Giacomini Inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm, was formally inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences on Sept. 21, 2024, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

At the induction ceremony, she signed the Academy's prestigious Book of Members, joining the ranks of some of the most influential figures in history –– including icons such as Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King, Jr. –– since the Academy elected its first members in 1781.

Giacomini is among four scientists and clinicians from UCSF honored with this year’s election to the Academy, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected societies dedicated to "advancing the common good."

As the first female pharmacy-trained scientist and dean of a pharmacy school ever to be elected, Giacomini’s induction marks a historic milestone. The 250 members elected in 2024 represent 31 areas of expertise that reflect the Academy’s mission of engaging across disciplines and divides. Since becoming dean in July of 2022, Giacomini has been deeply committed to the spirit of cross-functional collaboration the Academy’s members are invited to uphold.

“Signing the Book of Members and having my acceptance letter chosen to be featured on the walls of the Academy’s headquarters at the induction ceremony was a profound moment. As one of the few pharmacist-scientists in the Academy, this recognition speaks to the profession of pharmacy’s integral role in the scientific community,” Giacomini said. “Pharmacy brings together the arts and sciences of healing, and I am privileged to contribute to its ongoing evolution.”

In addition to her role as dean, Giacomini is co-director of the UCSF-Stanford Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI). She has made groundbreaking contributions to the study of membrane transporters, helping shape the understanding of their role in drug development and therapeutic use. Through her work with CERSI, she continues to push the boundaries of regulatory sciences, advancing opportunities for students and improving the evaluation of medical interventions.

“I’ve built my career at the intersection of molecular pharmacology and clinical drug response, blending creativity with science,” Giacomini said. “Now, as dean, my goal is to foster the next generation of leaders who will advance pharmacy through education, research, and practice.”

This year, she joins three UCSF faculty members in the Academy: W. Thomas Boyce, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics and psychiatry; Geeta Narlikar, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; and Neil Powe, MD, MPH, MBA, chief of the UCSF Department of Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. School of Pharmacy faculty members inducted in the Academy previously include Charles S. Craik, PhD; William DeGrado, PhD; and Jim Wells, PhD.