Kara Bischoff

Kara Bischoff, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she serves as the Associate Division Chief for Outpatient Palliative Care and the Medical Director of UCSF’s Outpatient Palliative Care Service. She provides clinical care to patients with serious illnesses including neurologic disorders, chronic lung diseases, and cancer, with a special focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She is recognized nationally as an Emerging Leader in Palliative Medicine and leads the national Palliative Care for ALS Working Group.

Her educational background includes:

• BA, Stanford University, 2004
• MD, Harvard Medical School, 2009
• Internship, Residency, and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine, UCSF, 2010–2014
• Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, UCSF, 2014
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California, 2018

Dr. Bischoff’s research and clinical interests center on palliative care integration, symptom management, health equity, and quality improvement. She leads the Care Plus program, which aims to systematically and equitably identify palliative care needs in patient populations. Her work emphasizes communication, advance care planning, and system design to improve access and outcomes. She teaches medical students, residents, and fellows, contributing significantly to medical education in palliative medicine.

Her recent publications highlight trends in palliative care delivery, including the expansion of telemedicine, embedded models of care, disparities in access, and outcomes in non-cancer populations such as those with ALS, cirrhosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Her research spans implementation science, clinical epidemiology, and patient-centered outcomes.

Her scientific awards include:

• Emerging Leader in Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2024
• Quality of Care Research Award for ALS, ALS Association, 2024
• Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, 2020
• Top Doctors Award, Marin Magazine, 2019
• Outstanding Resident Teaching Award, UCSF, 2017

Dr. Bischoff is actively involved in grants and quality improvement initiatives, including funding from the Stupski Foundation (2016). She collaborates extensively with colleagues at UCSF and nationally, particularly in palliative care networks. She is a member of The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the International Neuropalliative Care Society.

She has not advised any named students in the provided text, but she mentors trainees through her teaching roles. Her work continues to shape equitable, high-quality palliative care delivery across diverse patient populations.