The University of California, Santa Cruz Alumni Association has announced Melinda Aldrich, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Genetic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt Health, as one of its 2026 UC Santa Cruz Alumni Awards recipients.
The awards celebrate individuals whose vision, leadership and dedication have made a meaningful impact in their professions, in society, within the university community, and across the globe. Each honoree exemplifies the values and spirit of UC Santa Cruz through their achievements and contributions, according to a release from UC Santa Cruz.
Aldrich, who has authored more than 170 scientific publications and held leadership roles in numerous national and international scientific organizations, joins John Torigoe, James Hein, PhD, Peter Coha, Jim Gunderson, JD, and Stephanie Barron Lu as recipients of the 2026 UC Santa Cruz Alumni Awards; they will be honored Oct. 16 at a UC Santa Cruz celebration gala.
“This year’s Alumni Award honorees reflect the remarkable breadth of what UC Santa Cruz alumni go on to do and the many ways they contribute to their communities and the world,” said Chancellor Cynthia Larive, PhD. “Their accomplishments are distinct, but each has brought curiosity, purpose, and a commitment to making a difference to their work. We are proud to recognize them and celebrate the paths they have taken since their time at UC Santa Cruz.”
Aldrich, who is also Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt Health, received her BA in biology from UC Santa Cruz in 1992. She is an internationally recognized expert in lung cancer epidemiology with a research focus on lung cancer screening, risk prediction for early detection, genetics, and differences in health outcomes.
She contributed to health policy revisions of national lung cancer screening guidelines by demonstrating that high-risk African American individuals were disproportionately missed by existing screening eligibility criteria, earning her the Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Award for Research.
“I am deeply honored to receive the UC Santa Cruz Ethos Award. UC Santa Cruz helped shape my belief that scientific progress should benefit all communities, and that principle has guided my work,” said Aldrich, who holds the Robert A. Goodwin Jr., MD, Directorship at Vanderbilt Health. “To be recognized for that commitment by UC Santa Cruz, an institution that has meant so much to me, is especially meaningful.”
