Alison Rustagi

Dr. Alison Rustagi is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine and a primary care physician in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. Her research focuses on precision prevention, particularly optimizing lung cancer screening, minimizing its harms, and improving access for high-risk populations, including veterans. She leads studies on lung cancer screening epidemiology in veterans, leveraging VA healthcare data to address unique health disparities. Dr. Rustagi holds dual training in medicine and epidemiology, with expertise in implementation science and public health.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology (2005), Stanford University
• PhD in Epidemiology (2013), University of Washington
• MD (2018), University of California, San Francisco
• Post-doctoral Fellowship in Global Health (2016), University of Washington
• Residency in Internal Medicine (2021), UCSF
• Internship in Internal Medicine (2019), Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Research Interests: Dr. Rustagi’s work bridges clinical practice and population health, emphasizing evidence-based preventive strategies. Her studies address lung cancer screening implementation, health equity in veterans’ care, and the intersection of HIV and chronic conditions. She develops algorithms to enhance screening accuracy and evaluates real-world outcomes of clinical trials.

Scientific Awards:

• 2024-2025 Long Term Mentoring Award, UCSF School of Medicine
• 2023-2024 Research & Education Scholars Award, UCSF Pepper Center

Advising & Grants: While specific grants are not detailed, her awards indicate sustained funding for mentoring and research. She collaborates with interprofessional teams to improve HIV prevention (e.g., PrEP prescriptions) and lung cancer screening protocols within VA systems.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the San Francisco VA Lung Cancer Screening Program and the UCSF Pepper Center for Aging and Metabolism, focusing on aging-related preventive care and precision oncology initiatives.