Sara Buckelew, MD, MPH

Education
2017 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Fellowship, 2007 - Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Master's of Public Health, 2002 - Maternal Child Health, University of California, Berkeley
Residency, 2001 - Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
M.D., 1998 - School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
BA, 1993 - History, Columbia College, Columbia University
Honors and Awards
  • Exceptional Physician Award, UCSF Health, 2020
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2018
  • Coro Faculty Leadership Collaborative, University of California, San Francisco, 2014
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, University of California, San Francisco, 2013
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2012
Websites

  1. Downey AE, Kapphahn CJ, Gorrell S, Vendlinski SS, Cheng J, Le Grange D, Accurso EC, Buckelew SM, Kreiter A, Marsal B, Wright P, Golden NH, Garber AK. The Effect of Preadmission Energy Balance on Short-Term Medical Outcomes: Findings From the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2025. PMID: 39945690


  2. Sinha A, Ozer E, Buckelew S. A Reading Program for Adolescents in a Primary Care Clinic. Pediatrics 2025. PMID: 39900103


  3. Nagata JM, Chaphekar AV, Low P, Vargas R, Ganson KT, Nguyen A, Buckelew SM, Garber AK, Downey AE. Clinical characteristics of hospitalized male adolescents and young adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Journal of eating disorders 2025. PMID: 39780282


  4. Nagata JM, Nguyen A, Vargas R, Downey AE, Chaphekar AV, Ganson KT, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Sex differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk among hospitalized adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. Journal of eating disorders 2024. PMID: 38790035


  5. Nagata JM, Vargas R, Sanders AE, Stuart E, Downey AE, Chaphekar AV, Nguyen A, Ganson KT, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Clinical characteristics of hospitalized male adolescents and young adults with atypical anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders 2024. PMID: 38205657


  6. Garber AK, Cheng J, Accurso EC, Buckelew SM, Downey AE, Le Grange D, Gorrell S, Kapphahn CJ, Kreiter A, Moscicki AB, Golden NH. Short-term outcomes of the study of refeeding to optimize inpatient gains for patients with atypical anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders 2024. PMID: 38179719


  7. Pugatch M, Blum NJ, Barbaresi WJ, Rowe J, Berna M, Hennigan S, Giovanelli A, Penilla C, Tebb KP, Mott M, Kumaran V, Buckelew S, Lester JC, Ozer E. Engagement of adolescents with ADHD in a narrative-centered game-based behavior change environment to reduce alcohol use. Frontiers in Education 2024. PMID: 39868002


  8. Downey AE, Odette M, Sanders AE, Kuykendall M, Saunders E, Nagata JM, Forsberg S, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. What medical providers need to elevate outpatient care for adolescents and young adults with binge-eating disorder: A novel protocol. The International journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 38130097


  9. Nagata JM, Chaphekar AV, Vargas R, Nguyen A, Downey AE, Patel KP, Ganson KT, Stuart E, Vendlinski S, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Sex differences in cholesterol and triglyceride levels among hospitalized adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. The International journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 37864342


  10. Gorrell S, Vendlinski SS, Thompson AS, Downey AE, Kramer R, Hail L, Clifton S, Forsberg S, Reilly EE, Saunders E, Buckelew SM, Le Grange D. Modification of an inpatient medical management protocol for pediatric Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: improving the standard of care. Journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 37737186


  11. Golden NH, Kapphahn CJ, Cheng J, Kreiter A, Downey AE, Accurso EC, Machen VI, Adams SH, Buckelew SM, Moscicki AB, Le Grange D, Garber AK. Course and outcome in individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa: Findings from the Study of Refeeding to Optimize iNpatient Gains (StRONG). The International journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 37507351


  12. Barney A, Mendez-Contreras S, Hills NK, Buckelew SM, Raymond-Flesch M. Telemedicine in an adolescent and young adult medicine clinic: a mixed methods study. BMC health services research 2023. PMID: 37349720


  13. Gorrell S, Downey AE, Saunders E, Accurso EC, Buckelew S, Kreiter A, Le Grange D, Garber AK. Parental self-efficacy: Longitudinal impact on clinical outcomes across levels of care in adolescent anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 37272755


