Leslie Suen

Dr. Leslie Suen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the Division of General Internal Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital. She holds affiliate faculty roles at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, and the UCSF Partnerships for Research in Implementation Science for Equity (PRISE) Center.

Education and Training:

• MD in Medicine from UCSF (2016)
• UC Primary Care General Internal Medicine Residency (2019)
• Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program (StARR) (2020)
• National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) VA Scholar (2022)
• 2022 UCSF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training

Research Interests: Dr. Suen's work focuses on implementation science to improve health systems and policies for people with substance use disorders. Her research explores harm reduction strategies, medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, and interventions to address structural barriers in healthcare access for vulnerable populations. She has pioneered protocols for buprenorphine and methadone initiation in outpatient settings and evaluated overdose prevention site impacts.

Scientific Contributions: Her recent work highlights innovative approaches to opioid treatment (e.g., 7-day injectable buprenorphine, rapid methadone induction) and policy analyses on telehealth prescribing and take-home medication access. Her studies address provider and patient perspectives in marginalized communities, emphasizing equity-driven solutions.

Awards:

• UCSF 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training

Advising/Grants: Active in translational research grants focused on substance use policy, implementation science, and health equity. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in primary care, addiction medicine, and public health.

Labs/Teams: Leads projects through the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, focusing on community-based interventions and structural interventions in healthcare systems.