Maria Chao

Maria Chao, DrPH, MPA, is a Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She holds dual affiliations with the Osher Center for Integrative Health and the Division of General Internal Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Her work focuses on advancing health equity through integrative and complementary health approaches, particularly for underserved populations with chronic conditions. Dr. Chao’s research emphasizes rigorous testing of integrative interventions for pain management, implementation science to expand access to evidence-based practices, and community-academic partnerships for health equity.

Education:

• MPA in Public Administration, Columbia University (1999)
• DrPH in Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University (2004)
• Postdoctoral Studies in Integrative Medicine, UCSF (2011)
• UCSF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training (2019)

Research Interests: Dr. Chao’s work bridges clinical practice and equity-focused research, prioritizing interventions for vulnerable populations. Her key themes include:

• Integrative approaches to pain management and chronic disease
• Implementation science for equitable healthcare access
• Community-engaged research to address social determinants of health
• Cultural adaptation of complementary therapies

Her studies often involve partnerships with community organizations to ensure interventions are contextually relevant and scalable.

Grants & Projects: Dr. Chao leads high-impact grants such as:

• Building Community Partnerships for Integrative Health Equity (Mount Zion Health Fund, 2023-2026)
• Group-Based Pain Management for Racially Diverse Patients (NIH/NIMHD, 2022-2024)
• Summer Institute on Integrative Health Equity (NIH T35, 2020-2025)

These projects aim to build capacity in underserved communities and improve pain care outcomes through innovative group-based models.

Labs & Teams: She directs the Osher Center’s research initiatives and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across UCSF, including the Division of General Internal Medicine and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Her work integrates clinical, community, and policy perspectives to address systemic barriers in healthcare.