Ryan C. Pekson, Ph.D.

Dr. Ryan Pekson is an education-focused faculty leader whose work centers on curriculum design, assessment innovation, and building systems that enhance the quality, consistency, and integration of the MD pre‑clerkship experience. Dr. Pekson work closely with pre-clerkship course directors to advance evidence‑based instructional practices, high‑quality assessments, and data‑driven curricular improvements.

Leadership

Dr. Pekson serves as Director of Pre‑Clerkship Block Leaders at the Office of Medical Education, overseeing the pre‑clerkship curriculum, academic calendar, integrated assessments, curricular coordination, and implementation of competency‑aligned evaluation systems. In this role, he led large‑scale reforms that include:

• Development and implementation of the Combined Assessments system, integrating multiple courses into coordinated, blueprint‑driven examinations.
• Curricular integration of NBME Customized Assessment Services (CAS) implementation, including workflow design, grading infrastructure, and faculty training.
• Creation of continuous quality‑improvement systems for multiple‑choice assessments, strengthening item validity, reliability, technical accuracy, and alignment with learning objectives.

He also serves as Pharmacology Module Leader for the Molecular & Cellular Foundations of Medicine course, guiding instructional design, faculty coordination, and assessment planning for this core foundational course.

Prior to joining Einstein, Dr. Pekson held a prominent leadership role in the Philippines as Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Adamson University, where he oversaw academic programs, faculty development, accreditation alignment, and strategic planning.

Research Interests

Dr. Pekson’s scholarship spans foundational science and medical education, with interests including:

• Mitochondrial biology and regulated cell death mechanisms, including the roles of ATP synthase, OPA1, BAX, and mitofusins in necrosis, apoptosis, and ferroptosis.
• Medical education research, with a focus on assessment design, quality metrics, and competency‑based evaluation.
• Artificial intelligence and automation in education workflows, including AI‑generated assessment rationales, automated communication systems, and technology‑enhanced assessment management.
• Curriculum and assessment design, particularly integrated assessment systems, blueprinting, and alignment with course learning objectives.

• GPT‑4 generated answer rationales to multiple‑choice assessment questions in undergraduate medical education. BMC Medical Education, 2025.
• OPA1 promotes ferroptosis by augmenting mitochondrial ROS. Molecular Cell, 2024.
• The mitochondrial ATP synthase is a negative regulator of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. PNAS, 2023.
• A small‑molecule allosteric inhibitor of BAX protects against doxorubicin‑induced cardiomyopathy. Nature Cancer, 2020.