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Dr. Hao Nguyen is a urologic oncologist at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He specializes in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer and other cancers of the genital and urinary organs. He performs open (traditional), robotic, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries.

Nguyen earned a bachelor's degree in molecular cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. To further his training as a physician-scientist, he then joined the dual medical and doctoral degree program at the Boston University School of Medicine, in its biochemistry and molecular medicine department. He completed his general and urologic surgery training at the University of California, Davis, followed by a fellowship in urologic oncology at UCSF under the guidance of esteemed specialists Dr. Peter Carroll and Dr. Maxwell Meng. At the end of his fellowship, Nguyen joined the faculty at the UCSF Department of Urology.

Nguyen has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, and has presented his research findings at national conferences. In 2015, he received the prestigious Department of Defense Physician Research Training Award to continue his work on how cancer cells are able to survive cancer treatments via a mechanism known as the stress response. He hopes his findings will lead to new treatments that target this response.

Nguyen is an active member of the American Urological Association and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

  • Education

    Boston University School of Medicine, 2007

  • Fellowships

    UCSF Medical Center, Urologic Oncology , 2015

  • Board Certifications

    Urology, American Board of Urology

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

Where I see patients (3)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    687 Ratings
    About our process
    Aug 31, 2024
    Everything was good
    Aug 30, 2024
    Well informed and cared about
    Aug 10, 2024
    Could not have asked for a better service!!
    Aug 03, 2024
    Dr. N. is a competent and caring professional
    Aug 01, 2024
    Excellent communication, explaining all reports for biopsy
    Jun 15, 2024
    Thanks for Dr Nguyen for your exceptional care and for always putting your patients first. You are truly appreciated as a doctor.
    Jun 06, 2024
    pleasant
    Jun 02, 2024
    Dr. Nguyen and his staff and team are all excellent.
    May 25, 2024
    I was impressed with Dr.!!
    May 17, 2024
    Dr. Nguyen is very good. Very knowledgeable and very attentive to the patients needs. Excellent!
    May 10, 2024
    Would give a 10 if possible
    May 07, 2024
    Technically Dr. Nguyen may be great, but his patient care was terrible. He was 45 minutes late to my appointment and he did not address nor apologize - a little common courteous would have sufficed. He immediately rushed into the procedure without asking me if I had any questions or offering me to ask any. Thank goodness Joy was very thorough in her pre-procedure, but I did have questions for the doctor. During the procedure he was asking his nurse what and how my procedures were remaining of his schedule. I remember lying on my side thinking - his he focused what he is doing or is he worried about going home - I thought that behavior was very discourteous. Lastly, contrary to the "Progress Notes" he did NOT ask if I had any questions when he finished the procedure. He rushed out of the room without asking or addressing me at all. I tried to ask his nurses If she could tell me what he found, but she could not. Again, that was very frustrating.
    Apr 15, 2024
    Following my procedure, I sent a message to Dr. Nguyen and his assistants thanking them for their very high level of care and treatment of me during my appointment and procedure. They made what could have been an extremely painful procedure very tolerable. My appointment was like day and day compared to my previous prostrate biopsy performed in 2022 by another doctor at different medical center, not UCSF affiliated.
    Apr 13, 2024
    I very much appreciate Dr Nguyen. He is very personable.
    Mar 30, 2024
    I have highly recommended UCSF urology/Dr. Nguyen to others. I am a retired MD.
    Mar 28, 2024
    Best biopsy ever. Incredible staff, doctor and painless procedure. Excellent care throughout my visit.
    Mar 23, 2024
    Dr. Nguyen was very professional and kept my mind off the procedure.
    Mar 20, 2024
    Dr. Nguyen was excellent. He provided invaluable information backed up by data etc. He was extremely impressive and a great experience.
    Mar 08, 2024
    If the problem had been localized, surgery would have been an option. Since the issue went outside of the prostate, too, Dr. Nguyen then recommended Radiation Treatments. My concern was a reoccurance later. Asked about surgery and Radiation but Radiation only was recommended. Other than this problem, I am extremely healthy! My parents lived into their 90's and I was wanting the same or longer! I assume that the recommendation for Radiation treatments only is in the best interests for my goals of a very long life and no reoccurance. Was told that both Dr's. Nguyen and Wong are excellent and Dr. Nguyen said "you'll be alright!" Was glad to hear that! Thanks!
    Jan 03, 2024
    He is the BEST!
    Dec 21, 2023
    This has been a very good experience for me with UCSF.
    Nov 19, 2023
    My provider was exceptional. He and his team made me feel like they were treating their own family member. I was in the loop every step of the way with my care and they listened to what I had to say.
    Nov 17, 2023
    Dr Nyguyen seemed quite personable and explained things well.
    Nov 15, 2023
    Dr. Nguyen was responsive to my concerns. I do have an issue with his follow up: he told me he would write a prescription for me to obtain a follow up PSA lab test, but never called it in. I ended up at the lab and was told there was no order, which forced me to try to find someone at the urology clinic to write the order. To date I still do not see an after-visit summary of my office visit in MyChart.
    Oct 26, 2023
    Thank you for everything.
    Oct 25, 2023
    You can tell he knows his stuff with him having to act like it, down to earth
    Oct 24, 2023
