2022 UCSF Alumni Achievement Awards Honor Accomplished Alumni and Rising Leaders in Health

The Alumni Association of UC San Francisco has named seven winners of the 2022 UCSF Alumni Achievement Awards. These awards honor alumni across UCSF’s four schools and the Graduate Division for their extraordinary contributions to clinical practice, research, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, service, and mentorship, as well as early-career success.

Dr. Dan Lowenstein, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UCSF and Robert B. and Ellinor Aird Professor, introduced the awards at this year’s UCSF Alumni Weekend in April. Dr. Lowenstein was joined by Brian Komoto, PharmD ’81, President of the Alumni Association of UCSF; and Sukhmanpreet Kaur, PharmD candidate and President of the UCSF Graduate and Professional Student Association.

“These alumni are truly making us proud while they bring about a real difference in people’s lives here in the Bay Area, across the country, and worldwide. The work they do exemplifies UCSF and UCSF graduates,” said Dr. Lowenstein.

The Alumni Association of UCSF (AAUCSF) is now seeking nominations for the 2023 UCSF Alumni Achievement Awards. The submission period closes on October 15, 2022. All UCSF alumni, including former residents, fellows, and postdocs are eligible. Help us find the most deserving winners who we will celebrate at Alumni Weekend 2023. To make a nomination, visit our Awards website.

Alumni Philanthropic Impact Award

Roland Zepf, MS ’12, PhD ’17, RN
This award honors an alum who has made UCSF a philanthropic priority and whose giving has had a significant impact on the University’s ability to improve and advance education, research, and/or health care.


Alumni Practitioner Award

Kelly Kirby, MSN ’06, RN
This award honors an alum whose work is marked by boundless clinical empathy, understanding, and caring within health care.


Alumni Early Career Award

Marielle Reataza, MD, MS ’17
This award honors an alum who has graduated or completed training within the last 10 years (2012-2022), has advanced rapidly in their career, and has displayed significant achievement in the areas of leadership and professional success, pushing the boundaries of science and health care.


Alumni Discovery Award

Janet Abrahm, MD ’73
This award honors an alum who has made outstanding achievements creating positive change through basic science/health care research and has brought distinction to themselves and the UCSF community.


Alumni Mentor Award

Denis Kitayama, PharmD, Resident Alum
This award recognizes an alum who has devoted their career to inspiring, mentoring, and educating the next generation of scientists and health care providers.


Alumni Humanitarian Service Award

Cornelia Davis, MD ’72
This award recognizes an alum who has made a transformative contribution to their local community, the nation, or the world that has helped make it a better place. These honorees have achieved recognition for making a noteworthy, positive change to the human condition through health care and science.


Alumni Entrepreneur Award

Yan Kalika, MS ’01, DMD
This award recognizes an alum who demonstrates the highest caliber of innovation in science and/or health care through risk-taking actions and/or value-creating transformations.