Outstanding Physicians and Notable UCLA Alumni

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has a rich history of producing outstanding individuals across various fields, including medicine. This article explores the accomplishments and contributions of some of UCLA's notable alumni and physicians, highlighting their impact on healthcare, research, and society.

Pioneering Women in Medicine

UCLA has been at the forefront of promoting women in medicine, with several alumnae achieving remarkable success.

Kelsey Martin: From Literature to Leading a Medical School

Kelsey Martin's journey to becoming a prominent neuroscientist and the first female dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is an inspiring one. After graduating with a literature degree from Harvard, Martin joined the Peace Corps and worked in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), where she wrote grants to fund measles vaccinations. Witnessing the impact of these vaccinations on saving lives, Martin shifted her focus to medicine. She joined the UCLA faculty in 1999 and, in September 2015, became the interim dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, a position she was permanently appointed to the following year. Martin emphasizes the importance of maintaining idealism in medicine and biomedical research, encouraging individuals to lead and reach for the stars.

UCLA STAR Program: Fostering Future Leaders

The UCLA STAR Program plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of medical leaders. The STAR Program provides an excellent balance of integrated clinical training with a strong focus on research. The flexibility and support for researchers to pursue their interests is unparalleled. As the first Infectious Diseases fellow in the UCLA STAR Program, I was strongly encouraged to customize my training to fit my interests and develop my career. UCLA STAR encourages you to lead rather than to follow and that's the path that most awardees take. They choose to reach for the stars rather than sit back and admire them.

Medical School as a Launchpad: Celebrities with Medical Backgrounds

Interestingly, a medical education has served as a foundation for success in diverse fields, including entertainment and activism.

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara: From Medicine to Revolution

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the famous Argentine revolutionary, was deeply influenced by his time at medical school. Witnessing poverty and inequality during his travels across South America as a young medical student appalled him. After completing his studies in 1953, Dr. Ernesto Guevara set about applying all he had learned to change the world, moving increasingly into the political sphere, where he sought to radically change the priorities of the establishment.

Lisa Kudrow: From Research to "Friends"

Before her acting break, Lisa Kudrow, best known for her role as Phoebe in the sitcom "Friends," was following a career in research. After graduating, Kudrow returned to Los Angeles to work with her father. However, she was soon inspired by a family friend to enter show business.

Pau Gasol: From Medical Aspirations to Basketball Stardom

Professional basketball player Pau Gasol initially intended to follow in his parents' footsteps as medical professionals. After he’d enrolled on a medical degreeat the University of Barcelona, Gasol’s basketball career started to take off, and he left the university.

Ken Jeong: From Doctor to Comedian

Ken Jeong, a Hollywood star known for his comedic roles, was a practicing physician. It was while undertaking a residency in a hospital in New Orleans that Jeong got his first taste of comedy. After moving to Los Angeles, Jeong soon secured several television roles, in comedies such as The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. However, even with his growing fame, he still relied on his medical degree and job in a local hospital to supplement his income. It was only when he suddenly shot to fame in Knocked Up (2007) that he gave up medicine to become an actor full time.

Jay Sean: From Medicine to Music

Kamaljeet Singh Jhooti, known as Jay Sean, earned excellent grades in both GCSEs and A-Levels, before attending Queen Mary, University of London to study medicine. Sean’s first big breakthrough came with the Rishi Rich Project, whose single ‘Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)’ achieved major success in the UK singles chart.

Mayim Bialik: From "Blossom" to Neuroscience and Back

Actress Mayim Bialik, known for her role in "Blossom," pursued academic goals, completing a neuroscience PhD at UCLA. On completing a neuroscience PhD at UCLA, Bialik decided that the life of a neurosurgeon was incompatible with her busy family life, and instead re-entered show business.

Deepak Chopra: From Medicine to Meditation

Chopra’s father worked as a senior cardiologist in New Delhi, and also served as a surgeon in the British Army in India. After graduating from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Chopra relocated to the US, where he worked in several hospitals before joining the Transcendental Meditation movement.

Graham Chapman: From Cambridge to Comedy

While studying at the University of Cambridge, Chapman joined the famous Footlights club, which allows students with an interest in comedy and acting network with each other and hone their skills. It was in the Footlights that Chapman met John Cleese. Finding success with the Footlights on a tour of New Zealand, Chapman decided to pursue acting full time, and after deferring his studies for a year he eventually decided to abandon them altogether.

