Celebrating Excellence

Meet the 2025 UCSF Alumni Award Honorees

Each year, UCSF honors distinguished alumni who have made remarkable contributions to healthcare, research, education, and community service. As we prepare for Alumni Weekend 2025, we are proud to announce this year’s Alumni Awards Recipients, a group of inspiring leaders who exemplify innovation, dedication, and the enduring spirit of UCSF.

Join us in celebrating their achievements and lasting impact as they are recognized at the Alumni Awards Brunch during Alumni Weekend. Read on to learn more about this year’s honorees and their transformative work.

Alumni Discovery Award

Anna-Barbara Moscicki, MD, Resident Alum, Clinical Fellow Alum
Dr. Moscicki, a professor of pediatrics at UCLA, has made a lasting impact through her pioneering research on the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV), significantly improving cervical cancer screening practices for adolescents and young adults, reducing unnecessary treatments, and shaping key public health guidelines.

Alumni Early-Career Award

Kamena Kostova, PhD ’18
A Graduate Division alumna, Dr. Kostova has made significant contributions through her groundbreaking research on cellular quality control mechanisms, particularly in ribosome-associated processes, and her work on the molecular underpinnings of rare genetic disorders and age-dependent infertility. She also demonstrates exceptional leadership and mentorship in the scientific community.

Alumni Entrepreneur Award

Ken Song, MD ’00, Resident Alum
Dr. Song exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit through his groundbreaking innovations in diagnostics and therapeutics, including developing and commercializing non-invasive prenatal genetic testing using circulating fetal DNA to detect fetal anomalies, the successful launch of RayzeBio, and his ongoing transformative work in autoimmune disease treatments.

Alumni Humanitarian Service Award

Maria Lopez Andrzejek, PharmD ’01
Dr. Lopez, a School of Pharmacy alumna, has made transformative contributions to public health through her business, Mission Wellness Pharmacy, by pioneering HIV prevention services, providing accessible healthcare to underserved populations, and leading nationwide initiatives to expand pharmacist-led HIV and COVID care. 

Alumni Practitioner Award

Ronni E. Brown, DDS, MPH, Resident Alum
Dr. Brown, a Dental Public Health Residency alumna, has demonstrated exceptional clinical empathy and dedication to underserved populations, notably through her work at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. There, she provided vital dental care to incarcerated individuals as a national expert on the oral manifestations of methamphetamine use and advocated for compassionate, evidence-based care in vulnerable communities.

Alumni Practitioner Award

Colleen Ann McEvoy, MSN ’06
Dr. McEvoy has exemplified clinical empathy and dedication to underserved youth, particularly in Inyo County, where she opened the Bronco Clinic, expanded access to adolescent health services, and developed innovative strategies to ensure confidential care for teens. She also provides expert mental health consultations and mentors future healthcare providers.

Alumni Philanthropic Impact Award

Douglas E. Cowden, DDS ’65
Dr. Cowden, a proud School of Dentistry graduate from the Class of 1965, exemplifies the university’s values by donating to establish the Douglas E. Cowden, DDS, and Virginia H. Cowden Endowed Scholarship Fund. This fund supports first-generation dental students and represents his lifelong service as president of the Dental Alumni Association and his ongoing philanthropic contributions to his alma mater.

Dental Alumni Association Medal of Honor Award

Cynthia K. Brattesani, DDS ’89
Dr. Brattesani, a School of Dentistry graduate, has made exceptional contributions to the dental profession through her leadership as president of the San Francisco Dental Society, her 15-year tenure as an ADA Delegate, and her pioneering use of advanced dental technologies like CEREC and digital X-rays. She also mentored dental students for over 20 years and advocated for underserved populations through her involvement with CDA Cares and philanthropic dental clinics.

Medical Alumni Association Alum of the Year Award

Stephanie D. Chao, MD ’06
Dr. Chao, a dedicated pediatric trauma surgeon, and public health advocate, exemplifies the true principles of a physician through her pioneering research on child abuse and firearm safety, her advocacy work that has shaped public health policy, and her passionate commitment to educating and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. She is profoundly impacting the safety and well-being of children and families.

Nursing Alumni Association Jane Norbeck Distinguished Service Award

Jian Zhang, MSN ’92, FNP
A distinguished alumna of the School of Nursing, Dr. Zhang has exemplified outstanding leadership and service to both the nursing profession and the UCSF community through her strategic healthcare initiatives, including addressing health disparities in underserved populations, leading COVID-19 public health efforts, and securing historic funding for critical healthcare infrastructure at Chinese Hospital, where she serves as CEO.

Pharmacy Alumni Association Alum of the Year Award

Sharon L. Youmans, PharmD ’85, MPH
Dr. Youmans has made significant contributions to pharmacy, particularly through her work at UCSF, where she led global health initiatives in Malawi, enhancing access to antiretrovirals and improving healthcare systems. Her leadership in pharmacy education, mentorship, and dedication to diversity and inclusion have positively impacted the profession and the communities she serves.

Graduate Division Alumni Association Alum of the Year Award

Shelley Chu, MD/PhD ’00
Dr. Chu exemplifies UCSF’s tradition of advancing global health through her groundbreaking research, entrepreneurial leadership in biotech, and unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes, all of which stem from the strong foundation she built as a physician-scientist at UCSF, where she conducted pivotal research in biochemistry and biophysics.

UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in Physical Therapy Alum of the Year Award

Benjamin Boyd, MS ’02, DPTSc ’08
Dr. Boyd exemplifies UCSF’s traditions through his pioneering work in pain science, patient-centered care, and education as a clinician dedicated to treating chronic pain with empathy and holistic approaches. He is an innovative educator at Samuel Merritt University and the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute Australasia and a researcher whose contributions, including his book Bodily Relearning, have significantly advanced rehabilitation science by integrating the biopsychosocial model into patient care.