Dear Members of the UCSF Community,
We are extremely troubled by the growing humanitarian crisis on our nation’s southern border, where children are forcibly separated from their parents.
In a statement released yesterday, University of California President Janet Napolitano said that this latest crisis is “further indication of the urgent need for a real conversation around immigration reform.” She stressed that “our nation of immigrants is made stronger by its diversity. Congress and the administration must come together to pass legislation that reflects the values of our country, ensures the safety of our borders and provides a resolution for those brought to the United States as children who only know this country as home.”
On behalf of the leadership of UCSF, I want to convey my strongest support for President Napolitano’s statement and express solidarity with our colleagues at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine regarding the harmful consequence of separating children from their parents.
As we have stated repeatedly, a core tenet at UCSF, as well as UC overall, is that our strength as a public university stems from a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion, and welcomes and respects every individual regardless of immigration status. UCSF remains committed to providing compassionate care to children and fulfilling our efforts to foster an...
Dear Members of the UCSF Community:
It is with sadness that we share the news that Lloyd “Holly” Smith, Jr., MD, professor and chairman emeritus of the UCSF Department of Medicine, passed away yesterday at home at the age of 94. Holly was a luminary in the fields of medical education and research, and his absence will be felt not only at UCSF but well beyond.
When Holly joined UCSF in 1964 as the chairman of the Department of Medicine, there were only fifty full-time members (it now numbers approximately 750). He led the department through a period of exceptional and unprecedented growth, recruiting and mentoring faculty in record numbers, many of whom went on to be outstanding leaders in their fields.
Known for his witty aphorisms, Holly once said, “Experiment. Take some chances. Remember the Peter Pan Principle, ‘most things peter out but some will pan out.’” Undoubtedly, many of UCSF’s greatest successes were realized as a direct result of Holly’s innovative ideas and unwavering devotion to leading by example.
Despite receiving innumerable awards and accolades throughout his career, Holly always emphasized his debt to his colleagues and UCSF for his successes. His humble nature, humor, and grace are exemplified by the recipients of the annual Lloyd Holly Smith Award for Exceptional Service to the School of Medicine, established in 2000 to recognize outstanding career service that has resulted in broad and long-lasting benefit to the School of Medicine. To learn more about Holly’s remarkable life and career,...