Dr. Phil McGraw: From Psychology to Television

Phillip Calvin McGraw, more commonly known as Dr Phil, graduated from Midwestern State University in 1975, with a BA in Psychology. Dr Phil received his TV break when he was invited by Oprah Winfrey to appear on her show. His initial appearance was a great success, and he was soon appearing as a regular relationship expert, offering counselling and advice to viewers. Dr Phil soon published his first book, ‘Life Strategies’, which was a bestseller.

Michael Crichton: From Medicine to Author

Michael Crichton enjoyed a career in a field that was separate from yet crucially underpinned by his time as a medical student. It was at Harvard Medical School that Crichton again tried his hand at writing, and he soon began publishing his works. When looking at Crichton’s body of writing, it is clear to see the involvement of his technical knowledge; many of his works lean towards science fiction or an interest in biotechnology.

Read also: Qualities of Great Educators

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center: A Legacy of Excellence

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has a distinguished history of contributions to medicine and research. I arrived at Harbor during the Golden Era. I watched the rise of the department under Joe St. Geme. I was recruited during a period of extraordinary productivity and academic achievement. I cherish my association with so many highly accomplished colleagues in the Harbor family. I am deeply grateful to have known so many remarkably bright, talented, and innovative scientists and clinicians. Milly helped to transform Pediatrics from a small, new program into a powerhouse of clinical care, training, and research. Harbor exceeded my every expectation. The opportunities in research, clinical medicine, and teaching were unique and launched my career. Harbor-UCLA is unique and my Harbor experience has been an exciting and fulfilling trip made possible by the support and energy of all the people who make things work. I have had the good fortune of being a part of Harbor General, then Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and LABioMed.

Notable UCLA Alumni

UCLA boasts a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions to various fields:

Academics and Researchers: Sara Alpern, Molefi Kete Asante, June Bacon-Bercey, Paul Baran, Barry Boehm, Joanna Brooks, Angela Bryan, Vinton Cerf, Steve Crocker, Robert Dassanowsky, Veronica Della Dora, Keith DeRose, Edward Diller, Kim Yi Dionne, Eliza T. Dresang, Glenn S. Dumke, Ramani Durvasula, Vernon Dvorak, Charles Elachi, Thomas Everhart, Claude S. Fischer, Anna Lee Fisher, FM-2030, Martin Ford, Biruté Galdikas, E. Mark Gold, Louis M. Goldstein, Stathis Gourgouris, Nancy Guerra, Elliot Hirshman, John Keith Irwin, M. Charlie Jackson, Frede Jensen, Hildegard Korf Kallmann-Bijl, Hans Kamp, David A. Yasuyuki Kawahigashi, Thomas A. Kennedy, Ed Krupp, Thomas S. Kupper, Ralph Larkin, Jeffrey W. Legro, Gordon Eugene Martin, K. Megan McArthur, Patrick McNaughton, Michael Morhaime, Story Musgrave, Nathan Myhrvold, David Nagel, Bruce Ovbiagele, David A. Patterson, Frank Pearce, John L. Phillips, George C. Pimentel, Jon Postel, Max Rafferty, Louise Richardson, Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Jed E. Christine Rossell, Nathan Salmon, Wesley Salmon, Henry Samueli, Mark S. Elliot See, Etel Solingen, David L. Soltz, Esther Somerfeld-Ziskind, Steven Soter, Gilbert Strang, Gary Sullivan, Guido Tabellini, Andrea Talentino, David Tannor, Richard A. Marc Tremblay, Hendrik W. (H.W.) van der Merwe, Taylor Wang, Jessica Watkins, Fred Whipple, Flossie Wong-Staal, Charles E. Young, Mani H. Zadeh.
Business Leaders: Paul Colichman, Brian Cornell, Laurence D. Jeffrey O. John W. William R. Johnson, Carl Karcher, Robert S. Richard G. Robert O. Sanford C. Sigoloff, Steven D. Steven F. Surangel Whipps Jr., Mo Ostin.
Legal and Political Figures: Felicia D. David J. John J. B. Janice Rogers Brown, Cormac J. Marcia Clark, James C. J. Clifford B. Edmund D. John Ehrlichman, Robert C. Horace Hahn, H.R. Haldeman, Shawn Holley, Lance Ito, Frank B. Mack E. Billy G. Dorothy W. Robert C. Steve Parode, William R. Army lt. Edward R. James M. Robert Shapiro, William R.
Public Service: Alan S. Francis B. Department of Health and Human Services's Office of Global Health Affairs in the George W. Dept. Ken Ziffren.
Athletes: Mark Eaton, Andy Hill, Jack Hirsch, T. J. Rudy Feldman, Ken Norton Jr., Tom Pernice Jr., Yang Chuan-kwang, Erwin Klein.
Arts and Entertainment: Harvey J. Ida B. K. Brian R. J. Paul D. James M. Andrea M. Louis J. Raymond B. Charles E. Gene D. Mark A.R. Michael S. Kimberly J. Linda Liau, W. George O. Margaret W. M. C. Vijay K. A. M. Michael E. Donald A. Mildred Esther Mathias, William V. Debra A. Theodore M. Leonard H. Ernst G. Jean L. James M. N. James N. Robin Kelley, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Amy Rowat, Marcie H. Walter H. Helen B. Luc E. Dan Guerrero, B.A. J. D. Brad Holland, B.A. William F. James J. George W. Edwin C. Jim L. Rick Neuheisel, B.A. William H. Elvin C.
Nobel Laureates: Ralph Bunche, Richard F. Heck, Robert Bruce Merrifield, Elinor Ostrom, Ardem Patapoutian, Randy Schekman, Glenn T. Seaborg, William F. Sharpe.

