UCSD - University of California - San Diego

07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 08:22

Alumnus Sheldon Furst Funds New Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology at UC San Diego

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July 23, 2026

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For Sheldon Furst, MD '89, his time at UC San Diego School of Medicine stands out as one of the most meaningful chapters of his life.

"Some people look back on their undergraduate education as the best years of their lives," Furst said. "For me it was medical school and residency."

Furst graduated from the School of Medicine in 1989 and completed his anesthesiology residency in 1993. Those formative years left him with a strong affinity for UC San Diego and inspired him to make a lasting investment in the school by funding the Sheldon Furst Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology - the first endowed chair in UC San Diego's Department of Anesthesiology

Sheldon Furst, MD '89

"The value of the education I received became even more clear as I advanced through my fellowship and became an attending physician," said Furst. "I realized how much better prepared and more confident I was compared to some of my peers.

"UC San Diego School of Medicine opened my eyes and opened the doors to what was possible," he continued. "Each rotation was more exciting than the last and the attending physicians really cared about teaching. I have life-long friends from medical school, both classmates and faculty. I may have left San Diego many years ago, but San Diego never left me."

Furst's gratitude helped shape his decision to support the endowed chair, which he sees as a lasting way to recognize the faculty who shaped his career while supporting future leaders in anesthesiology.

The Sheldon Furst Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology will support research, teaching and advancements in anesthesiology and perioperative care. Endowed chairs are among the most prestigious honors bestowed upon faculty, providing support that can strengthen scholarship, teaching and service for generations.

"Since faculty are really what make the institution, what better way to say thank you than to help lift and support the career of a faculty member?" said Furst. "I see this as a chance to encourage and support younger faculty."

Jeff Tully, MD

Jeff Tully, MD, associate clinical professor of anesthesiology and associate director of innovation in the Division of Perioperative Informatics in the Department of Anesthesiology, has been named as the inaugural chair holder. He also serves as co-director of the UC San Diego Center for Health Cybersecurity.

"We are profoundly grateful for this extraordinary investment in our department," said Ruth Waterman, MD, MS, professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology. "Transformative philanthropy enables our faculty to pursue innovative science that might otherwise never be explored. What makes this gift especially meaningful is that it not only recognizes Dr. Tully's exceptional contributions, but also provides him with the opportunity to give back to the department through mentorship, collaboration, and the advancement of our academic mission. By investing in exceptional investigators, gifts like this strengthen our research enterprise, inspire the next generation of physician-scientists, and create discoveries that will improve patient care for years to come."

Tully's work highlights the increasingly important connection between clinical care, technology and patient safety. By helping protect health systems from digital threats while advancing the field of anesthesiology, his work reflects the future-focused impact Furst envisioned for the chair.

"I am humbled and honored to be the first steward of Dr. Furst's legacy of gratitude," said Tully. "I believe that anesthesiologists can, and should be, leaders and innovators with impact far beyond the bounds of the operating room. Our department is a uniquely empowering environment for making that impact at scale. With this chair, we will continue the work that has positioned UC San Diego as a world leader in the emerging field of health care cybersecurity, ensuring that technology always serves to protect patients when they are most vulnerable."

For Furst, supporting work like this is part of a larger goal: inspiring more UC San Diego alumni to see giving back as something meaningful - and within reach. "As School of Medicine alumni, we all owe our careers and our livelihoods to UC San Diego and, in turn, we have the opportunity to help those who will follow in our footsteps," said Furst.

"Dr. Furst's extraordinary gift is a powerful reminder that once you are a part of the School of Medicine community, you are always part of our community," said Barbara Jung, MD, associate vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine. "We are deeply thankful for his generosity and know that nothing would make him happier than to inspire others to follow his lead. Our alumni are essential to our mission, and it's through their support and leadership that we can empower faculty like Dr. Tully to push the boundaries of medicine and innovation."

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