UCSF Health
@ucsfhealth
A world leader in health care, we're proud to rank among the nation's top hospitals. Follow our children's hospitals @ucsfchildrens
Frogs may be the secret to stopping one of nature’s deadliest neurotoxins. 🐸 Scientists found a protein that neutralizes saxitoxin in mice, paving the way for a potential antidote to paralytic shellfish poisoning. https://ucsfh.org/4bsflUw
🎉 Exciting news: We're teaming up with Foothill College to launch a 2-year neurodiagnostic technologist degree program, the first of its kind in Northern CA. Starting in 2027, the program will prepare students for careers in brain & nervous system diagnostics & monitoring. https://ucsfh.org/4puytau
If sunscreen makes your skin sting, the fix could be as simple as switching to a different formulation. “Not all sunscreens are formulated the same,” Dr. Sungat Grewal says. “Two products with the same SPF can feel very different on the skin." https://ucsfh.org/44t7PVC
#BreastCancer is rising sharply among Asian American women, especially those younger than 50 with aggressive cancers, a UCSF-led study finds. “Understanding why breast cancer is increasing so rapidly in these communities is critical,” UCSF’s Scarlett Gomez says. https://ucsfh.org/4vsrPTf
Looking after your blood pressure? Add more carrots to your plate! "Carrots are my favorite vegetable for improving blood pressure," UCSF's Dr. Christopher Lee says. "They are rich in carotenoids and potassium, both of which are linked to healthier blood pressure levels." https://ucsfh.org/4ylrRim
What if we could slow Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear? A new UCSF trial is testing whether treating both amyloid and tau proteins at the earliest signs of tau buildup works better than targeting either protein alone, Dr. Adam Boxer says. https://ucsfh.org/3R8YeQS
More than a morning ritual, coffee also can be a health booster. Research links moderate coffee consumption to lower disease risk—& 1,000 extra steps a day. “Taking a thousand more steps per day has a meaningful effect on multiple health outcomes,” Dr. Gregory Marcus says. https://ucsfh.org/3RzDamH
~20% of older men with enlarged prostates continue urinary treatment after symptoms resolve, but for many, continuing meds provides little to no benefit, UCSF researchers find. They recommend periodically reassessing the pros and cons of drug therapy for each patient. https://ucsfh.org/4wq4piq
Tiny lab-grown "mini organs” are giving researchers a powerful new way to fight disease. By mimicking a patient's own tissues, organoids could help doctors personalize cancer treatment, learn how diseases develop—and one day even make lab-grown replacement organs a reality. https://ucsfh.org/4ype4Yq
Even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful for people with chronic liver disease. Now, a new telemedicine approach is helping patients break the cycle of unhealthy alcohol use, improving their ability to cut back on drinking compared with standard care. https://ucsfh.org/4w44qbq
Food and lifestyle may be powerful allies in the fight against cancer, UCSF studies find. Researchers found that plant-based diets are linked to slower prostate cancer growth, and early evidence suggests that keto may enhance pancreatic cancer therapy. https://ucsfh.org/4w9ycf6
Many people born with heart defects lose touch with specialized care as they age into adulthood. A new UCSF-designed app called Empower My Congenital Heart helps users stay engaged in lifelong heart care, with 87% reporting improved confidence in managing their condition. https://ucsfh.org/4f0pB8C
Happy #Juneteenth from everyone at our hospitals! Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors the resilience, achievements and lasting contributions of African-American communities. To celebrate, our cafés featured a special Juneteenth menu!
👏 Congrats to UCSF Urology & @ucsfimaging.bsky.social on their first TULSA-PRO procedure! Drs. Max Bowman & Ryan Kohlbrenner & team used the minimally invasive, MRI-guided therapy to treat a patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patient is doing great & living his life without a catheter! 🎉
Great news! 😀 Dr. S. Andrew Josephson, who has led our top-ranked Department of Neurology since 2017, will be the next dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for clinical affairs! Congratulations, Dr. Josephson! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/4a0ocfB
Specific brain cells can cause brain aneurysms to weaken & rupture, a @neurosurgucsf.bsky.social study finds, helping explain why some aneurysms burst but others stay stable. “We’ve made major steps toward solving the mystery of how aneurysms form," Dr. Ethan Winkler says. https://ucsfh.org/4fG3ZiK
After 11 years as dean of UCSF School of Medicine, Dr. Talmadge King Jr., an internationally recognized expert in lung disease, is stepping down. Dr. King “creates the conditions for others to succeed and supports them in doing their best work," Chancellor Sam Hawgood says. https://ucsfh.org/4ec2wzG
Congratulations to UCSF’s class of 2026 graduates! 🎓 🎉 Learn more about commencement highlights, as well as purpose, passion and what comes next for our grads. @uofcalifornia.bsky.social https://ucsfh.org/3RQGuJV
With 62 heart transplants performed in 2025, our Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support team has given more than 650 patients with advanced heart disease the chance for a longer, more active life since the program's founding in 1989. Learn more: https://ucsfh.org/49IJqOM
The recipient of INTERLINK’s 2025 Chairman’s Award for Transplant Excellence, our Lung Transplant Program has ranked as the top-performing program in the nation for three consecutive years. Learn more: https://ucsfh.org/49cI3YD
A new UCSF-developed AI tool can predict Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline from a single MRI, without expensive scans or lengthy testing. The approach may lead to faster, cheaper detection and could help identify progression in other neurodegenerative diseases. https://ucsfh.org/4nQlUVZ
Dr. Mark Anderson, a pioneer in diabetes research and head of our Diabetes Center, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors in American science. Congratulations, Dr. Anderson! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/4eW6BZx
We extend our deepest condolences and honor the life of Doris Fisher, a tireless advocate and philanthropist, and reflect on her advocacy and service to healthcare & UCSF. Her many generous contributions included funding for cancer research, cardiology & pulmonary medicine. https://ucsfh.org/4notirg
New drugs can slow Alzheimer’s progression, but costs keep them out of reach for most patients, a study finds. Dramatic price cuts like those once introduced for HIV drugs may be the only way to make these breakthrough treatments broadly accessible, Dr. James Kahn says. https://ucsfh.org/4dTZCz7
Congrats to our @ucsfcardiology.bsky.social team on another successful procedure for the EMPOWER Trial at UCSF! The multi-center clinical trial is evaluating the safety & effectiveness of a new device that treats functional mitral regurgitation (heart valve disease) in patients with heart failure.
The cause of most vertigo? Tiny inner-ear crystals going rogue, tricking your brain into thinking you’re spinning — and people who get migraines may be particularly at risk, Dr. Jeffrey Sharon tells @wsj.com. Thankfully, there's often a simple fix: https://ucsfh.org/41YZ7gE
Happy #NursesWeek to all the nurses who care for our patients with exceptional skill and compassion every day of the year!
A wave of viruses is surging in the Bay Area, with SF seeing especially high levels in wastewater. Lower vaccination rates are a possible factor, experts say. A key defense? Practice basic steps like handwashing and stay up to date on vaccinations. https://ucsfh.org/48nvVUb
>150,000 U.S. deaths likely went unattributed to COVID-19 in 2020 & 2021, a Stanford/UCSF study finds. Researchers found that these deaths were higher among Hispanic, Black, Asian, American Indian & Alaska Native people, & those with less education & lower incomes. https://ucsfh.org/4cMTmYr
Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Ron Conway plans to begin treatment immediately. "I am optimistic about my prognosis," he says. "I am fortunate to have the best/amazing team of UCSF doctors in San Francisco, and as you know, I never back down from a fight." https://ucsfh.org/3QpHIv3