Thomas Chi

MD MBA

Urologist

Dr. Thomas Chi is a urologist who has specific interests in urinary stone disease and minimally invasive surgery. He specializes on performing endoscopic, laparoscopic and percutaneous (through the skin) procedures. He also cares for patients at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

As head of the Chi Laboratory at UCSF, Chi conducts research on how kidney stones form and how to treat them more effectively.

After earning his undergraduate degree in human biology, Chi earned master's degrees in sociology and music from Stanford University. He earned his medical degree from UCSF. He then completed two years of general surgery training and then a urology residency at UCSF, where he also completed a fellowship in endourology and laparoscopy.

In 2020, Chi earned the American Urology Association’s Gold Cystoscope Award, which is presented annually to a urologist who has made outstanding contributions to the field within ten years of their residency training.

  • Education

    UCSF, MD, 2005

  • Residencies

    UCSF, Urology, 2011

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Endourology and Laparoscopy, 2013

  • Board Certifications

    Urology, American Board of Urology

Where I see patients (3)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    292 Ratings
    About our process
    Aug 31, 2023
    Was thorough on answers to questions
    Aug 27, 2023
    Very good experience.
    Aug 23, 2023
    I can't recommend this care provider when UCSF staff does not thoroughly follow with resources nor appointments. The Doctor was very Good however as far as anyone calling me back as to where to go for Ultrasounds and appointment follow ups is severely Flawed.
    Aug 17, 2023
    Dr Chi is an outstanding Urologist.
    Aug 17, 2023
    Dr. Chi is always great to work with!
    Jul 05, 2023
    Dr Chi is amazing caring and concerned.
    Jun 19, 2023
    Very pleased and a wonderful team
    Jun 17, 2023
    No reflection on the care received: I find the UC bureaucracy unresponsive.
    Jun 17, 2023
    Excellent!
    Jun 04, 2023
    He is very up front which is appreciated!!
    May 30, 2023
    Fantastic physicianFeel like I have a real advocate
    May 25, 2023
    Excellent attentiveness to me.
    May 23, 2023
    Dr. Chi was great. He listened to my concerns and was very proactive in coordinating next steps. I feel I am in good hands.
    May 19, 2023
    Visit was a bit short.
    May 17, 2023
    Did not get answers on (1) surgical options and (2) scheduling surgery.
    May 04, 2023
    The whole team was outstanding.
    Apr 22, 2023
    Dr. Chi is great and I appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with him since I began my care with his team about 4-5 years ago.
    Mar 28, 2023
    Everything is good
    Feb 16, 2023
    Dr Chi appears to be an excellent clinician and has wonderful bedside manner. My procedure went very well and follow up has been thorough. Thanks again Dr Chi!
    Feb 05, 2023
    The doctor (Thomas Chi) his assistants nurses and staff were engaged competent aware of the patient's vulnerability and dedicated to their work. But they were in my experience overwhelmed with patients and possibly under staffed.
    Jan 26, 2023
    Dr. Chi reviewed my past test results & images with me; and even pulled them up on the screen so that I could see & understand. He listened & showed empathy to me because as a previous cancer survivor I was distraught about a possible diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Chi took the time to answer all of my questions; recommended additional testing and why it was needed. He was awesome!!!
    Jan 19, 2023
    My experience with UCSF was very positive.
    Jan 03, 2023
    Dr. Chi was superb
    Dec 22, 2022
    Dr. Thomas Chi is the best. He takes extra effort to listen to me and determine what my medical state is. He responds to questions in a straightforward and direct manner. He is very positive and encouraging. Simply awesome!
    Dec 09, 2022
    I did not get a after visit summary. When I asked why not I never got a response. I finally wrote my own after visit summary. Then later I finally got a summary.
    Dec 09, 2022
    My care provider presented as warm easy to talk to and very knowledgeable.
    Dec 04, 2022
    Good
    Nov 06, 2022
    The Dr was beyond kind and so thorough. We had a difficult subject to discuss (cancer) but he handled it very well.
    Nov 03, 2022
    Dr. Chi is EXCELLENT!
    Nov 01, 2022
    There was a discussion about my health rather than a one-way conversation. I appreciate that.
    Oct 29, 2022
    It would be hard for me to recommend Dr. Chi just because my recovery from the HOLEP surgery has been the most difficult health struggle of my life. It may well not be his fault but still I'd be uneasy to recommend this surgeon and procedure given the protracted incontinence and pain.
    Oct 27, 2022
    This provider is one of the best ever caring friendly courteous skilled and professional.
    Oct 23, 2022
    Excellent in all respects
    Oct 22, 2022
    My appointment was with Dr Chi but a PA arrived to do the procedure. I told the nurses and was fortunate after a very short wait to then have Dr Chi perform the procedure -
    Oct 20, 2022
    Bad
    Oct 05, 2022
    The worst
    Sep 09, 2022
    Dr. Chi has been a wonderful care provider patient friendly explicit and knowledgeable! It's never been a sacrifice to travel 3 hours for pre-eminent medical services. I truly appreciate the ability to deal with the ordinary through distance communication.
    Sep 01, 2022
    It would be hard for me to recommend Dr. Chi just because I fell into the 3 - 4% of patients who have a very long and difficult recovery from the surgery. I've had the worst health of my life since the surgery so I just can't be too glowing in recommending it to others.
    Aug 25, 2022
    I like Dr. Chi and know he's a good surgeon. However that doesn't help if there is no access or response when I need help with my concerns. So I don't know how to give a recommendation.
    Aug 04, 2022
    I come to UCSF for treatments because of doctors like Dr. Chi.
    Jul 31, 2022
    Dr Chi is friendly professional and a very good listener. Always good to talk with him.
    Jul 20, 2022
    I am thoroughly impressed by DR Chi and grateful To have had this appointment with him. He is a knowledgeable and caring and thoughtful provider. UCSF is very fortunate to have him on staff As are we as patients
    Jul 13, 2022
    Dr. Chi exceeded my expectations which were high.
    Jul 08, 2022
    Dr. Chi is caring professional and trustworthy
    Jun 02, 2022
    It was a first visit only 15minutes. Did not feel there were answers to my questions but rather offered more tests and prescription without discussion. After the appointment I had lots of questions.
    May 29, 2022
    Dr.Chi represents the very best level of knowledge empathy communication and responsiveness all doctor's should strive for
    May 02, 2022
    Very good communication of complex surgical options and outcomes. Very thorough and skilled.
    Apr 07, 2022
    Very caring and superbly knowledgeable and competent.
    Apr 03, 2022
    I'm still waiting to be contacted by the office to schedule the surgery.Poor contact with the office.
    Apr 01, 2022
    Dr Chi and his team are exceptional.
    Mar 29, 2022
    In person meeting was very satisfactory but no communication of any kind in next 4 weeks even up to now.
    Mar 15, 2022
    Dr. Chi is outstanding!
    Mar 12, 2022
    I have been with Dr Chi for 6 years. He is very effective as a Dr and a communicator.
    Mar 08, 2022
    Provider a bit brusque and in a hurry but adequately attentive.
    Feb 05, 2022
    Very satisfying
    Jan 25, 2022
    Unbelievably Incredible doctor! He used percentages common sense examples and really made me feel important
    Jan 20, 2022
    The operation involving my prostate went smoothly and I no longer feel pain. However it took 4 months before I got the operation. During those 4 months I had to deal with a lot of pain.
    Dec 28, 2021
    I forgot to ask the Doctor how this would affect erectile dysfunction following surgery. I have tried Cialis however it does not always work as directed and sometimes it makes me feel weird and somewhat sick.
    Nov 21, 2021
    As I mentioned previously no effort has been made to address my condition in any timely manner. The doctor showed no concern for how I was feeling no interest in helping me get through this whole medical procedure as quickly as possible. When I described the pain I was experiencing the doctor was essentially indifferent. He did prescribe an antibiotic that I've been taking for a week now but am still feeling pain. There were no follow up contacts to see how I was doing. Every response I received was that nobody could do anything to make my medical experience shorter and less uncomfortable so I would just have to soldier on through on my own. Nothing but complete callousness.
    Nov 11, 2021
    Dr. Chi discussed in detail my options before my in person procedure. During the procedure he explained everything and every step he was taking and how the procedure may feel. I have every confidence in Dr Chi and his staff. All were friendly professional and truly heard my questions and concerns.
    Oct 26, 2021
    Doctor Chi is one of the nicest gentlemen I've ever dealt with in the medical profession.

    Selected research

    See all research
    Decorative Caduceus

    Randomized Clinical Trial on Moderate to High Risk Ureteroscopy

    any occurrence of urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Ambulatory Versus Inpatient Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

    Any of: Emergency department visits related to procedure, unplanned provider visits, re-admission related to the procedure, blood transfusion, and need for secondary procedures. Patients with an emergency department or provider vi...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Effect of Group Preoperative Pelvic Floor Training for HoLEP

    Urinary incontinence (present/absent) will be defined according to the guidelines of the International Continence Society as involuntary loss of urine experienced during the bladder storage phase using self-report measures at regu...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    UPURS Trial for Patient-centered Management of Symptomatic Obstructing Stones

    Measure on a scale of 1-10, with zero indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst pain.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Break Wave(TM) Extracorporeal Lithotripter First-in-Human Study

    Stone fragmentation as determined by stone passage or imaging confirmation.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Accuracy of Ultrasound for Detecting Residual Fragments During RIRS

    The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and fluoroscopy will be measured in conjunction with endoscopic examination for detecting residual fragments during retrograde intrarenal surgery for renal stones treatment by the same endouro...

    Recruiting

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