Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Professorship Award

2026-28 Call for Applications
Applications due March 11, 2026 by 5 p.m.

The Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2026-28 UCSF Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Professorship Award.

The Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Professorship Award honors UCSF emeritus/a professors whose outstanding research, scholarly work, teaching, or public service activities have continued since retirement. The highest priority will be to support activities that benefit the campus and for which funding is not available from other sources.

Background:

Edward A. Dickson was the longest serving regent of the University of California. In 1955, Mr. Dickson presented the university with an endowment to support and maintain special annual professorships to be awarded to Emeritus/a faculty. The Dickson Emeritus/a Professorship was established on the UCSF campus in 2003.

Award Details:

Amount for Each Award: Up to $20,000 is available for the 2026-28 funding cycle.

Number of Awards:  A total of $20,000 in funding is available for the FY 2026-28 award cycle. This amount may be granted as a single $20,000 award or distributed among multiple smaller awards.

Duration of Term: Two (2) fiscal years - FY 2026-28. Funds are available to recipients starting July 1, 2026 of the first fiscal year through June 30, 2028 of the second fiscal year.

Application Period: January 7, 2026 through March 11, 2026.

Application Deadline: March 11, 2026, 5 p.m.

Award Notification: by April 29,2026

Applications Open To: Current UCSF Emeritus/a Professors (including those on recall).

Contact:  Abby Draper

University Policy:

In accordance with Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health, or disability. For detailed information, please visit the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.

Award Requirements

Purpose

• The award honors UCSF emeritus/a professors whose outstanding research, scholarly work, teaching, or public service activities have continued since retirement.
• The awardee(s) shall be known as the Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Professor for the duration of the two-year term.
• Activities which may be recognized by the Award include any area of teaching, research, or public service. Proposed activities do not need to be directly related to the nominee’s previous career accomplishments.
• The highest priority will be to support activities that benefit the campus and for which funding is not available from other sources.

Eligibility

All UCSF emeritus/a faculty in all series, including those on recall, are eligible to apply.

Funds

A maximum of $20,000 will be available for each recipient over the course of two (2) fiscal years. Award funds are available July 1 of the first fiscal year (July 1, 2026).

• Funds may be used for any purpose in conformity with University of California guidelines.
• Appropriate use of funds may include, but is not limited to: salary for assistants, purchase of necessary supplies or services, travel that is essential to the project (i.e., travel to research, activity sites or meetings critical to the project).
• If given substantial justification, funds may be expended for anything that is necessary and reasonable to the performance of the project.
• If the proposal is part of another project that is currently funded, explain why your project is not on the budget.
• Funds may not be used for recall salary or membership dues.
• Unexpended funds must be returned to the Dickson Award account fund.

Budget Development

• A one-page budget (budget template) should include a detailed breakdown of the funds requested to support proposed activities.
• A budget justification should describe how each budget item is required to achieve the aims of the project and how the estimated costs in the budget were calculated.

Current and Pending/Other Support

• In the proposal, include a list of other funding sources (including those pending).
• If the proposal is part of a larger project that is currently funded, an explanation should describe why the proposal is not part of the larger project budget.

For more information:

• Please review the UCSF Dickson Award Policy and Budget Guide (pdf).

Reporting Requirements

Final Report

Each Award recipient is required to submit a final report.

• 1 to 3-page final report is due within six months after the end of the award appointment. Recipients will receive an email reminder in advance of the due date.
• The final report should provide a brief statement of what was accomplished with the funds, the challenges encountered along the way and a financial summary.

Acknowledgement

• Recipients are required to acknowledge the financial support of the UCSF Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Professorship Award in presentations, papers, posters, websites and press releases.

Criteria and Review Process

Criteria

The following criteria are used to evaluate and score applications:

• Feasibility
• Innovation
• Significance
• Impact
• Budget

Proposals should clearly indicate how the applicant would use the Emeriti Professorship in accordance with the purpose of the award. The highest priority will be given to proposals that benefit the UCSF campus and for which funding is not available from other sources.

Application Review Process

• Applications will be reviewed by an ad hoc Review Committee appointed by the Vice Provost Academic Affairs.
• The Review Committee is made up of five emeritus/a professors representing all four schools and a recent award recipient.
• Committee members are not eligible to apply for the Award in the year in which they serve.
• The Vice Provost will make the final decision based on the Committee’s recommendations at which point all applicants will be notified.

Application and Submissions

Application packet must include the following items, submitted as a single email attachment.

1. Application form – download / complete electronically (PDF).
2. Proposal - 1 or 2 pages if possible (11–12-point font size)
   • Description of project should include:
     • Background and significance, including:
     • Feasibility
     • Innovation
     • Potential impact
     • Current stage of project
     • Other funding sources, if any (current and pending)
   • May also include:
     • Figures and tables (to fit within the 1- to 2- page proposal, if possible)
     • Bibliography may follow (no page limit)
3. Budget - see budget template and policy and budget guide
4. Budget justification (1 page)
   • Outlines in detail how each budget item is required to achieve the aims of the project  
   • Describes how the estimated costs in the budget were calculated.
5. NIH-style biosketch (not to exceed 4 pages)

Submit packet by 5 p.m. on March 11, 2026

Send as a single PDF file via email to:  [email protected]

Attention:

Brian Alldredge, Vice Provost Academic Affairs
c/o: Abby Draper, Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost

Key Dates and Resources

Timeline - Award FY2026-28
Open for Applications	January 7
Closed for Applications	March 11
Applicants Notified By	April 29
Deadline	March 11 by 5 p.m.