  14. Accurso EC, Cheng J, Machen VI, Buckelew S, Kreiter A, Adams S, Le Grange D, Golden NH, Garber AK. Hospital-based higher calorie refeeding and mealtime distress in adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 36919264


  15. Chaphekar AV, Downey A, Garber AK, Kuykendall M, Bojorquez-Ramirez P, Ganson KT, Buckelew SM, Nagata JM. Eating disorders in sexual minority adolescents and young adults: examining clinical characteristics and psychiatric co-morbidities in an inpatient medical setting. Journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 36855189


  16. Moreno R, Buckelew SM, Accurso EC, Raymond-Flesch M. Disparities in access to eating disorders treatment for publicly-insured youth and youth of color: a retrospective cohort study. Journal of eating disorders 2023. PMID: 36694235


  17. Chaphekar AV, Vance SR, Garber AK, Buckelew S, Ganson KT, Downey A, Nagata JM. Transgender and other gender diverse adolescents with eating disorders requiring medical stabilization. Journal of eating disorders 2022. PMID: 36564815


  18. Nagata JM, Grandis A, Bojorquez-Ramirez P, Nguyen A, Downey AE, Ganson KT, Patel KP, Machen VI, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Assessment of vitamin D among male adolescents and young adults hospitalized with eating disorders. Journal of eating disorders 2022. PMID: 35851069


  19. Downey AE, Cheng J, Adams SH, Buckelew SM, Kapphahn CJ, Machen VI, Rosen EL, Moscicki AB, Golden NH, Garber AK. Renal Function in Patients Hospitalized With Anorexia Nervosa Undergoing Refeeding: Findings From the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains. 2022. PMID: 35705423


  20. Nagata JM, Bojorquez-Ramirez P, Nguyen A, Ganson KT, McDonald CM, Machen VI, Downey A, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Sex differences and associations between zinc deficiency and anemia among hospitalized adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. 2022. PMID: 35624393


  21. Nagata JM, Bojorquez-Ramirez P, Nguyen A, Ganson KT, Machen VI, Cattle CJ, Buckelew SM, Garber AK. Sex differences in refeeding among hospitalized adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. 2021. PMID: 34957571


  22. Forsberg S, Gorrell S, Accurso EC, Trainor C, Garber A, Buckelew S, Le Grange D. Family-based treatment for pediatric eating disorders: Evidence and guidance for delivering integrated interdisciplinary care. Children's health care : journal of the Association for the Care of Children's Health 2021. PMID: 36619528


  23. Ford CA, Bourgeois F, Buckelew SM, Emans SJ, English A, Evans YN, Irwin CE, Richardson LP, Sherer S, Short S, Sieving RE, Simpson T, Tanaka D, White K. Twenty-First Century Cures Act Final Rule and Adolescent Health Care: Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Program Experiences. 2021. PMID: 34666958


  24. Accurso EC, Buckelew SM, Snowden LR. Youth Insured By Medicaid With Restrictive Eating Disorders-Underrecognized and Underresourced. JAMA pediatrics 2021. PMID: 34338735


  25. Vance SR, Dentoni-Lasofsky B, Ozer E, Deutsch MB, Meyers MJ, Buckelew SM. Using Standardized Patients to Augment Communication Skills and Self-Efficacy in Caring for Transgender Youth. Academic pediatrics 2021. PMID: 34022426


  26. Golden NH, Cheng J, Kapphahn CJ, Buckelew SM, Machen VI, Kreiter A, Accurso EC, Adams SH, Le Grange D, Moscicki AB, Sy AF, Wilson L, Garber AK. Higher-Calorie Refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa: 1-Year Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics 2021. PMID: 33753542


  27. Garber AK, Cheng J, Accurso EC, Adams SH, Buckelew SM, Kapphahn CJ, Kreiter A, Le Grange D, Machen VI, Moscicki AB, Sy A, Wilson L, Golden NH. Short-term Outcomes of the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains for Patients With Anorexia Nervosa: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA pediatrics 2021. PMID: 33074282


  28. Barney A, Buckelew S, Mesheriakova V, Raymond-Flesch M. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Rapid Implementation of Adolescent and Young Adult Telemedicine: Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2020. PMID: 32410810


