Dr. Leticia Rolon receives the Holly Smith Award for Exceptional Service to the School of Medicine

The award, now in its 23rd year, recognizes exceptional service to the School of Medicine. It is the school's most prestigious award, and provides an opportunity to celebrate our colleagues who embody the qualities and contributions exemplified by Holly Smith, MD, professor emeritus and former associate dean, who passed away in June 2018.

Based on their contributions, it is clear that this year's winners embody Holly’s innovative spirit, unwavering devotion to leading by example, commitment to sustaining UCSF's position as a world-class institution, and accomplishing all of the above with humor and grace.

Leticia Rolon, MD, is a nephrologist who treats patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting with the goal to treat and prevent kidney diseases from progressing to end stage renal disease. She has a passion for medical education, works on curriculum development and implementation, and has made a tremendous difference in the training and professional development of UCSF students, residents, and fellows. Leticia is a truly beloved and transformational education leader. She is a superb teacher, who has an uncanny ability to distill complicated topics, and her commitment to addressing healthcare disparities in populations that have been historically marginalized by medicine is evident in her educational strategy. She is extraordinarily generous with her time, providing extra learning support to struggling students, participating in support groups for Latinx students, or hosting meals at her home. As stated in her nomination: “She is gregarious, social, full of humor and grace. Her medical student lectures are a lot of fun, and she is much adored by students. She is a truly generous and compassionate person.”

Some words from Dr. Rolon, "I feel humbled to receive this award in honor of Dr. Holly Smith and to be a part of the UCSF School of Medicine, which has provided incredible support in my pursuit of my love for education. I am truly honored to be a part of this institution and hope to continue applying my privilege to help trainees devoted to improving the care of our patients!"