Carlin H. Senter

MD

Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine
Co-Director, Sports Concussion Program
Primary care sports medicine specialist
Lifelong athlete and Oakland A's fan

Dr. Carlin Senter is primary care sports medicine doctor who focuses on helping patients of all ages stay active, reduce injury risk and achieve peak performance. She has particular interests in exercise counseling and exercise prescription as well as in treating sports concussions. She serves as the director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Service within UCSF Division of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery and is co-director of the UCSF Sports Concussion Program.

Senter's research focuses on enhancing musculoskeletal education for primary care clinicians. She designs programs to increase knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and improve diagnostic skills among medical students, residents and practicing clinicians. She also co-chairs two annual continuing education courses in sports medicine.

Senter earned her medical degree at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She then completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at UCLA.

Senter belongs to the American College of Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine and Society of General Internal Medicine. She has received numerous awards for teaching and service.

Senter grew up in the East Bay, where she was a three-sport high school athlete. As an undergraduate at Harvard College, she rowed for Radcliffe Crew. She is currently team physician for University of San Francisco, Academy of Art University and Washington High School.

In her free time, Senter enjoys running at Lands End, hiking in Marin County, eating It's-It ice cream sandwiches and cheering for the Oakland Athletics.

  • Education

    David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 2004

  • Residencies

    University of Washington Medical Center, Internal Medicine, 2008

  • Fellowships

    UCLA Health System, Primary Care Sports Medicine, 2009

  • Board Certifications

    Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

    Sports Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

Whether my patients run, bike, swim or walk, I'm dedicated to helping them reap all the health benefits of physical activity.