  29. Vance SR, Buckelew SM, Dentoni-Lasofsky B, Ozer E, Deutsch MB, Meyers M. A Pediatric Transgender Medicine Curriculum for Multidisciplinary Trainees. MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources 2020. PMID: 32352033


  30. Nagata JM, Thurston IB, Karazsia BT, Woolridge D, Buckelew SM, Murray SB, Calzo JP. Self-reported eating disorders and sleep disturbances in young adults: a prospective cohort study. Eating and weight disorders : EWD 2020. PMID: 32222955


  31. Garber AK, Cheng J, Accurso EC, Adams SH, Buckelew SM, Kapphahn CJ, Kreiter A, Le Grange D, Machen VI, Moscicki AB, Saffran K, Sy AF, Wilson L, Golden NH. Weight Loss and Illness Severity in Adolescents With Atypical Anorexia Nervosa. Pediatrics 2019. PMID: 31694978


  32. Nagata JM, Garber AK, Buckelew SM. Weight restoration in atypical anorexia nervosa: A clinical conundrum. The International journal of eating disorders 2018. PMID: 30488483


  33. Vance SR, Lasofsky B, Ozer E, Buckelew SM. Teaching paediatric transgender care. The clinical teacher 2018. PMID: 29573566


  34. Nagata JM, Buckelew SM. Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy in the Differential Diagnosis of Eating Disorders. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2017. PMID: 28935389


  35. Vance SR, Deutsch MB, Rosenthal SM, Buckelew SM. Enhancing Pediatric Trainees' and Students' Knowledge in Providing Care to Transgender Youth. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2017. PMID: 28065519


  36. Whittle AE, Buckelew SM, Satterfield JM, Lum PJ, O'Sullivan P. Addressing Adolescent Substance Use: Teaching Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to Residents. Substance abuse 2015. PMID: 25260121


  37. Satterfield JM, Bereknyei S, Hilton JF, Bogetz AL, Blankenburg R, Buckelew SM, Chen HC, Monash B, Ramos JS, Rennke S, Braddock CH. The prevalence of social and behavioral topics and related educational opportunities during attending rounds. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 2014. PMID: 25250747


  38. Forman SF, McKenzie N, Hehn R, Monge MC, Kapphahn CJ, Mammel KA, Callahan ST, Sigel EJ, Bravender T, Romano M, Rome ES, Robinson KA, Fisher M, Malizio JB, Rosen DS, Hergenroeder AC, Buckelew SM, Jay MS, Lindenbaum J, Rickert VI, Garber A, Golden NH, Woods ER. Predictors of outcome at 1 year in adolescents with DSM-5 restrictive eating disorders: report of the national eating disorders quality improvement collaborative. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2014. PMID: 25200345


  39. Garber AK, Mauldin K, Michihata N, Buckelew SM, Shafer MA, Moscicki AB. Higher calorie diets increase rate of weight gain and shorten hospital stay in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2013. PMID: 24054812


  40. Forman SF, Grodin LF, Graham DA, Sylvester CJ, Rosen DS, Kapphahn CJ, Callahan ST, Sigel EJ, Bravender T, Peebles R, Romano M, Rome ES, Fisher M, Malizio JB, Mammel KA, Hergenroeder AC, Buckelew SM, Golden NH, Woods ER, National Eating Disorder QI Collaborative. An eleven site national quality improvement evaluation of adolescent medicine-based eating disorder programs: predictors of weight outcomes at one year and risk adjustment analyses. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2011. PMID: 22098769


  41. Buckelew S, Slivka M, Caglar D, Kwun R, Gupta R, Ros S. Index of suspicion. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome; psoas abscess; hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Pediatrics in review 2010. PMID: 20679101


  42. Buckelew SM, Adams SH, Irwin CE, Gee S, Ozer EM. Increasing clinician self-efficacy for screening and counseling adolescents for risky health behaviors: results of an intervention. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2008. PMID: 18639796


  43. Buckelew SM, Yu J, English A, Brindis CD. Innovations in preventive mental health care services for adolescents. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2008. PMID: 18407048


  44. Buckelew SM, Pierrie H, Chabra A. What fathers need: a countywide assessment of the needs of fathers of young children. Maternal and child health journal 2005. PMID: 16231109