UCLA’s Eric Esrailian Receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Outside the health field, Esrailian has been a dedicated advocate for social justice, for refugees and victims of human rights abuses, and for educational access and opportunity, having helped scores of students from educationally and economically under-resourced communities realize their dream of attending college. 

The Armenian Genocide and The Promise Institute at UCLA 

But perhaps his most personal work has been promoting Armenian culture and heritage and raising public awareness about the Armenian Genocide — efforts that dovetail with his deep commitment to humanitarianism and global human rights. 

Taking the helm of a project originally envisioned by his mentor and close friend Kirk Kerkorian, the entrepreneur and philanthropist who died in 2015, Esrailian became lead producer on the 2017 theatrical film “The Promise,” starring Christian Bale, and its accompanying Emmy-nominated documentary, “Intent to Destroy,” which shone a light on the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the forces of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 and the long-running, organized efforts to deny the atrocity. 

At the same time, he was spearheading the creation of The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law. Supported in large part by a $20 million gift from Kerkorian’s estate and proceeds from “The Promise,” the institute, which opened in 2017, has become a national leader in human rights education and advocacy and a training ground for human rights advocates. 

“UCLA and the UCLA School of Law are making a commitment to keep the promise to the victims of human rights abuses — that we will create the tools and train people of integrity and talent to address these crises,” he said at the time. “Out of the darkness of the Armenian Genocide and our film, we will bring light into the world to help people who need it today.” 

In 2023, with Esrailian’s support, UCLA Law broadened that mission, launching Promise Europe in the Hague to bring the university’s excellence in research, teaching and advocacy on human rights law and policy into the international arena. 

Esrailian also played a pivotal role in establishing The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA in 2019, a hub for research, education and outreach related to Armenian history and culture, and just last month, he made a gift to support Armenian language instruction at UC Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. 

For his human rights work, which has included his association with the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, his achievements in medicine, his cultural preservation efforts and his commitment to fostering international peace and understanding, Esrailian has received numerous honors, including the Benemerenti Medal, presented to him in 2021 by Pope Francis at the Vatican for his humanitarianism locally and globally. 

In receiving the 2025 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Esrailian joined Christiane Amanpour, Adrien Brody and more than 75 others who, in the words of Nasser J. Kazeminy, chair of the Ellis Island Honors Society, “exemplify a life dedicated to community service” and who “preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of their ancestry.” 

“This award,” Esrailian said, “is for my ancestors, my family, for the people who have helped me along the way, and for everyone who continues to carry the torch of resilience, perseverance, hope and determination.” 

UCLA faculty, staff and alumni who have previously received the medal include engineer and philanthropist Henry Samueli, engineering adjunct professor Dariush Divsalar, engineering professor Yahya Rahmat-Samii, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Abbas Ardehali, and executive director and CEO of ASUCLA Pouria Abassi.