Chad Perlyn, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, and Dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University

May 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Chad Perlyn, executive vice president, chief medical officer and dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), discussed how academic medicine, research innovation, and strategic partnerships are shaping the future of healthcare education in Broward County. “By connecting academic research, private-sector expertise, and community engagement, we can develop new technologies and solutions that benefit both the region and society as a whole,” Perlyn added.

What major changes in academic medicine are shaping your priorities today?

Academic medicine has experienced several significant shifts over the past 12 to 18 months, particularly at the federal level. These changes influence how we approach medical education, research programs, and ultimately clinical care. They include adjustments to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, changes in reimbursement models, and evolving dynamics around student loan availability.

While these developments are often framed as challenges, at NSU we view them as opportunities. They push us to rethink how we deliver medical education and how we prepare students to serve patients effectively. One example is the growing concern around student loan debt and the overall cost of medical education. In response, we are investing in innovative pathways that reduce both the time and financial burden associated with becoming a physician.

Programs such as integrated six-year medical pathways allow exceptional students to condense their undergraduate education and transition more quickly into medical school. While accelerated pathways are not new, we are revisiting and reinvesting in them as part of a broader strategy to support talented students while addressing the national physician shortage. These models benefit everyone involved — students face lower educational costs, and the healthcare system gains physicians who can begin their training and eventually enter the workforce sooner.

At a time when the United States faces a significant shortage of physicians and healthcare professionals, these types of innovations help ensure that the best and brightest students can still pursue medicine while strengthening the healthcare workforce.

How is NSU connecting research growth with measurable health outcomes?

Research is a major pillar of our mission, and we have several flagship programs that are driving meaningful discoveries. One of the most prominent is the NSU Health Neuroscience Institute, particularly its work focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Although ALS is a relatively rare condition, it has a profound impact on those affected, and the work being done here is among the most advanced neuroscience research efforts in the country.

We also have an outstanding cancer research program that continues to make progress in several critical areas. Our partnerships with organizations such as the Broward-based Royal Dames support research into breast cancer, environmental contributors to disease, and other oncology initiatives. In addition, we are seeing exciting developments in melanoma research. Melanoma is a major concern for Floridians because of its prevalence and severity. Our scientists are working on approaches that make melanoma more susceptible to the body’s immune system, which could significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Much of this work remains in the early stages, but the potential impact is enormous. A key part of our strategy involves strengthening the pathway that takes discoveries from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. Scientific innovation begins with early experiments in the lab, but to become meaningful treatments, those discoveries must move through clinical trials.

Clinical trials are a critical part of the research ecosystem. They allow us to test new therapies for safety and effectiveness, and they require collaboration among universities, biotech startups, and pharmaceutical companies. By expanding our clinical trial infrastructure, NSU is creating opportunities for companies and investors to partner with us in bringing innovative treatments to market while benefiting patients locally and globally.

How do partnerships with hospitals support medical education and workforce development?

Clinical affiliations with hospitals and healthcare systems are fundamental to how medical education operates. These affiliations provide students with real-world training environments where they can apply classroom knowledge to patient care and allow healthcare institutions to engage with future physicians who may ultimately join their workforce.

These relationships create a mutually beneficial ecosystem. Students gain hands-on learning experiences, hospitals gain access to emerging talent, and communities benefit from a growing pipeline of healthcare providers.

One important dynamic is that medical students who train in a particular region often remain there to practice. That likelihood increases even further when those students also complete their residency training in the same area. This is critical for regions like Broward County because it means local educational institutions play a direct role in building the long-term healthcare workforce.

By maintaining strong clinical affiliations throughout South Florida and beyond, NSU supports what academic medicine calls its tripartite mission: education, research, and clinical care. These three components work together to strengthen the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes.

How do you see technology, particularly artificial intelligence, reshaping healthcare?

Artificial intelligence is a major topic across both healthcare and education today, and understandably so. Many discussions focus on the disruptive potential of AI and the possibility that it will fundamentally change how medicine is practiced. While those concerns are valid, I approach the technology from a different perspective.

My hope is that AI actually restores the soul of medicine. Over time, healthcare has become increasingly burdened by administrative and transactional tasks — documentation, billing, authorizations, chart reviews, and countless other processes that consume a physician’s time. These responsibilities often pull physicians away from the most important part of their work, which is direct interaction with patients.

If technology can automate or streamline those tasks, physicians will be able to focus more on the human side of medicine. That means listening to patients, building trust, and guiding them through their healthcare journey. Technology should support those relationships rather than replace them.

Access to knowledge will also become far more democratized. Physicians will have vast amounts of medical data and decision-support tools available at their fingertips. The doctors who thrive in this environment will be those who combine that knowledge with strong interpersonal skills — empathy, communication, and the ability to translate complex information into meaningful guidance for patients.

In many ways, the role of physicians may evolve similarly to that of airline pilots. Modern pilots do not physically fly every aspect of the plane; they manage sophisticated systems that guide the aircraft. In medicine, physicians may increasingly manage complex technological systems while still remaining the human guide who helps patients navigate their care.

How does NSU contribute to Broward County’s economic development and innovation ecosystem?

Nova Southeastern University has a remarkable footprint in Broward County, and that footprint continues to expand. The university touches many sectors, including law, medicine, business, the arts, and scientific research. As we grow, we see tremendous opportunities to connect these disciplines and amplify their collective impact.

One example is the NSU Ocean Health Initiative (NOHI), which links two of the university’s strongest areas: healthcare and oceanography. The initiative brings together experts from both fields to study the connection between environmental health and human health. If our oceans are not healthy, human populations will ultimately suffer as well. Issues such as pollution, disease transmission, and food supply are all tied to ocean conditions.

Through collaborations like this, we can bring together researchers, innovators, and community partners to tackle complex challenges. We recently hosted a session on water levels and disease burdens that included discussions about technologies such as drone-based mosquito control. These targeted approaches help reduce disease risk while minimizing environmental impact.

This type of cross-disciplinary collaboration is where innovation thrives. By connecting academic research, private-sector expertise, and community engagement, we can develop new technologies and solutions that benefit both the region and society as a whole.

What are your top priorities for the next three to five years?

Our priorities center on expanding the role of academic medicine in Broward County and strengthening our commitment to the tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical care. We believe strongly that the best healthcare is delivered at institutions that both teach medicine and advance it through research.

In practical terms, this means increasing our direct interaction with patients through expanded clinical programs while continuing to grow our research enterprise. It also means launching new healthcare education programs to address evolving workforce needs.

As new healthcare challenges emerge, we want to ensure that NSU remains a leader in preparing professionals to meet those needs. Over the next several years, the community will see the introduction of additional healthcare training programs that expand access to education and strengthen the regional workforce.

Ultimately, our goal is to educate students, advance medical knowledge, and deliver compassionate, high-quality care. By aligning those priorities with the needs of Broward County and beyond, we believe NSU can continue serving as a powerful engine for healthcare innovation and economic growth.

How does NSU’s scale in healthcare education influence the region’s future?

One fact that often surprises people is that NSU is now the largest educator of healthcare professionals in the United States. We are also the largest educator of physicians in the state of Florida. In addition, NSU is the only university in the country that houses an MD program, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, and a dental school within the same institution.

That scale has significant implications for Broward County. By educating the next generation of physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals, we are helping shape the workforce that will care for our community for decades to come.

Our goal is not only to train these professionals but also to encourage them to remain in the region, contribute to the community, and become engaged civic leaders. As NSU continues to expand both within Florida and nationally, we remain deeply committed to Broward County and proud of the role we play in supporting its healthcare system and its future growth.