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 1984, he initiated the first fellowship program in Endourology; more than 30 fellows have been trained, many of whom have current leadership positions in academic urology. 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 four years, the department was listed among the top 20 programs in the country. In 2009, he accepted the role of Dean of the School of Medicine at UC Irvine, serving in that role until 2015. During his tenure as dean, the school of medicine attained full accreditation from the LCME, achieved a positive financial balance, opened over 750,000 square feet of new space, and experienced significant growth in its academic profile. Dr. Clayman is a co-founder of the Endourology Society and continues to serve as co-editor of the Journal of Endourology. He holds 13 patents on devices/instruments used in minimally invasive surgery and has published over 400 peer reviewed manuscripts. Presently he is a Professor of Urology in the Department of Urology at UC Irvine and occupies an endowed Chair in Endourology established in 2015. He has an active clinical practice in urolithiasis and co-directs the endourology research laboratory and endourology fellowship program at UC Irvine.