Ralph Clayman

Ralph Clayman
Born
New York City, United States
Education
Known for
SpouseCarol Heineman
Children2
Awards
Scientific career
Fields
WorkplacesUniversity of California, Irvine
Washington University in St. Louis

Ralph V. Clayman (born November 3, 1947) is an American urologist and academic physician.[1] He is a distinguished professor of urology and dean emeritus at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is known for performing the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in 1990.[2]

Early life and education

Clayman was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Grinnell College in 1969 and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the UC San Diego School of Medicine in 1973.[3] He completed his internship and residency training in surgery and urology at the University of Minnesota in 1979, including a research year focused on cholesterol metabolism in renal cell carcinoma.[4]

Academic and clinical career

Clayman served as a tenured professor of urology and radiology at Washington University School of Medicine.[5] During this period, he established the first formal fellowship program in endourology.[6]

In 1990, Clayman performed the first laparoscopic removal of a kidney in a patient.[7] He subsequently was part of the surgical team that performed the first laparoscopic prostatectomy and advanced endoscopic approaches for kidney stone disease and renal tumors.[8]

In 2002, Clayman became the founding chair of the Department of Urology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where he led the department until 2009.[8] From 2009 to 2014, he served as Dean of the UCI School of Medicine.[9]

Following his deanship, Clayman was appointed distinguished professor of urology and later dean emeritus.[4] He formally retired in 2023 and was rehired part-time, continuing his clinical and research work in urolithiasis and co-directing UCI’s Curiosity and Innovation Laboratory.[10]

Clayman is a co-founder of the Endourology Society[11] and of the Journal of Endourology, serving as co-editor-in-chief of the journal for 34 years until 2020.[5]

His research focuses on laparoscopy, endoscopy, urolithiasis (kidney stone disease), renal cancer,  ureteral obstruction, and surgical instrumentation, with emphasis on integrating clinical practice with technological development. Clayman’s work includes the development of instrumentation and techniques for minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment.[12]

Scholarly works

He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications and holds 26 patents.[13] He co-authored Techniques in Endourology (1984)[14] and Laparoscopic Urology (1993).[15] He is also the sole author of The Compleat Dean (2016)[16] [13]

Personal life

Clayman is married to Carol Heineman since 1974 and has two children.[17]

Awards

  • Barringer Medal (2002)[23] and Keyes Medal (2023), American Association of GU Surgeons[24]

References

  1. ↑ Yard, Delicia Honen (2012-07-13). "The Urologist Who Became a Dean: Interview with Ralph Clayman, MD". Renal and Urology News. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  2. ↑ Soputro, Nicolas Adrianto; Dias, Brendan Hermenigildo; Kochikar, Makarand V.; Corcoran, Niall M.; Agarwal, Dinesh K. (2022-10-01). "A Historical Perspective of the Evolution of Laparoscopic Surgeries in Urology". Journal of Endourology. 36 (10): 1277–1284. doi:10.1089/end.2022.0194. ISSN 0892-7790. PMID 35713272. Archived from the original on 2022-06-19. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  3. 1 2 McDougall, Elspeth M. (2004). "Profile of Ralph Victor Clayman, MD, professor and Chair, Department of Urology, University of California Irvine". Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. 8 (1): 97–98. ISSN 1086-8089. PMC 3015495. PMID 14974675.
  4. 1 2 "CJU - Legends in Urology". Canadian Journal of Urology. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  5. 1 2 Smith, Arthur D. (2020-07-01). "Ralph V. Clayman, MD: A Legend in Our Field". Journal of Endourology. 34 (7): 720. doi:10.1089/end.2020.29088.asm. ISSN 0892-7790. PMID 32697663. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  6. ↑ Figenshau, R. Sherburne. "Endourology Fellowship | Division of Urologic Surgery | Washington University in St. Louis Ralph V. Clayman started the fellowship in 1984". urology.wustl.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  7. ↑ Brian (2013-06-12). "New treatment options for kidney cancer". WashU Medicine. Archived from the original on 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  8. 1 2 Wagner, Steven K. "Surgical precision – UC Irvine News". news.uci.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  9. ↑ Peterson, Melody (2013-12-04). "UCI medical dean leaving post next year". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  10. ↑ Murray, Shani. "Former Dean of UCI School of Medicine Ralph V. Clayman Receives the Keyes Medal | UC Irvine School of Medicine". medschool.uci.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  11. ↑ "AUA 2023: John K. Lattimer Lecture Innovation in Urology: From a Seminal "Why" to a Functional "How"". www.urotoday.com. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  12. ↑ Edds, Kimberly (2006-01-07). "Steady robot seen as cutting edge". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  13. 1 2 "Ralph V. Clayman, MD | UCI Health | Orange County, CA". www.ucihealth.org. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  14. ↑ Clayman, Ralph V.; Castañeda-Zuñiga, Wilfrido R. (1984). Techniques in Endourology: A Guide to the Percutaneous Removal of Renal and Ureteral Calculi. Year Book Medical Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8151-1774-2.
  15. ↑ Clayman, Ralph V.; McDougall, Elspeth M., eds. (1993). Laparoscopic urology. St. Louis, Mo: Quality Medical Pub. ISBN 978-0-942219-41-8.
  16. ↑ "The Compleat Dean: A Guide to Academic Leadership in an…". Goodreads. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  17. ↑ "Dr. R. V. Clayman Weds Miss Heineman". The New York Times. 1974-03-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  18. ↑ Titus, Taylor. "Urology Care Foundation Announces Addition to Board of Directors". Urology Care Foundation. Archived from the original on 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  19. ↑ "Dr. Ralph V. Clayman an honorary fellow in Scotland – UC Irvine News". news.uci.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  20. ↑ "AwardsArchive". api.auanet.org. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  21. ↑ "Pioneering UCI Health kidney surgeon honored for outstanding contributions in urology | UCI Health | Orange County, CA". www.ucihealth.org. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  22. ↑ "Hugh Hampton Young Award". api.auanet.org.
  23. ↑ "The Barringer Medal Award | AAGUS.org". Archived from the original on 2026-04-29. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  24. ↑ "Former Dean of UCI School of Medicine Ralph V. Clayman Receives the Keyes Medal | UC Irvine School of Medicine". medschool.uci.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
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