Maria Chao, DrPH, MPA

Professor

Maria T. Chao, DrPH, MPA is an associate professor at the University of California San Francisco’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and the Division of General Internal Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Chao’s overarching goal is to investigate how complementary and integrative health approaches can advance health equity and improve quality of life among underserved populations living with chronic conditions. Her recent studies aim to: (1) rigorously test integrative approaches to address the under-treatment of pain in diverse patient populations; and (2) apply research to broaden access to evidence-based integrative medicine. Her work has received funding support through the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and numerous foundations.
Education
2019 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Postdoctoral Studies, 2011 - Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
DrPH, 2004 - Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
MPA, 1999 - Public Administration, Columbia University
Websites
Publications

  1. Ashby J, Toveg M, Ye H, Rubin LH, Reddy S, Chao MT. The Assessment and Treatment of Inpatient Cancer-Related Pain with Acupuncture: Development of a Manual. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2022. PMID: 35251434


  2. Ho EY, Agne RR, Santana T, Thompson N, McClendon G, Ng E, Merrick S, Gonzalez F, Smith T, Drewke K, Gutierrez A, Floyd G, Chao MT. A Communication Perspective on What Patient Advisory Boards Do: Action-Implicative Discourse Analysis and Negotiating Advice. Journal of general internal medicine 2021. PMID: 34591265


  3. Daubenmier J, Chao MT, Hartogensis W, Liu R, Moran PJ, Acree MC, Kristeller J, Epel ES, Hecht FM. Exploratory Analysis of Racial/Ethnic and Educational Differences in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Weight Loss Intervention. Psychosomatic medicine 2021. PMID: 33214537


  4. Ho EY, Leung G, Chao MT, Chan D, Hsieh E, Pritzker S, Chi HL, Huang S, Ruan Q, Seligman HK. Integrative Nutritional Counseling Combining Chinese Medicine and Biomedicine for Chinese Americans with Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2021. PMID: 33979531


  5. Ho EY, Thompson-Lastad A, Lam R, Zhang X, Thompson N, Chao MT. Adaptations to Acupuncture and Pain Counseling Implementation in a Multisite Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2021. PMID: 33902333


  6. Weng HY, Ikeda MP, Lewis-Peacock JA, Chao MT, Fullwiley D, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Gazzaley A, Hecht FM. Corrigendum: Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience. Frontiers in psychology 2021. PMID: 33488490


  7. Weng HY, Ikeda MP, Lewis-Peacock JA, Chao MT, Fullwiley D, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Gazzaley A, Hecht FM. Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience. Frontiers in psychology 2020. PMID: 33329215


  9. Weng HY, Lewis-Peacock JA, Hecht FM, Uncapher MR, Ziegler DA, Farb NAS, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Chao MT, Gazzaley A. Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation. Frontiers in human neuroscience 2020. PMID: 33005138


  10. Liu R, Santana T, Schillinger D, Hecht FM, Chao MT. "It Gave Me Hope" Experiences of Diverse Safety Net Patients in a Group Acupuncture Intervention for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. Health equity 2020. PMID: 32462104


  11. Chao MT, Schillinger D, Nguyen U, Santana T, Liu R, Gregorich S, Hecht FM. A Randomized Clinical Trial of Group Acupuncture for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Among Diverse Safety Net Patients. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2019. PMID: 31127837


  12. Hullender Rubin LE, Mist SD, Schnyer RN, Chao MT, Leclair CM. Acupuncture Augmentation of Lidocaine for Provoked, Localized Vulvodynia: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study. Journal of lower genital tract disease 2019. PMID: 31592976


  13. Thompson-Lastad A, Atreya CE, Chao MT, Pollak C, Dhruva A, Santana T, Abrams DI. Improving Access to Integrative Oncology Through Group Medical Visits: A Pilot Implementation Project. Volume 25 of Issue 7. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 31314561


  14. Gardiner P, Chao M, Burnett M. Improving Access, Integration, and Sustainability: A Reflective Overview of the Special Issue on Innovation in Group-Delivered Services. Volume 25 of Issue 7. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 31314568


  15. Chao MT, Hurstak E, Leonoudakis-Watts K, Sidders F, Pace J, Hammer H, Wismer B. Patient-Reported Outcomes of an Integrative Pain Management Program Implemented in a Primary Care Safety Net Clinic: a Quasi-experimental Study. Volume 34 of Issue 7. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 30783878


  16. Bruns EB, Befus D, Wismer B, Knight K, Adler SR, Leonoudakis-Watts K, Thompson-Lastad A, Chao MT. Vulnerable Patients' Psychosocial Experiences in a Group-Based, Integrative Pain Management Program. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 31314560


  17. Hurstak E, Chao MT, Leonoudakis-Watts K, Pace J, Walcer B, Wismer B. Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Integrative Pain Management Program in a Primary Care Safety-Net Clinic. Volume 25 of Issue S1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 30870021


  18. Ye H, Bowden D, Ashby J, Toveg M, Reddy S, Chao MT. Improving Usability of Electronic Health Records for Whole Systems Integrative Medicine Practitioners. Volume 25 of Issue S1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 30870026


