Dr. Kevin Grumbach has been named a recipient of the 2025 Holly Smith Award for Exceptional Service to the School of Medicine – one of the most prestigious faculty honors at UCSF.
This award recognizes faculty who have made extraordinary contributions to the School of Medicine through their service, leadership, and enduring commitment to excellence, equity, and community—always delivered with humor and grace. Dr. Grumbach exemplifies all of these qualities and more.
Highlights from his nomination speak volumes:
- During his 20 years as Chair of the Department of Family & Community Medicine, he shaped not only the department’s trajectory but also the broader UCSF culture through mentorship, advocacy, and inclusive leadership.
- As co-chair of the planning committee that established PRIME-US, a visionary behind the UCSF Center for Community Engagement, and co-founder of The Center for Excellence in Primary Care, Dr. Grumbach has driven institutional change to support students and communities committed to health equity.
- A beloved colleague, Dr. Grumbach, is celebrated for bringing humor to serious policy discussions and creating space for others to feel seen, valued, and inspired.
Dr. Grumbach's research and scholarship on the primary care workforce, innovation in care delivery, diversity in the health profession, and community health improvement have widely influenced policy and practice. Read his most recent research publications:
- Report from the Frontlines of US Primary Care on the Impact of Recent Federal Policy Changes
- Health Worker Burnout and Moral Injury: Drivers, Effects, and Remedies
- The General Public Vastly Overestimates Primary Care Spending in the United States
