

Steeped in Service
Luminaries light up UCSF’s legacy of service.
University of California San Francisco
With sweeping reach, these luminaries are combating tobacco use, exciting kids about science, making medicine safer, advocating for the underserved, keeping our troops healthy, and much more. UC San Francisco faculty and alumni called to public service stand as an especially impressive manifestation of UCSF’s public mission. In honor of the university’s 150th anniversary, we highlight but a few whose national and international leadership roles have helped set the world on a course to better health.
CDC
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
HEW
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
HHMI
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
HHS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
IOM
Institute of Medicine
NAS
National Academy of Sciences
NIH
National Institutes of Health
RWJF
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
SSA
Social Security Administration
UN
United Nations
USPHS
U.S. Public Health Service
Italicized Name
Deceased
Serves on executive committee and co-chairs a committee asked to develop standards for inclusion of social and behavioral data in electronic health records.
At NAS, shaped landmark National Science Education Standards, emphasizing hands-on problem-solving, and championed their implementation in schools nationwide.
Advises HHMI leadership on strategies for promoting biomedical research and science education, proposals for new research programs, and other scientific matters.
Established Peace Corps program in Malaysia; later helped promote concept of HMOs within HEW.
Released a landmark 2006 report on the dangers of secondhand smoke that led to indoor smoking bans.
Oversees support for innovative technologies, including an Earthquake Early Warning system and Hawaii’s Thirty Meter Telescope, and for groundbreaking research.
Oversaw SSA’s transition to an independent agency; responded to 1995 bombing of Oklahoma City federal building that killed 168 people, including 16 SSA employees.
Led a post-WWII mission to help Japan rebuild its pharmaceutical education system.
Helped craft major UN report on threat from HIV/AIDS to governance in Africa; shaped IOM work on global health, chronic and infectious diseases, and education.
Oversaw merger of federal health insurance programs for elderly and poor, Medicare and Medicaid, into single agency.
Leads foundation’s efforts to address poverty and poor health in developing countries and to support educational innovation in the U.S.
Implemented voter registration by mail, pioneered online reporting of election results, and expanded voter outreach efforts.
Oversaw Global Fund’s evolution into a public-private partnership that has saved millions of lives in developing countries, raising more than $10 billion to support 450 programs in 136 countries; knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2007.
Led federal agency through emergency responses to dozens of public health crises, including anthrax bioterrorism, SARS, West Nile virus, food-borne disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.
Implemented review of all over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to assure that they were safe, effective, and labeled for their intended use; promoted consumer-friendly OTC labeling.
Oversaw dramatic increase in delivery of antiretroviral therapy to HIV-positive patients and sharp decline in infection rates among children; founded Office of Global Health Diplomacy in the U.S. Department of State.
First pharmacist to serve as FDA commissioner; championed patients’ right to be informed about prescription drugs.
First nonphysician to serve as deputy surgeon general; helped devise Oral Hygiene Index to quantify bacterial plaque on teeth; exposed health risks of smokeless tobacco use by professional baseball players and others.
At OneWorld, first nonprofit pharmaceutical company in the U.S., led development and delivery of drugs for impoverished patients; at Medicines360, addresses need for contraception and other unmet health challenges faced by women.
Oversaw 700 intramural scientists and administrators plus external grant recipients; presided over major reorganization of internal and external research programs; initiated project that led to discovery of first gene for Parkinson’s disease.
Has led efforts throughout her career to improve the health and overall welfare of Californians.
Champions research funding for nurse scientists; at ASPR, helped New York City develop bioterrorism plans and Greek government prepare for 2004 Olympics.
Helped to implement Medicare; chaired a task force on prescription drugs; developed health workforce and family planning policies.
Directs HHMI’s flagship Investigator Program, which funds more than 300 leading scientists nationwide, and Early Career Scientist Program.
Initiated and led programs to reduce smoking, enhance end-of-life care, expand health insurance for children, and encourage physical activity.
In posts with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, VA, and Indian Health Service, improved patients’ access to pharmacy resources, oversaw IT advances, implemented pharmacy-by-mail services.
Helped expand HHMI’s support for investigators as it became nation’s second-largest funder of basic biomedical research, behind the federal government.
Fostered innovation in health care delivery; improved access for underserved Californians.
Raised awareness about organization’s accountability, transparency, and neutrality in providing humanitarian medical care worldwide.
Fostered doubling of NIH budget over five years; helped launch free online archive of scientific papers (now PubMed Central); co-founded Public Library of Science (PLoS).
Led Army units ranging from dental commands to multistate health systems serving more than 500,000 beneficiaries; oversaw programs, policies, and personnel for the Army Dental Care System.
Has helped shape national science policy, advance field of precision medicine, drive support for scientific innovation; spearheaded concept of NIH T-R01 grants for bold, risky research projects.