Catherine Dao

MD

Cardiologist
Medical Director, San Mateo Primary and Specialty Care

Dr. Catherine Dao is a cardiologist who cares for patients with a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), cardiomyopathy (diseases of the heart muscle), and coronary artery disease. She has particular interests in echocardiography (ultrasound imaging of the heart), preventive cardiology and women's heart health. She is medical director of the UCSF San Mateo Primary and Specialty Care Clinic.

Dao earned her medical degree at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, followed by fellowships in cardiac MRI and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine.

In her free time, Dao enjoys cheering for the Golden State Warriors, hosting dinner parties and traveling abroad. She also loves to spend time outdoors; she climbed Half Dome in Yosemite National Park when she was three months pregnant.

  • Education

    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, MD, 2006

  • Residencies

    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Internal Medicine, 2009

  • Fellowships

    Stanford Medicine, MRI, 2011

    Stanford Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, 2015

I believe in developing collaborative relationships with all my patients and am committed to providing high-quality, personalized care.

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.5

    Overall Experience
    215 Ratings
    About our process
    Nov 18, 2023
    Excellent provider knowledgeable/ friendly/professional
    Nov 16, 2023
    This particular doctor was very dismissive and had a very overbearing nature to her
    Oct 07, 2023
    Thanks
    Sep 28, 2023
    Was very helpful in so many ways. Like explaining things to my hard of hearing self with kindness and patience.
    Sep 25, 2023
    Dr Dao is excellent. She spent the time needed for me to understand a 2nd opinion. She also dug deeper into my situation and provided some recommendations to my PCP.
    Sep 09, 2023
    Very happy event
    Sep 01, 2023
    My sister also picked Dr Dao as her cardiologist!
    Aug 09, 2023
    This was an especially outstanding consultation. Lots of clear relevant information presented concisely without rushing.
    Aug 06, 2023
    Incredibly detached/distracted. Worst "bedside" manner ever! No affect whatsoever.
    Jul 16, 2023
    The Doctor was late; she seemed as cold as ice; she offered no practical suggestions as to cardiac diet tips (I just had an ablation). I was left feeling like I was imposing on her time and she couldn't get rid of me fast enough.
    Jul 13, 2023
    Perfect
    Jul 07, 2023
    I am very happy with Dr. Dao and I have already spoken highly of her to other doctors and friends.
    Jul 05, 2023
    No one has ever asked me for referral to cardiology.
    Jul 05, 2023
    What can one say the Doctors and staff of UCSF are the most outstanding medical professionals that I have ever met
    Jul 01, 2023
    I'm pleased that Dr. Dao is my cardiologist.
    Jun 30, 2023
    Dr. Dao was very good. I appreciated her adivice as well as her willingness to listen to my concerns.
    Jun 16, 2023
    Thorough thorough thorough - and caring. Excellent introductory visit.
    Jun 15, 2023
    Doctor is very competent and knowledgable. I felt she was an expert in her field of study.
    Jun 07, 2023
    Lack of eye contact during tele-visit was disconcerting. I suspect that might not be the case in a person to person visit
    Jun 02, 2023
    Dr Dao makes it easy to talk to her about anything that's bothering you. She tells you like it is so you don't feel like you're being talked down to. I come away knowing what I'm supposed to do to stay healthy
    May 27, 2023
    She is not friendly or personable. Didn't smile once.
    May 04, 2023
    Dr Dao was excellent and explained things very clearly!
    May 04, 2023
    Dr Nguyen was so helpful I didn't even have any questions at the end
    Apr 06, 2023
    Dr.Dao wad the best !! She spent an hour and 15 mins !!! Explained everything !!! I felt very comfortable!!
    Mar 18, 2023
    Good
    Feb 26, 2023
    Dr was sooh accommodating appreciate her
    Feb 07, 2023
    Dr. Dao provided the best professional care and advise on my condition. Clear and simple easy to follow.
    Feb 04, 2023
    Dr Dao shows her deep concern by being generous with her time and in the resources she brings as well as the careful sensitive listening she engages. She doesn't smile or laugh which may not be her style and that may bother some people.
    Feb 03, 2023
    Very cold looked as if she was annoyed Blank face not warm in anyway no smile or face expression at all.
    Jan 06, 2023
    Lack of curiosity lack of concern she seemed annoyed to have to see me. Lack of knowledge of my condition and condescending to try to gaslight me to stop asking questions. I wanted to understand my chest discomfort and all she said is shes not surprised at my chest discomfort. Everyone else at ucsf was great though from nurse to admin.
    Dec 28, 2022
    I guess I can't get over the original disappointment in how long it took to get an appointment to be told I have issues and then not being able to get an appointment for 3 months.
    Dec 20, 2022
    Listened well. Understood my concerns. Thorough. Reassuring.
    Nov 25, 2022
    Excellent expert advice and support were rendered I appreciate the care extended.
    Nov 05, 2022
    I'm confident the care provider is highly knowledgeable and competent. However I also found that they failed in their attempts to appear patient and nonjudgmental.
    Oct 26, 2022
    As usual she listened carefully and communicated clearly helpful information.
    Oct 14, 2022
    The "provider" did not discuss the EKG findings or her exam evaluation during or at the completion of the visit also did not add to MyChart after visit summary. My objective for this visit was to acquaint myself with the UCSF cardio dept. She spent more time then necessary talking about my history which is obviously known to me. She added she is very busy so maybe she does not have the time for new patients. Just my thoughts being I am new to UCSF & all other visits would get the highest rating!
    Oct 11, 2022
    The Dr came 30 minutes late and had a horrible attitude. I'm not sure if she was just having a bad day but she was very unprofessional and at times appeared to even roll her eyes. She did not listen to any concerns of mine and in-fact incorrectly noted them in my after care report summary. She made me feel bad that I even had an appointment as if I had asked to see her and said the tests were essentially useless for me. I was referred by UCSF neurology as an inpatient after having a tests done there after informing her of that she quickly changed her tone and decided I should get the heart monitor test. All in all I am dissatisfied in this experience and would not recommend ucsf cardiology. It's very disappointing after having such a great experience with ucsf neurology.
    Jul 21, 2022
    Not satisfied with her. Will pick another MD if I go back to this clinic again or change to parnassus clinic to see another cardiologist.
    Jul 16, 2022
    The doctor indicated she had not read the echocardiogram I had in 2020 out of state before moving to California. She appears to have tried to cover up that fact by including reference to that testing in her visit notes after the fact. The doctor also stated that the aneurysm may just be a measurement error and an "isolated finding." Given the 13% growth in the last 2 years I am pretty sure this is not a measurement error or "isolated finding." I have absolutely no confidence in her medical advice.
    Jun 02, 2022
    Dr. Catherine Nguyen Dao is an excellent care provider answered all of our questions and I would recommend her to anyone!!
    May 30, 2022
    Good experience
    May 22, 2022
    Good
    Mar 23, 2022
    Medical office is far from my residence
    Mar 21, 2022
    Still not quite sure as to why I have certain symptoms but these may be anomalies and not able to be directly attributed to anything specific.
    Mar 15, 2022
    I do not remember my follow-up care program

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