Maria T. Chao

Maria T. Chao is a Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and serves as the Director of Research at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Her work focuses on complementary health approaches for chronic disease management, particularly integrative models for chronic pain and cancer-related symptoms in diverse healthcare settings.

• University of California, Santa Cruz, BA in Women’s Studies (1996)
• Columbia University, MPA in Health Policy (1999)
• Columbia University, DrPH in Sociomedical Sciences (2005)
• UCSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Integrative Medicine (2011)

Her research combines observational studies and clinical trials to evaluate integrative medicine interventions, including group acupuncture for diabetic neuropathy and mindfulness-based programs for cancer patients. Current projects address intersectional stigma, social isolation, and telehealth expansion in integrative pain management.

Notable scientific awards include NIH/NCCIH K01 funding for group acupuncture research, multiple travel awards from institutions like Mount Zion Health Fund, and a UCSF Mid-Career Development Award for health equity. She co-directs the UCSF Integrative Oncology Program with Chloe Atreya and Anand Dhruva, emphasizing real-world implementation and non-pharmacologic interventions during active cancer treatment.