Sherman M. Mellinkoff Faculty Award
2025 Recipient: Richard J. Shemin, MD, FACS, MAMSE
Honoring the finest in doctor-patient relationships and medical education.
About the Award Recipient
Richard J. Shemin, MD, FACS, MAMSE is the 2025 recipient of the Sherman M. Mellinkoff Faculty Award. This award is granted to a physician in recognition of the skillful use of scientific knowledge to the benefit of patients, thereby promoting the beneficial exchange between doctors and their patients that sustains the science of medicine. This award is considered by faculty as being the highest honor of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dr. Richard Shemin has held the Robert and Kelly Day Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery since 2007 and was named Distinguished Professor of Surgery in 2020. His contributions have made a lasting impact on cardiothoracic surgery both nationally and globally. Recognized as one of the top cardiac surgeons in the country, he has built an exemplary cardiac surgery practice, specializing in heart disease and transplantation. Dr. Shemin brings hope and, when possible, cures to his patients, offering comfort and reassurance to families during difficult times and he is known for his kindness, empathy, calm demeanor, and dedication to building strong patient-physician relationships. Dr. Shemin is a respected surgeon, scientist, teacher, compassionate caregiver, and devoted family man—a true gold standard for all of us.
About the Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award
The Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award was established in 1979 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the School of Medicine and to honor the man for whom it is named. Dr. Mellinkoff’s 24 years of leadership as Dean coincided with the growth and development of UCLA as a major institution of medical education and research.
The award honors the ideal of the finest in doctor-patient relationships and medical education. Because of the high esteem in which Dr. Mellinkoff is held by all who know him, this award is considered by the faculty to be the highest honor of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Mellinkoff Award Recipients
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
View previous recipients by decade.
- 2019 - Myke Federman, MD
- 2018 - Jamil Aboulhosn, MD
- 2017 - Neil Wenger, MD
- 2016 - Noah Federman, MD
- 2015 - Gabriel M. Danovitch, MD
- 2014 - Robert K. Oye, MD
- 2013 - Ronald W. Busuttil, MD, PhD
- 2012 - Robin P. Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD
- 2011 - Rick E. Harrison, MD
- 2010 - W. Donald Shields, MD
- 2009 - Christopher B. Cooper, MD
- 2008 - Susan Perlman, MD
- 2007 - Marshall T. Morgan, MD
- 2006 - Alan M. Fogelman, MD
- 2005 - Stephen D. Cederbaum, MD
- 2004 - Lawrence W. Bassett, MD, FACR + Jonathan S. Berek, MD
- 2003 - Jeffrey J. Eckardt, MD
- 2002 - Glenn Braunstein, MD + Dalila Corry, MD
- 2001 - Milton H. Miller, MD + Robert B. Smith, MD
- 2000 - Joseph K. Perloff, MD
- 1999 - Jo Ann Brasel, MD
- 1998 - Charles M. Haskell, MD + Ronald S. Swerdloff, MD
- 1997 - Josephine B. Isabel-Jones, MD
- 1996 - Allan E. Kreiger, MD
- 1995 - Phyllis A. Guze, MD
- 1994 - Dennis W. Cope, MD
- 1993 - Gildon N. Beall, MD
- 1992 - George W. Ellison, MD
- 1991 - Charles R. Kleeman, MD
- 1990 - David H. Solomon, MD + David State, MD, PhD
- 1989 - Ulrich Batzdorf, MD
- 1988 - Solomon A. Kaplan, MD
- 1987 - Christian Herrmann, Jr., MD
- 1986 - Kouichi R. Tanaka, MD
- 1984 - William J. Dignam, MD + Edward A. Langdon, MD
- 1983 - Arthur D. Schwabe, MD
- 1982 - George C. Emmanouilides, MD, MS
- 1981 - William P. Longmire, Jr., MD
- 1980 - William S. Adams, MD