Dr. Eric Esrailian

Dr. Eric Esrailian is the chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is also an Emmy-nominated producer. He attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a major in integrative biology and a minor in English. He subsequently graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Southern California.

Esrailian was named intern, junior resident and senior resident of the year during all three years of his residency training. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA where he obtained a master of public health degree. He is also a graduate of the Executive Program in Management from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Esrailian served on the Medical Board of California from 2010-2011 after being appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In addition to disease areas within medicine, Esrailian has a particular interest in the development of biomedical innovations, value in health care, medical education, initiatives towards patient-centered care, and connections between health and human rights. In 2012, the School of Medicine awarded him the Lincy Foundation Chair in Clinical Gastroenterology. Esrailian is closely involved in growth strategy and strategic planning efforts for UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He works to facilitate community engagement with a number of other schools and departments within the UCLA campus and its Los Angeles community partners, and was on the UCLA campus steering committee for the Centennial Campaign.

Most notably, he produced The Promise by Terry George, starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale. He also produced the educational companion documentary Intent to Destroy with Joe Berlinger, which was nominated for an Outstanding Historical Documentary Emmy. These films, and the accompanying social impact campaigns, drew unprecedented attention to the Armenian Genocide, contributed to U.S. Congressional recognition of the historical facts, and led to the creation of The Promise Institute for Human Rights and The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA. In 2019, Esrailian and his partners at Forgotten Man Films launched Somm TV, a new streaming service with original series, films and master classes dedicated to wine and food. In partnership with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, he produced Francesco about Pope Francis’ efforts to deal with some of the biggest crises facing the world.

Esrailian is involved in efforts to provide healthcare and social services to members of the entertainment industry, and he is on the Motion Picture & Television Fund Foundation Board of Governors and the Academy Museum Board of Trustees. He is working with colleagues and community partners to develop new programs at UCLA TFT to impact student and faculty experiences and their future careers in entertainment and the arts. In 2017, the university designated Esrailian as a UCLA Optimist among its notable alumni and faculty dedicated to solving the world’s problems.