Vice Dean José M. Barral Sánchez, MD, PhD
José M. Barral Sánchez, MD, PhD, was named Vice Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine Regional Campus at Fresno on Feb. 18, 2025, and assumed the role on May 1, 2025. As UCSF Fresno Vice Dean, Dr. Barral Sánchez oversees medical education, faculty and staff development, research growth, and the expanding partnership with UC Merced. He also serves on the UCSF School of Medicine Dean’s Council, reporting directly to Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr.
This newly established role supports UCSF Fresno’s expansion as a regional campus and coincides with its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1975, UCSF Fresno was created to address the physician shortage in the San Joaquin Valley and help meet the region’s health care needs.
“I am proud and honored to be part of the UCSF family,” said Dr. Barral Sánchez. “When I first learned about the opportunity to serve as UCSF Fresno’s Vice Dean, I was immediately drawn to the mission, the culture, and the community.”
I look forward to deepening existing partnerships and forging new ones to strengthen UCSF Fresno’s role as a premier academic medical center and a vital contributor to the region’s health care workforce.
Dr. Barral Sánchez, Vice Dean
UCSF Fresno
Dr. Barral Sánchez joined 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.
He served as Senior Representative for the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies within the Association of American Medical Colleges and was 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 misfolding 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. Throughout his career, Dr. Barral Sánchez has 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 all backgrounds.
“I look forward to deepening existing partnerships and forging new ones to strengthen UCSF Fresno’s role as a premier academic medical center and a vital contributor to the region’s health care workforce,” said Dr. Barral Sánchez.
With a career dedicated to academic leadership, faculty mentorship, and community-driven medical education, Dr. Barral Sánchez is well-positioned to build on the past 50 years to position UCSF Fresno for the next 50.
