UC Irvine Phi Beta Kappa Welcomes a New President
The UC Irvine Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, the Division of Undergraduate Education, and the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) are thrilled to welcome new Chapter President Alpesh N. Amin, MD, MBA. As president, Dr. Amin will serve a two-year term from 2025 to 2027, during which he hopes to accomplish the following strategic initiatives:
- Expanding PBK membership
- Growing the annual Book Award celebration
- Increasing PBK’s visibility
- Raising funds for Chapter initiatives
Dr. Amin’s leadership style is grounded in the values of kindness, integrity, courage, and respect. He hopes to invigorate PBK with his vision centered on social justice, inclusive excellence, and creating spaces where all voices are heard and valued. Dr. Amin is excited to lead the Chapter’s growth, bolster its spirit, and boost its fundraising efforts. His presidency comes at an exciting time with UC Irvine PBK celebrating the 50th anniversary of its charter last year (2025) and with the National Phi Beta Kappa Society preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year (2026).
A long-time member of the national Phi Beta Kappa Society, Dr. Amin is passionate about sharing this opportunity with UC Irvine’s undergraduate student body. “Being a Phi Beta Kappa member has always been a quiet reminder to stay curious and keep learning—not just in my field, but across disciplines. It’s shaped how I think, how I lead, and how I try to engage with the world, “ he explains. “Being invited to join Phi Beta Kappa is less about the honor itself and more about what it stands for—integrity, intellectual openness, and the idea that education should serve a bigger purpose.”
For Dr. Amin, serving as UC Irvine PBK president is a full-circle moment and an opportunity to inspire the next generation of scholars and leaders:
“Being president of the Phi Beta Kappa Mu Chapter is a true honor. It represents a chance to give back to an organization that celebrates the life of the mind and the value of a broad, rigorous education. For me, it’s about fostering a community where intellectual curiosity is encouraged, where ideas are respected, and where we continue to uphold the ideals of integrity, scholarship, and service. It’s a reminder that learning is not just a means to an end, but a lifelong pursuit that shapes who we are and how we lead.”
Watch Dr. Amin’s welcome address.
About Dr. Alpesh N. Amin
Dr. Alpesh N. Amin is a board-certified internist and nationally recognized leader in hospital medicine. He is the founding Chief and Executive Director of Hospital Medicine and Palliative Medicine, one of the country’s premier programs. He serves as Associate Dean for Clinical Transformation for UCI Health and the UC Irvine School of Medicine, where he co-leads the activation efforts for UCI Health’s $1.4B new medical complex in Irvine, CA, and provides leadership with the UCI University Physicians and Surgeons Medical Group. Dr. Amin is also the Co-Director and Medical Director of the Institute for Precision Health for the UC Irvine Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences.
From 2008 to 2024, Dr. Amin served three terms as the inaugural Tom and Mary Cesario Chair of Medicine. Under his leadership, the Department more than tripled its faculty size and saw a five-fold increase in annual research funding and an eight-fold increase in clinical productivity. Under his leadership, the Department of Medicine has won the Medical Student Clerkship of the Year award for the past five years, and has no citations in all fourteen ACGME-accredited post-graduate training programs within the Department. A champion of equity and inclusion, Dr. Amin advanced gender diversity (now over 50% women faculty) and ethnic diversity (61%) across the department while maintaining rigorous merit-based recruitment and retention practices.
As Interim Chair of the Department of Radiological Sciences, he established the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Medicine, developed the business model for UCI Health’s ambulatory imaging center, and launched a new Interventional Radiology residency program.
Dr. Amin served as President of UC Irvine’s Council of Clinical Chairs during a pivotal period of institutional transformation, leading the adoption of EPIC EMR, the development of a revised funds flow model, and improvements in clinical integration and billing infrastructure. He also co-chaired the advisory group that created the Center for Clinical Research and served as President of the UCI Medical Staff.
Internationally, Dr. Amin has advised the Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar, on quality improvement initiatives across eight hospitals under the Ministry of Health. He specializes in implementation science, applying data-driven strategies to improve clinical outcomes and operational efficiency. His innovations include tools such as NHCPlus, eConsults, My Happy Blood (a safe anticoagulation app), and a COVID-19 vulnerability scoring system. He is also Co-Founder and Associate Director of ITEQC, a translational research program focused on high-quality, technology-enabled care.
Dr. Amin is a Master of the American College of Physicians (ACP), a Master of the Society of Hospital Medicine, and has held leadership roles as President of the Association of Professors of Medicine, ACP All-California, and the Society of General Internal Medicine California/Hawaii region. He co-authored the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine and is co-editor of Hospital Medicine Secrets and OB/Gyn Hospital Medicine. Additionally, he has authored over 330 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited several books. His many honors include being named Physician of the Year by the Orange County Medical Association and the Indian Medical Association of Southern California.
Dr. Amin graduated summa cum laude with a degree in bioengineering from UC San Diego, earned his medical degree from Northwestern University, and earned his MBA in healthcare from UC Irvine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, where he served as chief resident.
About UC Irvine PBK
In 1974, UC Irvine became one of the 10% of U.S. universities to boast a PBK chapter. Over 50 years later, the UC Irvine PBK Mu Chapter remains a proud advocate for the liberal arts and sciences and continues to recognize scholastic excellence across campus.
UC Irvine PBK membership is extremely selective, with only 5% of graduating seniors and 1% of third-year juniors invited to join each year. Students cannot apply for membership, and invitations to join are only presented to those who meet rigorous academic standards. The ideal PBK candidate demonstrates intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views, and a broad range of academic interests. When a student is being evaluated for PBK membership, consideration is given to the breadth and variety of courses taken in the liberal arts and sciences, especially those taken outside the student’s major and beyond their normal general education requirements. Final decisions regarding membership are made by UC Irvine PBK faculty members.
Given the selectiveness of PBK membership, it is arguably the highest academic honor that undergraduate students can achieve at UC Irvine. Students who achieve UC Irvine PBK membership boast a competitive edge in the marketplace and enjoy a mark of excellence on their resumes and CVs.
For More Information
Want to learn more about Dr. Amin’s vision for UC Irvine PBK? Watch Dr. Amin’s full welcome address. Visit the UC Irvine PBK website for more information about PBK’s history, membership, and annual events. Stay tuned for more news and updates from PBK.