Resources

• Dickson Award Policy and Budget Guide
• Budget Template

Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipients

 

2025-27 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipients
	John Feiner, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, School of Medicine Project: Improving Equity in Medical Device Performance View Announcement
	Thomas Lang, PhD Professor Emeritus / Recall Faculty, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine Project: Leveraging Clinical CT Scans and AI to Understand the Musculoskeletal Impact of Diseases and Treatments View Announcement
2024-26 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipients
	DorAnne Donesky, RN, PhD, NP Professor Emeritus, Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing Project: Sustainability of Practice-PC: Interprofessional Continuing Education in Palliative Care View Announcement
	Michael Harrison, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine Project: Magnetic Correction of Pectus Excavatum in Children View Announcement
	Jacqueline Leung, MD, MPH Professor Emeritus, Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, School of Medicine Project: Clarifying the Relationship Between Postoperative Delirium and Alzheimer's Disease View Announcement

 

Awardee	Discipline	Proposal
2022-24 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Claire D. Brindis, DrPH	Distinguished Professor and Emerita Director, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	Project: Aligning UCSF Action on Climate and Health with High-Impact Policy Priorities profile announcement
Donna Ferriero, MD, MS	Distinguished Professor Emerita of Neurology and Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine	Project: Tapping a Resource: Emeriti Faculty as Mentors profile announcement
Mel Heyman, MD, MPH	Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Emeritus; Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	Project: Faculty Development Program for Mid-Level and Senior Faculty Members profile announcement
Kimberly S. Topp, PT, PhD, FAAA	Professor and Chair Emeritus, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine	Project: American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Center for Excellence profile announcement
2021-23 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Cynthia T. Chin, MD	Professor Emerita, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine	Project: Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Accuracy and Efficiency of Lumbar Spine MRI Interpretation and Reporting profile announcement
Gerald Cunha, PhD	Professor Emeritus, Department of Urology, School of Medicine	Project: An Experimental Model of Ovotestis profile announcement
Katherine Gundling, MD, FACP	Clinical Professor Emerita, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine	Project: The Health Emergency of Climate Change, Step 2: Building UCSF’s Response in Patient Education and Clinical Care profile announcement
Edward Yelin, PhD	Professor Emeritus, Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine	Project: The Health Impacts of Contemporary Employment: Covid-19 and Beyond profile announcement
2019-21 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Dean Jamison, PhD	Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine	Extending National Income Accounts to Include Life Expectancy profile
2018-20 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Isobel Russell, MD, PhD	Professor Emerita, Department of Anesthesia, School of Medicine	Develop 3D printed models for teaching the complex medical specialty of congenital heart disease profile
Ellen Weber, MD	Professor Emerita of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine	Growing Emergency Medicine in Tanzania profile
2017-19 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Adrian Gelb, MB, CHB	Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, School of Medicine	Medicine Fostering Quality and Safety in Anesthetic Practice in the Developing World profile
Sarah Macfarlane, PhD, MSc	Professor Emerita of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine	Making Data Available to Global Health  profile
(John) Colin Partridge, MD, MPH	Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics/ Neonatology, School of Medicine	Cross-cultural differences in utilities for disability: a multi-national study in the developing world profile
2016-18 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Virginia Carrieri-Kohlman, RN, MS, PhD	Professor Emerita, Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing	The Measurement of Dyspnea: Translation to Clinical Practice news
James Cleaver, PhD	Professor Emeritus, Dermatology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Medicine	Proposal: Chemotherapy and DNA Repair profile
John Gordon Frierson, BA, MD	Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine	Research on the History of the Angel Island Quarantine Station
2015-17 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Kathleen Puntillo, RN, PhD	Professor Emerita of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing	Translating Research into Practice: Palliation of Thirst in Intensive Care Unit Patients profile
Louis F. Reichardt, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Physiology and Biochemistry/Biophysics, School of Medicine	Web production of videos illustrating scientific approaches to major medical challenges through collaboration with iBioSeminars directory
Robert H. Levin, PharmD, FASHP, FCSHP	Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy	Implementation of California SB 493 for students, residents, faculty, & alumni
2014-15 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
M. Michael Thaler, MD, MA	Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	'Premature' Cancer Research at UCSF: The Rise and Fall of the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, 1947-53
2013-16 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Edward J. Goetzl, MD	Robert L. Kroc Professor of Medicine and Immunology, Emeritus, School of Medicine	Cellular membrane vesicle diagnostics in neurodegenerative diseases directory
Philip L. Ballard, MD, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	Genetic contributions to infant chronic lung disease profile
Roger Cooke, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine	The Super relaxed state in Muscle as a target for combating obesity and type 2 diabetes directory
H. William Taeusch, MD	Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	Combined Polymer Therapy for Improved Surfactant Treatment of ALI/ARDS
2012-15 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Juan Korenbrot, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Physiology, School of Medicine	directory
Richard A. Smith, DDS	Professor Emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry	profile
2011-14 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Melvin Cheitlin, MD	Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine	profile
James Cleaver, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Dermatology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Medicine
John Murray, MD	Professor Emeritus of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine
2010-13 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award Recipient
Nancy Byl, PT, MPH, PhD, FAPTA	Professor Emerita of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine	profile
W. Dilworth Cannon, MD	Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine
Ernest Newbrun, PhD, DMD	Professor Emeritus of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine	directory
Edward Sickles, MD, FACR	Professor Emeritus of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine	profile