Maurice Galante, M.D. was a UCSF Professor Emeritus of Surgery. A native of the island of Rhodes when it was considered part of Italy, Dr. Galante was educated in the United States, receiving his MD with honors from The Ohio State University in 1944. He interned for one year at the Morrisania City Hospital in New York before moving to San Francisco to begin his residency in general surgery.

Dr. Galante completed his residency training in 1952 after an interruption of several years for Army service in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Dr. Galante has been described as "one of the last of a generation of real general surgeons"- those surgeons who bring the same superb technical expertise to a wide variety of surgical procedures.

Maurice Galante brought a rare humanism to his 50 years as a surgeon at the UCSF School of Medicine. The scores of residents he trained were the fortunate recipients of a course in medical ethics and surgical attitude while learning surgical skills from a master. Dr. Galante developed a special relationship with his patients because of his sensitivity to their pain and suffering.

Many of these patients have expressed their gratitude through donations to support various programs in the Department of Surgery, including this annual lecture and the Maurice Galante Distinguished Professorship .

In addition to the numerous educational awards that Maurice has been honored with over the years, on May 28, 1985, he was decorated as "Commendatore nell'Ordine Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" by the Consul General of Italy. This highly distinguished award is given to select individuals for contributions in the fields of literature, the economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities.

The Maurice Galante Annual Lecture honors Dr. Galante's professional career at UCSF and service to the profession.