Nirav Bhakta

Nirav Bhakta, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. His roles include attending physician in critical care units, supervising fellow training in pulmonary clinics, and directing the Adult Pulmonary Function Laboratory. He specializes in pulmonary physiology, asthma pathogenesis, and critical care medicine. Dr. Bhakta holds a dual MD and PhD from Stanford University, with undergraduate training in electrical engineering at MIT.

His research focuses on asthma endotypes, pulmonary function testing standards, and addressing racial disparities in healthcare. He leads translational studies on IL-17 cytokines in severe asthma and co-authored ATS technical standards for lung volume measurements. Professional activities include vice-chair roles in the ATS Pulmonary Function Testing Committee and advocating for race-neutral approaches in medical diagnostics.

Key awards include the 2023 UCSF Master Clinician Award and the 2018 Michael S. Stulbarg Teaching Award. He has published over 120 articles on asthma, respiratory physiology, and medical ethics, with a focus on advancing equitable clinical practices and understanding airway inflammation mechanisms.