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Dr. Samuel J. Pleasure is a neurologist who specializes in caring for patients with multiple sclerosis. He also has expertise in caring for patients with epilepsy as well as years of experience in managing a variety of neurological conditions in both clinic and hospital settings.

Pleasure has two main areas of inquiry for his research. He studies processes that regulate early brain development in both normal and diseased situations. He also studies autoimmune forms of meningoencephalitis, where inflammation in specific brain areas causes severe neurologic dysfunction.

Pleasure received his medical degree and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. He was chief resident during his neurology residency at UCSF, where he then completed a research fellowship in neuroscience.

Pleasure is a fellow of the American Neurological Association and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Developmental Biology and Cajal Club. He has won numerous awards for his research and has received research funding from a wide variety of private, state and federal sources. He has served in leadership roles in national organizations and in the UCSF Department of Neurology.

Pleasure is the Glenn W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Chair in Neurology at UCSF.

  • Board Certifications

    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology, 1999

  • Residencies

    UCSF, 1997

  • Internship

    Penn Medicine, 1994

  • Education

    University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 1993

  • Languages

    English

I'm excited by continuing to better understand brain development and causes of neurologic inflammation.

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    43 Ratings
    About our process
    Mar 14, 2025
    My doctor was generous with his time and gave me the respect I deserved
    Feb 13, 2025
    Top notch in knowledge, trust, communication, and engagement. Very fortunate to have as part of my team.
    Jan 11, 2025
    Dr. Pleasure is the best doctor I always feel happy to see him and his care is amazing. He always explains everything well.
    Jan 09, 2025
    The Dr. And his team are very knowledgeable and patient they listen to all my concerns weather they be kigutamite or myths and leasure me of the good things happening in the reasurch
    Nov 07, 2024
    Excellent experience. Very knowledgeable of course, but also kind and compassionate.
    Jun 13, 2024
    Dr. Pleasure was very wonderful and engaging. I felt heard.
    May 19, 2024
    Dr. Pleasure is a great doctor. He listens and than explains new medications. He answers questions that I have
    Apr 13, 2024
    Dr. Pleasure exceeded my and my wife's expectations. My wife accompanied me since this was a life changing situation. But Dr. Pleasure answered all my questions and also answered any questions/concerns raised by her, it was fantastic!
    Aug 24, 2023
    Dr was very thorough, knew my previous history well, and explained things clearly to me. He's one of the best doctors I've seen at UCSF
    Jul 13, 2023
    Doctor was very patient and talked in terms that I understood.
    Jul 06, 2023
    All excellent

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