collen Award of Excellence, the highest honor in biomedical informatics. He also received the Association for Molecular Pathology’s Award for Excellence for his pioneering work in molecular diagnostics and computational health sciences. These were among numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and recognition by the Obama Administration as an Open Science Champion of Change.

As UCSF’s Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Butte was a thought leader in applying AI responsibly in health care. His lab led key efforts in clinical applications of AI, including the use of large language models to triage emergency department patients.

Beyond UCSF, Dr. Butte served as UC Health’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist and the co-founder of the Center for Data-driven Insights and Innovation (CDI2). Through CDI2, Dr. Butte helped unify data across the University of California’s six academic health centers to improve the care of patients and realize operational efficiencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership was instrumental in providing timely, data-driven insights to guide public health responses. More recently, CDI2’s research shortened the timeline for identifying promising treatments for Type 2 Diabetes – from years to weeks – illustrating the power of real-world clinical data under his guidance.

Yet Dr. Butte’s most lasting legacy may lie in the people he mentored and inspired. He empowered hundreds of students, faculty, and research teams to think differently, act ethically, and innovate boldly. His leadership was characterized not just by brilliance, but by generosity, humility, and a collaborative spirit that strengthened UCSF and the broader scientific community.

While we mourn this profound loss, we also celebrate a life lived at the intersection of compassion and computation. Dr. Butte showed us what is possible when we unite data, medicine, and purpose. We honor him by continuing the work he championed – unfreezing data, advancing equitable innovation, and ensuring that discovery always serves humanity.

Sincerely,

Sam Hawgood, MBBS
Chancellor, UCSF
Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor

Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD
Dean, UCSF School of Medicine
Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs, UCSF

Suresh Gunasekaran
President and CEO
UCSF Health

David Rubin, MD, MSCE
Executive Vice President, UC Health