SAN FRANCISCO (May14, 2025) — The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has appointed Dr. Patricia Zheng as the new chief of its Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service, a cornerstone of patient care within the department. She succeeds Dr. Lisa Pascual, a widely respected physician and educator who is retiring after more than 30 years of service to UCSF and the San Francisco community.
Dr. Zheng, a board-certified physiatrist and associate professor, specializes in nonoperative treatments for spine disorders. She is known for her expertise in diagnostic procedures and image-guided interventions to relieve chronic back, neck, and joint pain, as well as her award-winning research on identifying factors associated with chronic low back pain and developing tools to estimate an individual’s likelihood of experiencing various outcomes or responding to treatments.
“Dr. Zheng is an outstanding clinician, educator and researcher,” said Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Her leadership reflects the direction PM&R is going—innovative, patient-centered and deeply collaborative.”
Originally from South Pasadena, Calif., Dr. Zheng earned undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering and biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her medical degree from UCSF and completed residency and fellowship training at Stanford University, where she served as chief resident. She is fluent in Mandarin and has long been an advocate for equitable access to care.
The PM&R service at UCSF provides multidisciplinary care to adults and children with a wide range of physical impairments, including neurologic, musculoskeletal and traumatic injuries. Often referred to as physiatrists, PM&R physicians lead interdisciplinary teams of therapists, orthotists, prosthetists and other specialists to help patients achieve the highest level of independence possible through rehabilitation and assistive technologies to improve quality of life.
“Effective rehabilitation can be the difference between surviving and thriving,” said Dr. Ma. “Dr. Zheng leads a team that is dedicated to helping people do just that.”
Dr. Lisa Pascual
A Legacy of Compassionate Leadership
Dr. Zheng’s appointment marks the end of an era shaped by the leadership of Dr. Lisa Pascual, a professor of PM&R who has spent her career advancing rehabilitation care across the Bay Area.
During her tenure, Dr. Pascual helped establish PM&R as a critical component of interdisciplinary care at UCSF. She was instrumental in expanding services to traditionally underserved communities and mentoring generations of clinicians.
“Dr. Pascual is the heart and soul of PM&R at UCSF,” said Dr. Ma. “Her legacy is rooted in integrity, advocacy and the highest standards of care. Her impact will be felt for years to come—by patients, colleagues, and the city she served so well.”
The UCSF PM&R Service
Physiatrists at UCSF design individualized, comprehensive treatment plans for patients affected by conditions involving the brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, bones and joints. They treat both adults and children through outpatient and inpatient programs across multiple campuses.
Adult services focus on conditions such as nonoperative spine and joint disorders, post-traumatic injuries, strokes, and neuromuscular diseases. Care is provided at UCSF’s Parnassus Heights and Mission Bay campuses, the Orthopaedic Trauma Institute at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and other locations, including Berkeley Outpatient Clinic, UCSF/MarinHealth Clinic and UCSF Redwood Shores Specialty Clinic.
Pediatric rehabilitation services are offered at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland and Mission Bay, where specialists treat children with trauma-related injuries, congenital and acquired neurologic disorders, infections and tumors affecting the musculoskeletal system.
The service also provides advanced electrodiagnostic testing, including electromyography and nerve conduction studies, to support diagnosis and treatment planning for nerve and muscle disorders.
“As Dr. Zheng steps into her new role, she brings a renewed focus on innovation, collaboration, and equity—building on a legacy of compassionate care laid down by her predecessor,” Dr. Ma added.
