T. Brian Callister

T. Brian Callister, M.D., FACP, SFHM, MACP, is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, where he holds multiple leadership roles including Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Director of Academic Hospital Medicine, Career Advisor for Internal Medicine, and Director of Rural Medical Student Education. His academic career emphasizes excellence in medical education, faculty development, and clinical practice within the field of medicine. Callister earned an A.B. in Economics from Stanford University in 1983 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received his M.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1988, graduating with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He completed his residency in internal medicine at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center from 1988 to 1991. Board-certified in internal medicine, he is also a Senior Fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine and a Master of the American College of Physicians.

Callister's distinguished career includes extensive clinical and executive experience. After residency, he served as a rural physician at Nye Regional Medical Center in Tonopah, Nevada, and co-founded Sierra Hospitalists in Reno in 1995, where he continues as a hospitalist at Renown Regional Medical Center. He previously served as Chief of the Medical Staff and Board Member at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and as National Medical Director, Chief Medical Officer, and Senior Physician Executive at LifeCare Health Partners from 2004 to 2016. His research specializations and academic interests center on healthcare quality improvement, patient safety, care transitions, hospital medicine, medical ethics, and end-of-life issues. Callister has held influential committee roles, including Technical Expert Panels for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on quality measure development and the National Healthcare Safety Network, Nevada Governor for the American College of Physicians, and Vice Chair of the ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. He has co-authored key publications such as 'Ethical Guidance for Physicians and Health Care Institutions on Grateful Patient Fundraising' (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2023), 'Standards and Ethics Issues in the Determination of Death' (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2023), 'Ethical Guidance on Family Caregiving, Support, and Visitation in Hospitals' (2023), and 'The Hospital Course of a Successfully Treated Patient with Respiratory Failure' (Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 2017). Major awards include the American College of Physicians Volunteerism and Community Service Award (2011), nomination as one of Modern Healthcare's 50 Most Influential Physician Executives (2012), 'Hero for Life' award (2018), and election to ACP Mastership (2025). His work has significantly impacted healthcare policy and ethics, particularly through opposition to assisted suicide via legislative testimonies.

Professional Email: tcallister@med.unr.edu