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (3)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    321 Ratings
    About our process
    Mar 03, 2023
    My husband and I think that Dr. Senter is a wonderful person. She listens cares and now's her stuff. We are so happy we found her!!!
    Feb 03, 2023
    Everything I want in a health care provider.
    Jan 20, 2023
    Doctor Senter is great. Lucky to have her. Sports oriented doctor for a sports oriented guy.
    Jan 20, 2023
    I did not like the care provider asking me to contact my family to find out what medication they are taking I don't think that should be done because everybody is different even family members because some of the medication that was give it to my family did other things to them so that's why they are doctor changed a medication. I don't think no doubt that she would be determined medication on what other family members are taking
    Jan 16, 2023
    I had an excellent experience and I have consistently been to UCSF ortho campus for a variety of injuries both new and existing. I really appreciate the level of understanding insight care empathy and overall skillful and caring understanding and treatment. I'm very fortunate to have this level of care
    Jan 13, 2023
    I experienced Dr. Senter as being fully present empathetic thorough Informed and professional. Plus she's a terrific listener--a characteristic often missing from exchanges between patients and their medical teams. To me Dr. Senter embodies medical care at its very best.
    Dec 21, 2022
    I had a very good experience with this doctor! Super friendly helpful clear explanations.
    Dec 15, 2022
    Very supportive and reinforcing of my interest and participation in self care and progress made post injury .
    Dec 07, 2022
    All I have to say about the Dr Senter and staff are good people good human being
    Dec 03, 2022
    Dr. Senter is great. An I generally don't like doctors. So that makes her even better
    Nov 23, 2022
    Dr. Senter is an exceptional provider!!
    Nov 20, 2022
    Dr. Senter is a terrific doctor -- knowledgeable thoughtful and empathetic.
    Nov 09, 2022
    DOCTOR IS EXCELLENT IN ALL AREAS KNOWLEDGE CARING INFORMATION SHARED AND ALL FOLLOW-UP!!!
    Nov 08, 2022
    I so appreciate how dialed in Dr Senter is to my concerns and questions. She thinks deeply about my problem and is thorough with her exam.
    Nov 02, 2022
    Excellent doctor visit. Could not have been better
    Oct 27, 2022
    Dr.Senter is an excellent provider.
    Oct 19, 2022
    I would like to see Dr. Senter cross her arms less. Maybe she's cold. Makes me feel inconsequential.
    Oct 12, 2022
    Though I doubt anyone my age could get an appointment with her sounds like we are not considered athletes
    Sep 30, 2022
    I have zero issues with Dr Senter. She provides clear information and explains either/or situations concisely.
    Sep 23, 2022
    Very good
    Sep 16, 2022
    I'm Lucky DR Senter is my primary
    Sep 16, 2022
    Dr Senter is amazing. She is very compassionate and clearly explains things and creates a lot of trust. She is clearly an extremely compentant doctor that makes a patient feel at ease. She is also very responsive to questions post visit
    Sep 16, 2022
    Outstanding physician!
    Sep 14, 2022
    Fantastic!
    Sep 10, 2022
    I felt the care was very thorough
    Sep 08, 2022
    I've been a patient before of dr Senter and have recommended her to friends.
    Sep 08, 2022
    Dr Senter is exceptional
    Sep 05, 2022
    Excellent care. Feels collaborative and supportive.
    Sep 05, 2022
    I wish Dr. Carlin could be my PCP
    Sep 03, 2022
    Dr. Senter is a gem. Both UCSF and her patients are lucky to have her.
    Aug 26, 2022
    Very caring
    Jul 29, 2022
    Dr Senter is awesome!
    Jul 22, 2022
    The Doctor is very thorough to check my lower extremities.
    Jul 22, 2022
    Dr senter has been a part of life for years. I was lucky when she became my primary at ucsf
    Jul 15, 2022
    Extraordinarily knowledgeable and approachable
    Jul 14, 2022
    Dr Senter is one of the most competent professional caring Individuals at UCSF.
    Jun 08, 2022
    Dr. Senter was wonderful. She was competent concerned and courteous. I was particularly impressed with her interactions with the medical student she was teaching.
    May 19, 2022
    As I said I'm lucky Dr senter is my primary I use My chart & expect response to mail & I can count on her & her team
    May 17, 2022
    Dr. Senter is an expert with a wonderful warm direct communication style.
    Feb 11, 2022
    One of the best of the excellent providers at UCSF.
    Jan 28, 2022
    Not enough time againShe didn't know all my history
    Jan 18, 2022
    Dr. Senter is an excellent provider - she also is friendly and listens closely to overall life concerns that are affected by the orthopedic problem (in my case being able to continue to hike as this is very important to me).
    Jan 07, 2022
    Better than expected .
    Dec 22, 2021
    The entire experience was superb!!!
    Dec 22, 2021
    The primary reason I stay with UCSF is because of Dr. Senter. She has always takes care of me and I have complete trust in her ability.
    Dec 17, 2021
    Very very happy
    Nov 29, 2021
    Her recommendations did not really seem to match the severity of the symptoms my daughter is suffering. She suggested that my daughter do much more than she is actually capable of. I am not sure she took the symptoms seriously enough. The other health care providers we saw all seemed to be on the same page about taking things very slowly but she was pushing us to have my daughter jump back in to regular activities. My daughter tried this advice today when going back to school and it failed miserably. She could only tolerate the classroom setting for an hour and a half.
    Nov 23, 2021
    Dr. Senter is great. She is compassionate and kind. She listens and shares her advice with you.
    Nov 23, 2021
    Unparalleled ease in informing me the steps we would take to get to the core of my issue.
    Nov 23, 2021
    Dr. Senter is remarkable. Her interpersonal style is the perfect combination of instilling confidence in her clinical assessment and treatment recommendations - with notable warmth so that I also felt personally cared for as a person.
    Nov 19, 2021
    This was my first appointment with Dr. Carlin Senter it went very well she took time and explain everything to me I was very comfortable with her and she has a nice personality.
    Nov 05, 2021
    Dr. Senter is a thoughtful intelligent and patient physician.
    Oct 27, 2021
    Dr. Senter is brilliant. She manages to listen be empathetic and look at/write her chart notes at the same time and always offers research or suggestions on aspects of health that may not be within her immediate knowledge and or refer appropriately.
    Oct 07, 2021
    Thanks
    Oct 07, 2021
    Dr. Senter is simply first-rate.
    Sep 30, 2021
    Dr. Senter is a great physician.
    Sep 23, 2021
    Dr. Senter is a terrific listener. Very caring and attentive to my needs. I love her!
    Aug 31, 2021
    Dr. Senter is just fabulous and caring. Her after-visit summaries are clear and comprehensive and completed immediately after my visit.
    Jul 29, 2021
    Dr. Senter is a great doctor. She is courteous friendly and takes great care of her patients.
    Jul 21, 2021
    Dr Senter is an excellent and caring Doctor
    Jun 09, 2021
    I love Dr. Senter. She has helped with managing my OA of my knees. She is always pleasant and helpful.
    Jun 03, 2021
    Dr. Senter is simply the very best primary care physician I have ever had. I have complete trust in her. She is absolutely THE BEST!!!!
    May 22, 2021
    I've seen the Provider several times over the years regarding various sports-related injuries. She is well prepared welcomes questions listens carefully and communicates clearly.
    May 22, 2021
    excellent care provider combining high level of technical expertise and excellent "bedside" manner.
    May 20, 2021
    Dr. Carlin Senter is the very best orthopedist/sports doctor I've ever had in my sixty-five years on this planet. As both a high school and college athlete and as an active runner and participant in recreational sports I've encountered numerous sports doctors throughout my life and Dr. Senter is THE BEST sports doctor I've ever had. That's why I continue to drive from Marin to the Mission Bay Campus to see her long after she stopped taking appointments at the USCF Sports / Orthopedic Clinic in Marin County. She will be my sports / orthopedic doctor for as long as she remains in practice.

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