Overview
The University's most prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in areas associated with UCSF's mission, as well as those who inspire us to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Eligibility requirements and previous awardees.
Eligibility Requirements
Nominees of the UCSF Medal must have attained preeminence in an area encompassed by any of the missions of UCSF:
- attracting and educating the nation’s most promising students
- providing our patients the best health care
- encouraging and supporting research and scholarly activities
- serving local and global communities through education and service programs
In addition, nominees may be an educator, a health care service provider, a research scientist/scholar, or a humanitarian. Accomplishments must reflect the core values of UCSF. A personal association with UCSF is not required.
Nominees must be living at the time of nomination. Elected officials currently in office are not eligible for the award. Faculty members who fulfill the criteria, as described may be nominated but must have held emeritus status or have been retired for at least one year and not hold any current administrative or policymaking position within the university. An exception is made for Nobel Laureates.
Awardees are honored at the biennial UCSF Medal celebration.
Please direct questions to Maureen Gomes, Office of the Chancellor.
Nominations
Recommendations may be submitted using this nomination form or by sending a statement of nomination via email that describes:
- The contributions that make the nominee worthy of the UCSF Medal, clearly indicating which of the UCSF mission area(s) mentioned above apply.
- Note that additional supporting documentation in the form of references or links is welcome (e.g., a concise biographical article summarizing the nominee's achievements).
- How the nominee has inspired your work and the work of others at UCSF to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the UCSF mission area(s) described above.
Optional: A description of stakeholders who should be invited to a celebration event should the nominee be selected, as well as ideas for the format and location (e.g., lecture, Q&A interview, etc.). Please also consider identifying 2 to 3 champions that could consult on event planning.
Please direct questions to Maureen Gomes, Office of the Chancellor.
Past Recipients
2022
- Jennie Chin Hansen
- David Julius
- Freeman Bradley, Charles Edgar Clary, and David Johnson
2020
2018
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
- Nancy C. Andreasen
- Nancy A. Aossey
- Melvin M. Grumbach
- and Herbert and Marion Sandler
2009
- Dorothy Bainton
- William K. Bowes, Jr.
- Dolores Huerta
- Robert S. Langer
2008
- Willie L. Brown, Jr.
- F. Warren Hellman
- Janet D. Rowley
- Eugenie C. Scott
2007
- Brook Byers
- Robert Derzon
- Wendy Kopp
- Mamphela Ramphele
2006
- Jane Brody
- Andrew S. Grove
- Rudi Schmid
- Maxine F. Singer
2004
- Lawrence K. Altman
- Phillip W. Borges
- Mary-Claire King
- Nan McEvoy
2003
- T. Robert Burke
- Rosalynn Carter
- Richard Goldman
- Nancy Hopkins
- Charles B. Wilson
2002
- Harold P. Freeman
- Dorothy P. Rice
- Donna E. Shalala
- Alejandro Zaffaroni
2001
- Moses “Mish” Grossman
- and Bernard and Barbro Osher
- Lloyd H. “Holly” Smith, Jr.
- Mimi Silbert
2000
- Purnell W. Choppin
- Alexander Margulis
- David Perlman
- Jeanne Robertson
1999
- Gerson Bakar and Barbara Bass Bakar
- Ephraim P. Engleman
- John C. Greene
1998
- Don and Doris Fisher
- William B. Kerr
- Joanne A. Lewis
- Joseph B. Martin
- Stanley B. Prusiner
1997
- Shirley S. Chater
- Marian Wright Edelman
- J.S. Lee
- Philip R. Lee
1996
- Dorothy Frank
- Jere Goyan
- William J. Rutter
- The Gladstone Foundation Trustees: Richard S. Brawerman, Albert A. Dorman, and Richard D. Jones
1995
- Sarah Gomez Erlach
- David Smith
- George Thorn
1994
- A. W. Clausen
- Bruce Alberts
1993
Julius R. Krevans
1992
- Herbert W. Boyer, Jr.
- Eugene L. Friend
- Yori Wada
1991
- Clark Kerr
- Samuel Thier
- Eugene Trefethen
1990
- J. Michael Bishop
- C. Everett Koop
- Barbara McClintock
- Lewis Thomas
- Harold Varmus
1989
- William O. Reinhardt
- Ellen Brown
- James P. Livingston
1988
- Dianne Feinstein
- Jim Geary
- Rev. Cecil Williams & Janice Mirikitani
- George J. Wood
1987
- David (Sallie) Allen
- Arnold O. Beckman
- William L. Gee
- Walter Sullivan
1986
- Father Alfred Boeddeker
- Ruth Chance
- Robert Kroc
- Saul Robinson
1985
- William K. Coblentz
- Frank and Roxie Moradian
- Charles A. Noble, Jr.
- Elizabeth Thompson Sooy
1984
- Francis J. Curry
- Ernest Gallo
- John J. Sampson
1983
- Seymour M. Farber
- Robert J. Glaser
- Lucile P. Leone
- Ellen Magnin Newman
- Malcolm S. M. Watts
1982
Francis A. Sooy
1981
- Saul and Ida Epstein
- Carlotta Fleming
- Nathan Malamud
- Frances A. Torrey
1980
- Eleanor Crum
- Donald D. Doyle
- J. Englebert Dunphy
- Otto E. Guttentag
- Alexander Simon
1979
- Stuart C. Cullen
- Jack D. Lange
- Joseph M. Long
- Clarence L. Malan
- Howard C. (Louise) Naffziger
1978
- Leslie L. Bennett
- Julius H. Comroe, Jr.
- Edward (Elinor) Heller
- Walter S. Newman
1977
- Cyril Magnin
- Helen E. Nahm
- Edward B. Shaw
- Idaree Westbrook
1976
- Troy C. Daniels
- Gardiner Johnson
- Mary B. Olney
- Milo Rowell
1975
- Morris Bernstein
- Charles J. Hitch
- Chauncey D. Leake
- Tom Mellon
- John B. de C. M. Saunders