  19. Harrison JD, Reddy S, Liu R, Adler SR, Chao MT. Implementing an Inpatient Acupuncture Service for Pain and Symptom Management: Identifying Opportunities and Challenges. Volume 25 of Issue 5. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 30758215


  20. Thompson-Lastad A, Gardiner P, Chao MT. Integrative Group Medical Visits: A National Scoping Survey of Safety-Net Clinics. Volume 3 of Issue 1. Health equity 2019. PMID: 30706043


  21. Helen Y Weng, Jarrod A Lewis-Peacock, Frederick M Hecht, Melina Uncapher, David Ziegler, Norman AS Farb, Veronica Goldman, Sasha Skinner, Larissa G Duncan, Maria T Chao, Adam Gazzaley. Focus on the breath: Brain decoding reveals internal states of attention during meditation. bioRxiv 2018. PMID:


  22. Dhruva A, Atreya CE, Chao MT. Applying New Models of Care to Meet Patient Needs in Integrative Oncology. Volume 24 of Issue 9-10. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2018. PMID: 30247958


  23. Ho EY, Acquah J, Chao C, Leung G, Ng DC, Chao MT, Wang A, Ku S, Chen W, Yu CK, Xu S, Chen M, Jih J. Heart healthy integrative nutritional counseling (H2INC): Creating a Chinese medicine + western medicine patient education curriculum for Chinese Americans. Volume 101 of Issue 12. Patient education and counseling 2018. PMID: 30126680


  24. Chao MT, Adler SR. Integrative Medicine and the Imperative for Health Justice. Volume 24 of Issue 2. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2018. PMID: 29364694


  25. Salvatore D’Amico, Maria Chao, Paula Gardiner. Addressing Disparities in Integrative and Complementary Therapies. Advances in Integrative Medicine 2017. PMID:


  26. Huang AJ, Rowen TS, Abercrombie P, Subak LL, Schembri M, Plaut T, Chao MT. Development and Feasibility of a Group-Based Therapeutic Yoga Program for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain. Volume 18 of Issue 10. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2017. PMID: 28419385


  27. Handley MA, Quan J, Chao MT, Ratanawongsa N, Sarkar U, Emmons-Bell S, Schillinger D. Use of Complementary Health Approaches Among Diverse Primary Care Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Association with Cardiometabolic Outcomes: From the SF Bay Collaborative Research Network (SF Bay CRN). Volume 30 of Issue 5. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM 2017. PMID: 28923815


  28. Duncan LG, Cohn MA, Chao MT, Cook JG, Riccobono J, Bardacke N. Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: a randomized controlled trial with active comparison. Volume 17 of Issue 1. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2017. PMID: 28499376


  29. Liu R, Chao MT, Jostad-Laswell A, Duncan LG. Does CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care Affect the Birth Experience of Underserved Women? A Mixed Methods Analysis. Volume 19 of Issue 2. Journal of immigrant and minority health 2017. PMID: 26942939


  30. Chao MT, Chang A, Reddy S, Harrison JD, Acquah J, Toveg M, Santana T, Hecht FM. Adjunctive acupuncture for pain and symptom management in the inpatient setting: protocol for a pilot hybrid effectiveness-implementation study. Volume 14 of Issue 3. Journal of integrative medicine 2016. PMID: 27181130


  31. Wade C, Wang L, Zhao WJ, Cardini F, Kronenberg F, Gui SQ, Ying Z, Zhao NQ, Chao MT, Yu J. Acupuncture point injection treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea: a randomised, double blind, controlled study. Volume 6 of Issue 1. BMJ open 2016. PMID: 26733563


  32. Chang A, Acquah J, Reddy S, Chao MT. Acupuncture for the Management of Postdural Puncture Headache: A Case Report. Volume 5 of Issue 1. Global advances in health and medicine 2016. PMID: 26937320


  33. Liu R, Chang A, Reddy S, Hecht FM, Chao MT. Improving Patient-Centered Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Prior Use and Interest in Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches Among Hospitalized Oncology Patients. Volume 22 of Issue 2. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2015. PMID: 26505257


  34. Chao MT, Abercrombie PD, Santana T, Duncan LG. Applying the RE-AIM Framework to Evaluate Integrative Medicine Group Visits Among Diverse Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain. Volume 16 of Issue 6. Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses 2015. PMID: 26365760


  35. Chao MT, Handley MA, Quan J, Sarkar U, Ratanawongsa N, Schillinger D. Disclosure of complementary health approaches among low income and racially diverse safety net patients with diabetes. Patient education and counseling 2015. PMID: 26146238


  36. Chao MT, Abercrombie PD, Nakagawa S, Gregorich SE, Learman LA, Kuppermann M. Prevalence and use of complementary health approaches among women with chronic pelvic pain in a prospective cohort study. Volume 16 of Issue 2. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2014. PMID: 25279935


  37. Maria T. Chao, Margaret Handley, Judy Quan, Urmimala Sarkar, Neda Ratanawongsa, Dean Schillinger. Disclosure of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Diverse Safety Net Patients with Diabetes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2014. PMID:


