Faculty Retirements FY25

Louise Aronson is a geriatrician, writer, and professor of medicine at UCSF. She is the author of Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life, a New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, she received the Gold Professorship in Humanism in Medicine, California Homecare Physician of the Year award, and the American Geriatrics Society Clinician-Teacher of the Year award. At UCSF, Aronson has directed the Pathways to Discovery program, the Northern California Geriatrics Education Center, the Optimizing Aging Project, and she served as Chief of Geriatrics Education. Her work focuses on expanding geriatric care, reshaping public perceptions of aging, and developing programs that support older adults’ agency and well-being. 

Edwin Charlebois has had an extraordinary 40-year career at UCSF and ZSFG, spanning the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology and the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Prevention Science. An epidemiologist and implementation scientist, his work focuses on HIV transmission, treatment, and prevention. He contributed to landmark studies in the early HIV epidemic and helped establish universal HIV treatment strategies in Uganda and Kenya. Charlebois also led the creation of two Uganda-based research centers, now independently operated. A prolific collaborator with over 260 publications, he has advanced research in HIV, HCV, TB, malaria, STIs, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and COVID/Long-COVID. An award-winning mentor, he directed the T32 Traineeships in AIDS Prevention Studies and co-directed the CAPS Methods Core. Most recently, he led the NIMHD Research Coordinating Center to Reduce Disparities in Multiple Chronic Diseases, forming a national network to address social determinants of health.

Jonathan (Jody) Garber is an internal medicine physician practicing at the SFVAHCS, with over 30 years of clinical experience. He earned his MD from New York University in 1991 and completed his residency in internal medicine at UCSF. Garber’s clinical interests focus on general internal medicine and the application of telemedicine in urgent care settings, and he has contributed to peer-reviewed studies exploring telehealth’s effectiveness with underserved populations. He is known for his dedication to veteran care and commitment to integrating technology-driven solutions to improve access and quality of care.

Don Grandis is retiring after 10 years at UCSF and will return as volunteer faculty. He earned his MD from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed his training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. At UCSF, he served as Medical Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and was named a Master Clinician in 2022. He also holds the Edward and Pearl Fein Endowed Professorship in Cardiology, awarded in 2019. Grandis is a general cardiologist with a special interest in personalizing care to optimize prevention and management of heart disease.

Ken McQuaid has led the Medical Service at the SFVAHCS since 2014 and will step down from his role in 2025 after more than a decade of transformative leadership. A UCSF faculty member since 1992, he is a nationally recognized gastroenterologist, educator, and leader. McQuaid has authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, co-edits Current Medical Diagnosis and Therapy, and served as president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is a recipient of the AGA Distinguished Clinician Award and a member of the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators and Council of Master Clinicians. At the VA, he built a diverse and accomplished leadership team, expanded research and education programs, and championed innovations in care for veterans. His legacy is defined by quiet effectiveness, deep integrity, and an enduring commitment to community and inclusion.

Patricia O’Sullivan is the Director of Research in Medical Education at UCSF’s Center for Faculty Educators. She oversees programs that prepare students, residents, fellows, and faculty as scholarly educators, including pathways to advanced degrees in health professions education. She led a faculty development program that earned the 2016 ASPIRE for Excellence award, and contributed to UCSF’s 2022 ASPIRE award for student assessment. O’Sullivan has held leadership roles in AAMC, AERA, and AMEE, and is an AERA fellow. Her interprofessional research collaborations have been recognized nationally. She has received UCSF’s Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring and SGIM’s Career Achievement in Medical Education.

Hope Rugo is a medical oncologist and professor of medicine at UCSF, specializing in breast cancer research and treatment. She joined the UCSF faculty in 1990 and the Breast Care Center in 1999, following a decade of experience in malignant hematology and bone marrow transplantation. Rugo is Director of Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She serves as the principal investigator on numerous clinical trials focused on novel targeted therapies for breast cancer, with research interests including immunotherapy, drug combinations, and toxicity management. Nationally, she co-chairs the I-SPY2 trial Safety Committee and the Triple Negative Working Group of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, and is a member of the Alliance Breast Committee. An active clinician and educator, Rugo has received multiple awards recognizing her contributions to research, clinical care, and mentorship.

Anne Thorson retired in 2021 after 25 years at UCSF and is now fully stepping back after serving on callback. She received her MD from Stanford and completed her residency and cardiology fellowship at California Pacific Medical Center. She served as Medical Co-Director of the UCSF Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. Thorson is an expert in cardiovascular disease prevention and women’s heart health, with a focus on early intervention. 

Joseph Wong is professor of medicine at UCSF and Staff Physician at the SFVAHCS Medical Center. A physician-scientist and leader in HIV research, he has shaped the understanding of HIV persistence and cure strategies. He earned his MD from Northwestern, trained at the US Naval Hospital and McGaw Medical Center, and completed his fellowship in Infectious Diseases and Virology at UCSD. Wong has conducted groundbreaking studies on HIV reservoirs and early treatment, and served as Associate Director of the UCSF CFAR Virology Core. A former Navy medical officer and long-time NIH-funded investigator, he pairs research leadership with deep clinical commitment to people living with HIV, especially veterans.