Accomplished Physicians Beyond UCLA

The impact of medical education extends beyond UCLA, with numerous physicians making significant contributions to healthcare and research.

Richard S. Blumberg, M.D.: Director of the Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Co-director of the Harvard Digestive Diseases Center, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Luciana Borio, M.D.: Leads and coordinates FDA's cross-cutting scientific and public health efforts, including the Advancing Regulatory Science Initiative and the Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi).
H. Franklin Bunn, M.D.: Director of the Hematology Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Robert M. Carey, M.D.: The David A. Harrison III Distinguished Professor of Medicine; Dean, Emeritus; and University Professor at the University of Virginia.
Richard F. Daines, M.D.: A prominent physician leader in the New York area, serving as Senior Vice President for Professional Affairs and Medical Director, President and CEO, and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health.
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.: Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the centers at the National Institute of Medicine-National Institutes of Health.
Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.: Completed her internship and residency at NYP/Weill Cornell before serving as the 21st Commissioner of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
LaMar Hasbrouck, M.D.: Executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in Washington, D.C.
Christine Laine, M.D., M.P.H.: Editor in Chief of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Gerald Mandell, M.D.: The emeritus Owen R. Cheatham Professor of the Sciences, Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Henry Masur, M.D.: Chief of the Critical Care Medicine Department at the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health.
John A. Oates, M.D.: Founded the Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology programs. He was Chair of Vanderbilt University's Department of Medicine from 1983 to 1997, and is the Thomas F. Frist, Sr. Professor of Medicine and Professor of Pharmacology.
William Pao, M.D., Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Pathology/Microbiology/Immunology at Vanderbilt University, and is the Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research and the Director of Personalized Cancer Medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Jean W. Pape, M.D.: Founding director of Groupe Haïtien d'Étude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infectieuses Opportunistes (GHESKIO).
Jonathan I. Ravdin, M.D.: The Dean and Executive Vice President of the Medical College of Wisconsin.
David E. Rogers, M.D.: Appointed to Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases.
Lisa Rosenbaum, M.D.: A cardiologist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, instructor at Harvard Medical School, and a national correspondent for the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bruce Siegel, M.D.: The New Jersey Commissioner of Health.
Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.: The founding dean and first president for the Morehouse School of Medicine (1975) and is now President Emeritus.
Bryant Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D.: Physician-lawyer and 2016 graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, served as a 2016 White House Fellow in the Office of Cabinet Affairs.

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Hall of Fame

The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Hall of Fame recognizes alums with outstanding career accomplishments in public health, as well as those who have volunteered time and talent in their communities in support of public health activities. Patience A. Anne W. J. Kavita K. Donna L. Dr. Ludlow B. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Anthony D. Lisa V. Dr. Marc A. Claire D. Brindis is director of the Philip R. Frederick J. D. Linda M. Barry R. James W. Kenneth B. Francine M. Stanley P. Angela E. Irwin J. Harold M. Richard A. Keith S. Pauline M. Stephen M. Diana M. Virginia A. Suzanne E. Kenneth W. Jessie L. Ira R. Raymond D. Carolyn F.

Athletes Who Played Professional Baseball

Hector Ambriz, Garrett Atkins, Eric Byrnes, Jeff Conine, Brandon Crawford, Cody Decker, Troy Glaus, Casey Janssen, Eric Karros, Tim Leary, Torey Lovullo, Adam Melhuse, Jim Parque.

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