  38. Maria T. Chao, Priscilla D. Abercrombie, Larissa G. Duncan, Trilce Santana, Alexandra M. Chang. Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Centering for Chronic Pelvic Pain: Integrative Group Visits for Medically Underserved Women. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2014. PMID:


  39. Larissa Duncan, Michael Cohn, Maria Chao, Joseph Cook, Jane Riccobono, Nancy Bardacke. Mind in Labor: Effects of Mind/Body Training on Childbirth Appraisals and Pain Medication Use During Labor. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2014. PMID:


  40. Maria T. Chao, Unity Nguyen, Zachary Zibrat, Fija Reed, Dean Schillinger, Frederick M. Hecht. Protocol Development of Group Acupuncture Treatment for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Using Treatment Manualization. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2014. PMID:


  41. Chao MT, Wade CM, Booth SL. Increase in plasma phylloquinone concentrations following acupoint injection for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Volume 7 of Issue 3. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies 2014. PMID: 24929459


  42. Chao MT, Wade CM, Abercrombie PD, Gomolak D. An innovative acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, crossover pilot study. Volume 20 of Issue 1. Alternative therapies in health and medicine 2014. PMID: 24445356


  43. Tippens KM, Chao MT, Connelly E, Locke A. Patient perspectives on care received at community acupuncture clinics: a qualitative thematic analysis. Volume 13. BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2013. PMID: 24168022


  44. Chao MT, Abercrombie PD, Duncan LG. Centering as a model for group visits among women with chronic pelvic pain. Volume 41 of Issue 5. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN 2012. PMID: 22862426


  45. M Chao,C Wade. P02.44. A pilot crossover trial of acupoint injection for treating primary dysmenorrhea. BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2012. PMID:


  46. K Tippens, M Chao, E Connelly, A Locke. P05.37. Assessing patient perspectives on quality of care at community acupuncture clinics. BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2012. PMID:


  47. M Chao,P Abercrombie. P05.41. Development and evaluation of group medical visits for medically underserved women with chronic pelvic pain. BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2012. PMID:


  48. Chao MT, Tippens KM, Connelly E. Utilization of group-based, community acupuncture clinics: a comparative study with a nationally representative sample of acupuncture users. Volume 18 of Issue 6. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2012. PMID: 22551075


  49. Xie SB, Zhu JY, Ying Z, Zeng LJ, Chao M, Lu MQ. Prevention and risk factors of the HBV recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation: 160 cases follow-up study. Volume 90 of Issue 7. Transplantation 2010. PMID: 20703179


  50. Chao MT, Wade C, Kronenberg F. Disclosure of complementary and alternative medicine to conventional medical providers: variation by race/ethnicity and type of CAM. Volume 100 of Issue 11. Journal of the National Medical Association 2008. PMID: 19024232


  51. Reiff M, Wade C, Chao MT, Kronenberg F, Cushman LF. Health practices and vaginal microbicide acceptability among urban black women. Volume 17 of Issue 8. Journal of women's health (2002) 2008. PMID: 18788991


  52. Wade C, Chao M, Kronenberg F, Cushman L, Kalmuss D. Medical pluralism among American women: results of a national survey. Volume 17 of Issue 5. Journal of women's health (2002) 2008. PMID: 18537484


  53. Chao MT, Wade CM. Socioeconomic factors and women's use of complementary and alternative medicine in four racial/ethnic groups. Volume 18 of Issue 1. Ethnicity & disease 2008. PMID: 18447102


  54. Wade C, Chao MT, Kronenberg F. Medical pluralism of Chinese women living in the United States. Volume 9 of Issue 4. Journal of immigrant and minority health 2007. PMID: 17431784


  55. Chao MT, Wade C, Kronenberg F, Kalmuss D, Cushman LF. Women's reasons for complementary and alternative medicine use: racial/ethnic differences. Volume 12 of Issue 8. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2006. PMID: 17034277


  56. Kronenberg F, Cushman LF, Wade CM, Kalmuss D, Chao MT. Race/ethnicity and women's use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States: results of a national survey. Volume 96 of Issue 7. American journal of public health 2006. PMID: 16735632


  57. Abraído-Lanza AF, Chao MT, Flórez KR. Do healthy behaviors decline with greater acculturation? Implications for the Latino mortality paradox. Volume 61 of Issue 6. Social science & medicine (1982) 2005. PMID: 15970234


  58. Abraído-Lanza AF, Chao MT, Gates CY. Acculturation and cancer screening among Latinas: results from the National Health Interview Survey. Volume 29 of Issue 1. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2005. PMID: 15677297


  59. Abraído-Lanza AF, Chao MT, Gammon MD. Breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas and non-Latina whites. Volume 94 of Issue 8. American journal of public health 2004. PMID: 15284049


  60. Dessio W, Wade C, Chao M, Kronenberg F, Cushman LE, Kalmuss D. Religion, spirituality, and healthcare choices of African-American women: results of a national survey. Volume 14 of Issue 2. Ethnicity & disease 2004. PMID: 15132203