Louise Aronson

MD MFA

Geriatrician
Author of Elderhood and other books

About me

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

128 Ratings

About our process

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

Jan 29, 2022

Dr Aronson was incredible sensitive. I felt heard and cared about.

Jan 26, 2022

This was a very good first visit.

Jan 26, 2022

I am lucky to have had a visit with this very skilled and empathetic doctor

Dec 03, 2021

This was a first orientation visit so no one mdicall issue was discussed at length or treated.

Dec 02, 2021

If there was some way I could rate Dr. Aronson higher than a 5 I would. She is the most warm compassionate caring and friendly doctor I've ever encountered! She takes seriously all my concerns and works hard to find solutions.

Nov 11, 2021

Dr. Aronson had read my chart and knew what problems I had before I met with her. I have looked for a doctor who treats the whole body taking into consideration all the medical issues and the medications and tries to remedy the maladies by alternative methods instead of prescribing more drugs that may have adverse affects on the body.

Oct 20, 2021

If I could give Dr. Aronson a score higher than 5 in each of these categories I would! She is totally awesome!!

Sep 13, 2021

All I can say is WOW! Dr. Aronson treated me with the utmost respect and helped me with understanding and managing my ME/CFS. The time that we spent in our appointments (no rushing) allowed for us to discuss various components of the illness - emotional and physical. She really understood what I was struggling with and this made me feel "heard." She gave practical tips that have given me more of a sense of control over my daily life.

Sep 10, 2021

Dr. Aronson is one of the most compassionate caring doctors I've ever met - perhaps THE most! Her caring personality plus her fields of geriatrics and integrative medicine allow her to address me as a whole person and not simply a disfunctioning body part. She is incredibly knowledgeable and what she doesn't know she looks up during the visit! I can't recommend her highly enough!!!

Aug 25, 2021

Dr Aronson is the best!

Aug 21, 2021

AVS Notes are excellent to have and review after visits and to have available later on to refer to.

Aug 20, 2021

Excellent communication and shows interest and concern for problems. Great Doctor!

Jun 20, 2021

The doctor has been great. Getting the appointment was almost impossible

May 18, 2021

Dr. Aronson is the BEST!! She had thoroughly reviewed all my medical records before our visit (something few other doctors have done with such thoroughness). She is one of the most warm caring doctors I've ever met; I felt like I was talking to a friend! Her analysis of my situation was spot on and her suggestions for treatment were excellent. I can't wait to meet with her again!

Apr 27, 2021

Excellent experience. So excellent it brought tears to my eyes