Three years ago our CEO, Marc Benioff, challenged us to create a track inside of Dreamforce to focus on health and to highlight some of the contributions of UCSF.  In response, we thought we would take a lesson from TED, edify the audience, and provide a kind of service and interesting window into state of the art of innovation in healthcare.  

That first year we kicked off the Unusual Thinkers track and it was a great success.  We had researchers talking about intra-uterine pre-birth fetal surgery , the pernicious effects of sugar, peak athletic performance, and several other topics.  It was a great exprience, the house was packed, and response was enthusiastic.  So we did it again last year and it was even better.

This year, it’s grown to become something that the UCSF executive team is excited to be a part of and researchers see as a great opportunity. 

All sessions will take place on Thursday, September 20th at Moscone Center West, 3009/3011.  Here are the highlights:

Introduction by Mark R. Laret, CEO of UCSF Medical Center and Susan Desmond-Hellman, UCSF Chancellor 
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM 

Social Media Will Change Medicine: Fact or Fiction?
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM 

The World's Most Complex Navigation: Mapping the Brain to Conquer Tumors and Advance Health 
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM 

Applying Silicon Technology to Build an Artificial Kidney
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM 

Using 3D Interactive Graphics to Guide Drug Development 
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm

Mobility and Healthcare – Promise and Reality 
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

We are thrilled to host this third UCSF/Unusual Thinkers Track.  Because of the variety of guests at Dreamforce, people have different motivations for attending.  Some of our customers in healthcare want to hear what’s happening in their fields. Others have personal reasons for learning about some of the topics, i.e. they or their loved ones have experience with some of the conditions.  And some come just because it’s fascinating and a welcome breather from the intensity of Dreamforce, as this track is wholly devoid of Salesforce.  We just host UCSF because we believe in their mission and want to help them and our customers.

So regardless of the reason for attending, you’ll be sure to enjoy and be amazed by some of the things you’ll hear at the UCSF Unusual Thinkers Track at Dreamforce ’12.  Get the Free Keynote and Expo pass that will also give you access to these sessions.