Francis Yao

Dr. Francis Yao is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. He serves as the medical director of the UCSF Liver Transplant Program and directs the UCSF Liver Transplant Outreach and Community Liaison Program. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Yao is a distinguished gastroenterologist specializing in liver diseases and transplantation.

Education:

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1987)
• Stanford Hospital and Clinics Residency in Internal Medicine (1990)
• Stanford Hospital and Clinics Fellowship in Gastroenterology (1993)

Dr. Yao's primary research focuses on liver cancer treatment, particularly as related to liver transplants. His work extensively examines hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management in the transplant setting, including downstaging protocols, tumor marker analysis (particularly AFP-L3 and DCP), and prediction models like the RETREAT score for post-transplant recurrence. He also investigates hepatitis B infection and outcomes for patients undergoing liver transplantation, with particular attention to factors affecting waitlist management and post-transplant survival.

Analysis of Dr. Yao's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on optimizing liver transplant outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma patients. His research demonstrates progression from validating existing models like RETREAT to developing enhanced prediction tools incorporating multiple biomarkers, showing his leadership in advancing precision medicine approaches in liver transplantation. His work spans clinical trials, multicenter consortium studies, and health policy analysis related to organ allocation.

As medical director of the UCSF Liver Transplant Program, Dr. Yao oversees one of the nation's leading liver transplantation centers. His program emphasizes innovative approaches to expanding access to transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, including developing protocols for downstaging tumors to meet transplant criteria. The program maintains strong community partnerships through the Liver Transplant Outreach and Community Liaison Program, which Dr. Yao also directs.