Ralph V Clayman MD

Dr. Ralph V. Clayman is a graduate of Grinnell College and the University of California - San Diego, School of Medicine.  Following his residency in Urology at the University of Minnesota and an AUA research scholarship at the University of Texas - Southwestern, he spent 17 years at Washington University in St. Louis; attaining the rank of Professor of Urology and Radiology.  In 1990, he and his surgical team performed the world’s first laparoscopic removal of a kidney.

In January 2002, he accepted the Chair of the newly formed Department of Urology at the University of California – Irvine; within 5 years, the program was rated among the top 20 in the country by U.S. News and World Report.  He is a co-founder of the Endourology Society and has served as its President; he continues to serve as co-editor of the Journal of Endourology. In 1984, he initiated the first fellowship experience in endourology; among the 30 graduating fellows, 19 entered academic urology among whom four are currently departmental chairs. He holds 13 patents on devices/instruments used in minimally invasive surgery and has published over 400 manuscripts.   In 2010, he accepted the role of Dean of the School of Medicine at UC Irvine and subsequently promoted the first tablet based (i.e. iPad) medical school curriculum in the country along with the West coast’s first fully integrated program in point of care diagnostic ultrasonography.