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Louise Aronson

MD MFA

Geriatrician
Author of <em>Elderhood</em> and other books

Dr. Louise Aronson is a geriatrician and founder of the optimizing aging practice at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, where she cares for older adults.

Aronson's research interests include geriatrics education, reflective learning (which in medicine emphasizes learning from experience to improve care), health advocacy and medical writing for the public.

Aronson earned her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. At UCSF, she completed a residency in internal medicine as well as a clinician-educator fellowship and a geriatrics fellowship. She later earned a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing at Warren Wilson College.

Aronson teaches at UCSF and serves as director of UCSF's programs in health humanities and social advocacy She has received numerous accolades, including the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Professorship for Humanism in Medicine and the American Geriatrics Society's Outstanding Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year Award. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life. Her writing credits include the New York Times, Atlantic, Washington Post, JAMA, Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine, and she has been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" and "Morning Edition," CNBC, "TODAY," "CBS This Morning," Politico, Kaiser Health News and "Tech Nation," and in the New Yorker.

  • Education

    Harvard Medical School, 1992

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, 1995

  • Fellowships

    UCSF Medical Center, Geriatric Medicine, 1998

  • Board Certifications

    Geriatric Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor

  • Languages

    French

    Spanish

I am excited to expand UCSF's care of older adults at the Osher Center, where we focus on well-being along with disease management.

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    5.0

    Overall Experience
    96 Ratings
    About our process
    Jun 17, 2023
    It has been a privilege to be a patient of Dr. Aronson
    Jun 10, 2023
    Grateful for seeing Dr. Louise Aronson. She's over the moon terrific. Thank you.
    Jun 09, 2023
    Great doctor
    Jun 07, 2023
    One of the most outstanding interactions with a doctor I have ever had!
    Jun 06, 2023
    Dr. Aronson is excellent in every way! She may be the best physician I have had. She listens carefully considers seriously the problems I presented is empathetic and highly intelligent
    May 17, 2023
    Dr Louise Aronson is first rate! She is intelligent empathetic kind listens attentively and is generally concerned about her patient's wellbeing. She is both personable and professional a rare combination
    May 17, 2023
    A very thorough and hopeful experience
    May 16, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a wonderful doctor! I hope UCSF can hire more like her!
    May 09, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a fabulous doctor who listens questions us about many topics and offers great solutions.
    May 03, 2023
    Excellent visit
    Apr 07, 2023
    Excellent visit. All my questions answered and clear advice given.
    Mar 15, 2023
    Dr. Aronson is a compassionate skilled gerontologist.
    Mar 14, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a great listener and took time to illicit my health related concerns and address them. She is outstanding in the care she delivers.
    Mar 14, 2023
    Louise Aronson is the very best!!!!!
    Mar 02, 2023
    Excellent care.
    Feb 08, 2023
    I'm afraid to recommend her to others because it will make it harder for me to get my appt. Because as they say there are 300 on the waiting list. And the rudeness of the phone/scheduler is an embarrassment that I would not want others to go through.
    Jan 17, 2023
    I was completely satisfied.
    Nov 23, 2022
    My first visit with Dr. Louise Aronson was nothing short of miraculous. Imagine this-a doctor who actually wants to get to know you who has the time and interest to listen to your concerns and your hopes. Very rare in the current medical scene.
    Nov 17, 2022
    What a privilege to get to work with Dr. Aronson.
    Nov 16, 2022
    Extremely thoughtful doctor!!!!!.
    Nov 09, 2022
    Louise Aronson MD is remarkable
    Oct 26, 2022
    Dr. Aronson listened carefully exhibited empathy was not condescending and made helpful recommendations.
    Oct 18, 2022
    Dr. Louise Aronson shared a Compassion And Kindness that I've not experienced since my healthy body was reduced to the pain of back injury 30 years ago. She has offered hope and knowledge to Covid complications that instill sincere Gratitude !
    Oct 13, 2022
    Dr Aronson is excellent in every way.
    Sep 07, 2022
    I was asked to allow 2residents to join our appt. I said yes. But the appt was difficult to participate in because the questions and my answers were sometimes sensitive and I was hesitant to answer in front of 2 standing strangers. I wouldn't say yes again.
    Aug 24, 2022
    Dr Aronson gave me full attention and was a great listener. She was warm and empathetic. She also explained things very clearly.
    Aug 13, 2022
    Wonderful attentive knowledgeable
    Aug 05, 2022
    Excellent session - gave me hope
    Jul 20, 2022
    Dr. Aronson is a gem!
    Jul 18, 2022
    UCSF does not employ anyone as professional as Dr Aronson
    May 20, 2022
    Dr. Aronson was very intuitive in listening to my history my concerns and she was willing to engage in the complexity of experiences I have had in the recent past not just concerning my transplant - and to discuss how the emotional and mental/spiritual aspects of my life experience has impacted and complicated my physical experiences. We discussed briefly how I might move forward with my healing in all these contexts and we will continue this at my next visit.
    May 19, 2022
    Dr Aronson is THE BEST!!! She is compassionate caring empathetic and immensely knowledgeable and her advice and suggestions are always spot-on.
    May 02, 2022
    I've already recommended this care giver. She is professional friendly and caring.
    Mar 01, 2022
    Attentive and compassionate.
    Feb 16, 2022
    Dr. Aronson is a great asset to UCSF.
    Feb 12, 2022
    Dr Aronson has excellent bedside manner. I felt comfortable asking any questions.
    Feb 11, 2022
    Excellent

    My work

    Read on Kaiser Health News

    A doctor speaks out about ageism in medicine

    Read on Kaiser Health News
    Read on the Washington Post

    I’m a geriatrician. There’s no clear age that is ‘too old’ to be president.

    Read on the Washington Post

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