Keith K. Terasaki ’77, M.D. ’83

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Keith K. Terasaki ’77, M.D. ’83, has been named the 2023 Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year in honor of his visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to UCLA and the broader community. Dr. Terasaki has made a positive and long-lasting impact on improving the lives of others while driving scholarship.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Terasaki is an interventional radiologist at Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles. He is a double Bruin, receiving his undergraduate and medical school degrees from UCLA.

His father, Paul Terasaki ʼ50, M.A. ʼ52, Ph. D. ʼ56, was a groundbreaking researcher at UCLA in organ transplantation and received this same prestigious UCLA Award in 2011. His parents taught their children the importance of giving back and he is carrying on their legacy. Together with his wife Cecilia and their children, they are making a sustained philanthropic impact through the Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Family Foundation and the Terasaki Family Foundation.

The Terasaki family has invested in UCLA’s visionary talent. They are proud supporters of UCLA Professor Andrea Ghez, traveling with her to Sweden as she received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics. Their support for UCLA is deep and wide, giving to the general scholarship fund at UCLA, Four Deep Student Athlete Scholarships, UCLA Japan Center, and the UCLA Institute for Environmental Sustainability and ​​Terasaki Research Institute.

Dr. Terasaki has supported new research and innovation by endowing a $1-million Presidential Chair in the Life Sciences and in the Physical Sciences. In 2022, he supported the Wildfire Prevention and Climate Change Program and the Nimoy Theater Remodel Project, a state-of-the-art performance space.

Dr. Terasaki was honored as the 2022 Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA Alumnus of the Year. He is a member of the Life Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board and was selected by Chancellor Block to serve on the UCLA Second Century Council.

Outside of UCLA, Dr. Terasaki donates his time and financial support to bring health equity to Skid Row. He gives his time as a volunteer radiologist and chair of the board to the John Wesley Health Clinic, which operates 20 clinics in underserved parts of L.A. County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led efforts to provide protective equipment, free vaccination sites and testing to protect the Skid Row community.

The family’s generosity extends to many educational and cultural institutions serving the citizens of Los Angeles. His contributions have included serving on the boards of the Colburn School of Music, Metropolitan YMCA, UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, U.S. Japan Center and TreePeople. The Terasaki Family Foundation also donated generously to the construction of a gymnasium and community center in Downtown Los Angeles.

Through his outstanding advocacy, enduring philanthropy and exemplary dedication, Dr. Terasaki represents UCLA’s mission of research, education and service. His support has sent UCLA to the farthest reaches of outer space, cared for Los Angeles’ most vulnerable citizens and fostered innovative research that will benefit generations to come.