Dr. Ralph V. Clayman, former dean of the UCI School of Medicine, is an internationally respected urologist who pioneered minimally invasive surgical techniques that have revolutionized treatment for diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. He was among the very first surgeons in the country to develop percutaneous stone removal in 1979 and has invented many of the currently used devices employed for minimally invasive stone removal. Dr. Clayman is considered among the most influential physicians in the world in defining the best quality stone disease care. He has pioneered mort of the procedures that are done and has one of the world’s longest experiences with advanced kidney stone management.
Biography:
Dr. Clayman graduated from Grinnell College and the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He went on to complete general surgery and urology training at the University of Minnesota before spending two years at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas pursuing interests in minimally invasive urology, kidney stone disease, and renal cancer research. Dr. Clayman spent 17 years in St. Louis at the Washington University School of Medicine, serving as Professor of Urology and Radiology, Director of the Midwest Stone Institute, and Inaugural Co-Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Dr. Clayman joined UC Irvine in 2002 and served a Chair and Professor of the Department of Urology, during which the program was ranked among the top 20n programs in the country. In 2009, Dr. Clayman became Dean of the School of Medicine before returning to the Department of Urology after five years.
Roles & Memberships:
Dr. Clayman has authored textbooks on percutaneous and laparoscopic urologic surgery, as well as more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and chapters. He co-founded and serves as co-editor of the Journal of Endourology.
Undergraduate: Grinnell College
Medical School: University of California, San Diego
Residency: University of Minnesota
Fellowship Training: Dr. Clayman established the first fellowship program in Minimally Invasive Urology based on his experience.