Patrika Tsai, MD

Dr. Patrika M. Tsai is a pediatric gastroenterologist and and professor at UCSF. She has been on faculty since 2007. She is certified by the American Boards of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Physician Nutrition Specialists, and Obesity Medicine. She is director of the pediatric celiac disease clinic and pediatric obesity clinic at UCSF known as the WATCH clinic (Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health).

A native of Chattanooga, TN, she completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Tennessee, she completed a pediatrics internship and residency at Emory University in Atlanta. Through a fellowship at Harvard, Dr. Tsai received training in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Children’s Hospital Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital. She earned her Master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University. Her interests include general pediatric gastroenterology, celiac disease, aerodigestive disorders and childhood obesity. With one in three children and adolescents affected by overweight or obesity, she believes this is one of the most important health challenges facing our nation's youth.
Education
M.D., 2000 - School of Medicine, University of Tennessee
Honors and Awards
  • [415] Top Doctors, Marin Magazine, 2019
  • Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSF, 2013
Websites

  1. Patel-Sanchez N, Perito E, Tsai P, Raymond-Flesch M, Lodish M, Sarkar M. Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased with type 2 diabetes mellitus in overweight/obese youth with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM 2023. PMID: 37060356


  2. Posner A and Tsai PM. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, Ed. Cabana M Malnutrition 2019. PMID:


  3. Tsai P. The vitamin D controversy. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2015. PMID: 25714573


  4. Tsai P. Curbside Obesity Obesity appears to run in families. What genetic factors contribute to the development of obesity? When should I send an overweight child for evaluation for a genetic syndrome? 2014. PMID:


  5. Tsai P. Curbside Obesity What body systems affect the development of obesity? 2014. PMID:


  6. Perito ER, Tsai PM, Hawley S, Lustig RH, Feldstein VA. Targeted hepatic sonography during clinic visits for detection of fatty liver in overweight children: a pilot study. Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 2013. PMID: 23525389


  7. Huang JS, Barlow SE, Quiros-Tejeira RE, Scheimann A, Skelton J, Suskind D, Tsai P, Uko V, Warolin JP, Xanthakos SA, NASPGHAN Obesity Task Force. Childhood obesity for pediatric gastroenterologists. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2013. PMID: 23282941


  8. Tsai PM and Duggan C. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, Eds. Caballero B, Allen L, and Prentice A Malabsorption Syndromes 2013. PMID:


  9. Huang J, Tsai P. Nutrition Toolkit Series: How to Incorporate Pediatric Adolescent Obesity Management into Clinical Practice Nutrition Toolkit Series: How to Incorporate Pediatric Adolescent Obesity Management into Clinical Practice. 2012. PMID:


  10. Courtier JL, Perito ER, Rhee S, Tsai P, Heyman MB, MacKenzie JD. Targeted MRI contrast agents for pediatric hepatobiliary disease. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2012. PMID: 22193178


  11. Russell M, Bredella M, Tsai P, Mendes N, Miller KK, Klibanski A, Misra M. Relative growth hormone deficiency and cortisol excess are associated with increased cardiovascular risk markers in obese adolescent girls. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2009. PMID: 19435823


  12. Misra M, Tsai PM, Mendes N, Miller KK, Klibanski A. Increased carbohydrate induced ghrelin secretion in obese vs. normal-weight adolescent girls. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2009. PMID: 19325538


  13. Misra M, Bredella MA, Tsai P, Mendes N, Miller KK, Klibanski A. Lower growth hormone and higher cortisol are associated with greater visceral adiposity, intramyocellular lipids, and insulin resistance in overweight girls. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism 2008. PMID: 18544645


  14. Misra M, Miller KK, Tsai P, Stewart V, End A, Freed N, Herzog DB, Goldstein M, Riggs S, Klibanski A. Uncoupling of cardiovascular risk markers in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. The Journal of pediatrics 2006. PMID: 17137889


  15. Misra M, Tsai P, Anderson EJ, Hubbard JL, Gallagher K, Soyka LA, Miller KK, Herzog DB, Klibanski A. Nutrient intake in community-dwelling adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa and in healthy adolescents. The American journal of clinical nutrition 2006. PMID: 17023694


  16. Misra M, Prabhakaran R, Miller KK, Tsai P, Lin A, Lee N, Herzog DB, Klibanski A. Role of cortisol in menstrual recovery in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Pediatric research 2006. PMID: 16549537


  17. Misra M, Miller KK, Tsai P, Gallagher K, Lin A, Lee N, Herzog DB, Klibanski A. Elevated peptide YY levels in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2005. PMID: 16278259


  18. Tsai PM and Duggan C. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, Eds. Caballero B, Allen L, and Prentice A Malabsorption Syndromes: Nutritional Management 2005. PMID: