Melissa J. Ma, left, Dr. Patricia Zheng, center, and Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, right, at the Melissa J. Ma Endowed Professorship ceremony. Dr. Zheng, chief of UCSF’s Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was named the inaugural recipient of the professorship. The honor is one of only 17 endowed professorships established in the history of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. (Courtesy Photo)
New professorship supports emerging faculty leaders and recognizes excellence in patient care, research and education.
SAN FRANCISCO (June 24, 2026) — When Dr. Patricia Zheng was named the inaugural recipient of the Melissa J. Ma Endowed Professorship for Orthopaedic Surgery, the honor recognized more than an accomplished career in patient care, research and academic leadership. It marked a milestone for the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and an investment in the next generation of leaders in musculoskeletal medicine.
Established through the generosity of Melissa J. Ma, the professorship supports the research, teaching and service activities of its holder and was created to support faculty excellence and leadership development within the department. It is one of only 17 endowed professorships established in the department’s history and was created to support the career development of early-career faculty as they build their clinical, research and educational programs.
The investment also reflects broader efforts to address the underrepresentation of women among endowed professorship holders in orthopaedic surgery, a disparity highlighted in recent research published by UCSF investigators. The professorship is one of only 17 endowed professorships established in the department's history.
Family, faculty and friends gathered June 23 to celebrate Dr. Patricia Zheng as the inaugural recipient of the Melissa J. Ma Endowed Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery, one of only 17 endowed professorships in the history of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.(Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery celebrated Dr. Zheng's investiture during a ceremony held June 23, 2026, at Byers Auditorium on the UCSF Mission Bay campus. Faculty members, trainees, staff, family members and guests attended the event, which recognized Dr. Zheng's accomplishments and the establishment of the new professorship.
"Endowed professorships are among the highest honors a faculty member can receive and play a critical role in advancing academic medicine," said Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. "Dr. Zheng has distinguished herself as a clinician, researcher, educator and leader. This recognition reflects her extraordinary contributions to our department and her commitment to improving the lives of patients through innovation, scholarship and compassionate care."
As chief of UCSF's Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Zheng leads a multidisciplinary team that cares for patients with neurologic, musculoskeletal and traumatic injuries. A specialist in nonsurgical spine care, she focuses on evidence-based treatments that restore function, relieve pain and improve quality of life.
Her research centers on chronic low back pain, one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Through studies aimed at identifying factors associated with persistent pain and predicting patient outcomes, Dr. Zheng seeks to advance more personalized approaches to care. Her work has earned recognition from the National Institutes of Health and leading professional organizations in rehabilitation medicine and spine care.
The appointment also marks a milestone for the department. Dr. Zheng is the first physical medicine and rehabilitation-trained faculty member to receive an endowed professorship within UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery, reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of musculoskeletal care.
"I am deeply grateful to Melissa Ma and the Department for this honor,” said Dr. Zheng. " I can think of no better example of a successful female professional than Melissa, and her generous gift will help me, and the early-career women who follow, grow as clinicians, researchers and leaders. I'm so grateful for the village of mentors and supporters who have lifted me up at every stage of my career.”
Melissa J. Ma, Co-founder and Managing partner of Asia Alternatives and a longtime supporter of education and leadership development, said she hopes the professorship will create opportunities for future generations of women faculty and trainees.
"Academic medicine advances when talented faculty have the resources and support to pursue bold ideas, mentor future leaders and deliver exceptional patient care," said Melissa J. Ma. "I established this professorship to help support the next generation of women academic leaders whose work has the potential to make a lasting impact."
Dr. Zheng's accomplishments as an exceptional clinician, researcher and leader make her an outstanding inaugural recipient, and I am honored to support her work."
Dr. Lisa Pascual, emeritus professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and one of Dr. Zheng's longtime mentors, said the professorship recognizes both Dr. Zheng's accomplishments and the promise of her future contributions.
"Dr. Zheng is a thoughtful clinician, an accomplished researcher and an exceptional leader whose impact continues to grow across our department and the broader field of musculoskeletal care," said Dr. Pascual. "This professorship recognizes not only her achievements to date, but also the future she is helping build for our patients, trainees, institution and specialty. Patricia, congratulations on this well-deserved honor. Your colleagues, trainees, patients and friends are immensely proud of all that you have accomplished and excited for all that is yet to come."
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