Monika Patel

Monika Patel is a physical therapist who cares for adult patients with neurologic conditions. She is a neurologic clinical specialist and a multiple sclerosis certified specialist. Viewing her profession as both a science and an art, she brings her creative side into her practice and tailors care to each patient's unique qualities.

Patel's interests in both patient care and research include using community reintegration programs to help people affected by strokes, brain injuries or other neurologic conditions foster healthy lifestyles, establish exercise regimens and prevent future health issues. She is also interested in how yoga can benefit patients with neurologic conditions and in using new technologies to improve the gait of people with multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injuries or other neurologic conditions.

After earning her doctor of physical therapy degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Patel completed a residency in neurologic physical therapy at Marquette University and the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She also has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before joining UCSF, she worked as a clinical trainer for LiteGait Mobility Research. She also has experience in acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, VA hospital care and home health care.

In her free time, Patel enjoys practicing yoga, running, hiking and traveling. She completed a 200-hour training program to become a yoga teacher.