Phyllis Tien

Dr. Phyllis Tien is Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System. She maintains a prominent role in HIV research and clinical care, with leadership positions in major national HIV cohort studies.

Education:

• BA from UC Berkeley
• MD from UC San Diego
• MSc from Harvard School of Public Health
• Internal Medicine Residency at Stanford University
• Fellowship in Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University
• Fellowship in AIDS Prevention Studies at UCSF
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training at UCSF (2021)

Dr. Tien's research program examines the mechanisms by which chronic viral infections (specifically HIV and HCV) and their associated metabolic and immune perturbations impact long term organ injury in adults. Her work spans virology, immunology, women's health, and the intersection of HIV with aging. She has made significant contributions to understanding HIV-related metabolic complications, liver disease, cardiovascular impacts, and the effects of antiretroviral therapy across the menopausal transition.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued scholarly productivity across multiple domains including HIV treatment effects on body composition, cardiovascular outcomes, liver disease, gut microbiome interactions, and social determinants of health affecting women with HIV. The publications reveal a consistent focus on women's health within HIV research, with particular attention to menopause, aging, and intersectional health disparities.

Awards and Honors:

• UCSF 2010 Floyd Rector Resident Research Mentoring Award
• UCSF 2003 Hellman Family Award for Early Career Faculty

Dr. Tien serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects, including the SF Bay Area MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (2019-2026), Long Term Effects of IDU, HIV, HCV, and the impact of HCV cure on Immune Activation and Liver Fibrosis in Aging Women (2017-2022), and HIV, HCV and the Menopausal Transition: Effects on Steatosis and Fibrosis Progression (2016-2021). She is available to mentor faculty on career development, research, and research projects.

She has served in several leadership positions including Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)/Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) and the MWCCS Steering Committee. She also serves as Chair of the Inter-CFAR Collaboration on HIV Research in Women and previously served as Chair of the NIH AIDS Clinical Epidemiology Study Section. Dr. Tien is currently a member of the NIAID AIDS Research Study Section and the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel.