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 (4)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    445 Ratings
    About our process
    Dec 18, 2023
    Dr Chi gave me a excellent advice about my condition and next step
    Dec 10, 2023
    Dr. Chi is WONDERFUL!!!
    Dec 09, 2023
    This provider is one of the best ever, caring, friendly, professional and skilled.
    Nov 28, 2023
    The two people that I interacted with were professional funny, and they set my mind at ease about the operation they wanted to perform good job
    Nov 24, 2023
    Follow-up treatment instructions were to be provided via a scheduled phone call. Nurse called, but she didn't have orders from the doctor and couldn't provide instructions. Still don't have prescription or instructions.
    Nov 23, 2023
    I had read about the procedures prior to our call and Dr. Chi answered all my questions sufficiently.
    Nov 17, 2023
    Very informative and a quality visit. In a perfect world he'd of addressed my anxiety which prevents me from being treated
    Nov 16, 2023
    Dr. Chi is a great doctor. He is a good communicator and displays genuine care and concern for his patients.
    Nov 07, 2023
    Dr. Thomas Chi is a wonderful doctor and surgeon! I am very grateful to him and his team.
    Nov 02, 2023
    Nice and knowledgeable of his specialty. Kind and listens well to my complaints; was concerned and facilitated follow-up being a new patient with new dose of my drug .
    Nov 02, 2023
    Dr. Chi was both high professional and personable. Knowing I warranted Pyeloplasty kidney surgery, I was understandably concerned. He provided my level of medically knowledgeable explanations, not base level generic info. He won my heart when I asked him, "Will you take care of me and he responded, like family." That was all I needed to hear to have faith and trust in him. I already knew his professional expertise and world renowned qualifications.
    Oct 26, 2023
    Could not be happier with the fine physicians and sincere care about my health care. .
    Oct 22, 2023
    Incredibly personal and capable
    Oct 22, 2023
    UC bureaucracy is byzantine. Recommending UC services would come with clear warnings about the challenges of scheduling.
    Oct 22, 2023
    Excellent care
    Oct 12, 2023
    Thank you very much for making my doctor's visit a positive one. Good job to whoever hired the amazing staff
    Oct 12, 2023
    Dr. Chi is very knowledgable and his experience is appreciated. He informed me of what was happening during the procedure using the TV screen and pointing out the anatomy and areas affected. He efficiently summarized the 3 options for proposed treatments then provided them in writing in MyChart. I feel that I have enough information to make a decision on how to move forward.
    Oct 08, 2023
    Contact with care provider was state of the art
    Oct 07, 2023
    Dr. Chi is excellent.
    Sep 23, 2023
    Dr. Chi is terrific. He just has lots of patients
    Sep 21, 2023
    My urology team directed by Dr Chi are courteous, caring's and knowledgeable. There's no better healthcare.
    Sep 14, 2023
    Excellent doc!
    Sep 10, 2023
    Dr. Chi is very smart and personable, and explains each procedure step by step.
    Sep 09, 2023
    Dr Chen was very nice and made sure I was comfortable. Explained each step as he completed my proceedure
    Sep 07, 2023
    Appreciate Dr Chi knowledge and skills as a surgeon
    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 achieve 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
    My care provider presented as warm, easy to talk to, and very knowledgeable.
    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 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.

    Selected research

    See all research
    Decorative Caduceus

    Preoperative Prophylactic Antibiotic Duration in Moderate to High Risk Ureteroscopy

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

    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

    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

    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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