Rewriting the Script for Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Charles Cairns

In this episode of The Commons, host Tom Osha sits down with Dr. Charles Cairns, the Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean of the Drexel University College of Medicine, to explore how medicine is being reimagined — from how students are trained to how discoveries move from the lab to the bedside.

Dr. Cairns, a national leader in emergency medicine and medical research, shares how Drexel is pioneering new models of collaboration through partnerships with hospitals and regional campuses across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and California. These initiatives are creating new opportunities for education, research, and care delivery — and positioning Drexel at the forefront of a rapidly evolving medical landscape.

Together, Tom and Dr. Cairns discuss the changing nature of medical education, the role of partnerships in driving innovation, and what it will take to prepare physicians not only to treat patients, but to lead in an era defined by technology, data, and discovery.

Whether you’re in healthcare, higher education, or simply curious about how medicine is adapting to the future, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how collaboration and innovation are shaping the next generation of care.