    Good because I haven't received the follow up agreed upon on the call
    Oct 23, 2023
    Doctor and nurse answered all my questions
    Oct 16, 2023
    Dr.Hao Gia Nguyen was excellent in every way. Definitely made me feel comfortable and explained everything he did to me. BRAVO!
    Oct 11, 2023
    I face a complex cancer that offers no easy answers.
    Oct 01, 2023
    Dr Nguyen explained steps first, then checked repeatedly whether I was feeling any pain.
    Sep 23, 2023
    Excellent
    Sep 13, 2023
    Awaiting approval and and appointment for procedure
    Sep 12, 2023
    I liked how Dr Nguyen quickly assessed my needs and addressed them with a proposed approach. He was reassuring and gave me confidence in his approach.
    Aug 26, 2023
    Thanks ! Just waiting to hear back about scheduling an MRI or PSMA PET Scan. Thank you!
    Aug 26, 2023
    Great Dr's great people, thank you for your services.
    Aug 22, 2023
    Dr.Nguyen was very professional and friendly
    Aug 15, 2023
    Doctors were extremely sensitive to my uneasy feelings They made me feel uncomfortable and relieved my initial anxiety
    Aug 12, 2023
    Dr Nguyen is a wonderful doctor and I feel very fortunate to have him as my doctor!!!
    Aug 10, 2023
    Good.
    Aug 10, 2023
    They in very comfortable to come in for treatment. I have never felt as comfortable as I felt in their care.
    Aug 05, 2023
    Excellent staff!!!
    Jul 31, 2023
    My questions and concerns were answered quickly and courteously. The care provider took extra steps to ensure my comfort during this procedure.
    Jul 31, 2023
    During the biopsy all aspects were excellent. From the check in, wait thru exit.
    Jul 29, 2023
    Very professional, not rushed. Informative and understanding
    Jul 22, 2023
    My doctor was very caring and respectful. Gave me plenty of warning about the procedure. Was very painless.
    Jul 22, 2023
    All I can say is that thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    Jul 17, 2023
    I have and continue to recommend this caregiver!!!
    Jul 08, 2023
    Good
    Jul 08, 2023
    He is a great doctor in so many ways.
    Jul 08, 2023
    He is absolutely the best. Incredibly knowledgeable, a great surgeon, and a good sense of humor.
    Jun 15, 2023
    I felt very comfortable speaking with Doctor given my recent news about all this cancer determination
    Jun 10, 2023
    I have been to your hospital three times the staff the nurses. The doctors are all amazing. They show concern and make you feel comfortable in my situation.
    May 20, 2023
    Dr Nguyen acted in a professional manner as I have seen on previous visits
    May 16, 2023
    Too early to tell for some questions. I thought that Dr. Nguyen said that his assistant would follow up with a call to schedule a Pet scan and biopsy, but I haven't heard after several days.
    May 07, 2023
    Post-procedure activities felt rushed, probably due to the doctor being behind schedule. Understandable, but vexing.
    Apr 29, 2023
    All contact with staff was excellent
    Apr 27, 2023
    I've had the best experience with everyone I've been in contact with
    Apr 27, 2023
    Dr. Nguyen and the entire Urology Department Staff were outstanding in helping me with my questions.
    Apr 25, 2023
    Good
    Apr 24, 2023
    Care provider was very attentive and informative.
    Apr 18, 2023
    Hao Nguyn is cool. Glad to have him!
    Apr 15, 2023
    Top notch
    Apr 13, 2023
    Knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring, easy to talk to.
    Mar 13, 2023
    Dr. Nguyen is an excellent physician. He is under such a time crunch that it would be extremely difficult to provide good dialog between patient and Doctor. He did amazingly well for the institutions lack of scheduling his patients.
    Mar 06, 2023
    Outstanding provider!
    Mar 02, 2023
    Excellent service
    Feb 28, 2023
    The best part was meeting with the doctor gave me hope
    Feb 27, 2023
    Excellent procedure
    Feb 25, 2023
    The physician was clearly in a rush and although he was thorough with the procedure he was definitely rushing to get to his next appointment.
    Feb 21, 2023
    I love ucsf and trust their care completely.
    Feb 20, 2023
    Dr. Nguyen and nursing staff made me comfortable and significant.
    Feb 18, 2023
    I have total confidence in the doctor
    Feb 13, 2023
    Dr. Nguyen patiently and cheerfully explained the procedure and answered questions. He showed genuine concern for my physical and emotional comfort.
    Feb 11, 2023
    Professional and personable. Willing to take time to answer my questions.
    Feb 09, 2023
    I feel as though I have to be proactive in scheduling my follow appointments as suggested by Dr. Nguyen. I waited one week and never received a call from his office to schedule the appointment, so I took it upon myself to call. This creates anxiety because appointments are not always readily available.
    Feb 06, 2023
    Very fortunate to have Dr. Nguyen!
    Feb 04, 2023
    Hopefully no one else has to have a prostatectomy or seed markers implanted but if so I will highly recommend Dr Nguyen I trust him with my life.
    Jan 25, 2023
    Dr Hao Nguyen is a very doctor. I trust him.
    Jan 24, 2023
    I felt the provider really wants to take care of my cancer
    Jan 23, 2023
    Excellent care.
    Jan 17, 2023
    But like all doctors visits, there was significant delay. I.e. 30 minutes.
    Jan 15, 2023
    I couldn't ask for anything more.
    Jan 14, 2023
    I've told my wife after each visit, the knowledge of the urologists at UCSF, even though I haven't required treatment at this point, has been very psychologically helpful/reassuring!!
    Jan 07, 2023
    Exceeded my expectation
    Dec 20, 2022
    I was very impressed with Dr Nguyen.
    Nov 18, 2022
    Great to be supported even though my treatment will have been done somewhere else
    Nov 10, 2022
    The Nurse was great, better than anybody else, I think she was new. More caring about procedures.
    Nov 03, 2022
    We received utmost professional and excellent care from Dr. Nyugen. He is attentive, listens well to our concerns, and is comprehensive and clear.
    Nov 01, 2022
    Life saving experience!
    Oct 24, 2022
    In person everyone was great.

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