Louise Aronson

MD MFA

Geriatrician
Author of <em>Elderhood</em> and other books

Dr. Louise Aronson is a geriatrician and founder of the optimizing aging practice at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, where she cares for older adults.

Aronson's research interests include geriatrics education, reflective learning (which in medicine emphasizes learning from experience to improve care), health advocacy and medical writing for the public.

Aronson earned her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. At UCSF, she completed a residency in internal medicine as well as a clinician-educator fellowship and a geriatrics fellowship. She later earned a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing at Warren Wilson College.

Aronson teaches at UCSF and serves as director of UCSF's programs in health humanities and social advocacy She has received numerous accolades, including the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Professorship for Humanism in Medicine and the American Geriatrics Society's Outstanding Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year Award. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life. Her writing credits include the New York Times, Atlantic, Washington Post, JAMA, Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine, and she has been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" and "Morning Edition," CNBC, "TODAY," "CBS This Morning," Politico, Kaiser Health News and "Tech Nation," and in the New Yorker.

  • Education

    Harvard Medical School, 1992

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, 1995

  • Fellowships

    UCSF Medical Center, Geriatric Medicine, 1998

  • Board Certifications

    Geriatric Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor Emeritus

  • Languages

    French

    Spanish

I am excited to expand UCSF's care of older adults at the Osher Center, where we focus on well-being along with disease management.

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    5.0

    Overall Experience
    44 Ratings
    About our process
    Dec 13, 2024
    Dr. Aronson is the most extraordinary doctor. She listens acutely and sensitively to everything I say and then counsels and advises with the most targeted, insightful, helpful and valuable advice and insight. She is a marvel.
    Nov 17, 2024
    I appreciate the depth of knowledge and the responses to my questions and concerns. The Doctors took the time to explain treatments. I look forward to continuing a course of care with your specialists.
    Nov 15, 2024
    I waited since last May so I was thrilled to be seen.Wonderful insight, empathy, knowledge.
    Oct 11, 2024
    Dr. Louise Aronson was superior In her medical expertise and in her communication with me. She seems like an Exceptionally kind, caring person in addition to her notable achievements in her medical field.
    Aug 10, 2024
    Dr Aronson is absolutely wonderful. She is a great listener and was very tuned in to my needs. She is also a wealth of information. I feel that I am very much included in determining my care and making the choices of how to proceed and what to do to solve my problems.
    Jun 17, 2023
    It has been a privilege to be a patient of Dr. Aronson
    Jun 10, 2023
    Grateful for seeing Dr. Louise Aronson. She's over the moon terrific. Thank you.
    Jun 09, 2023
    Great doctor
    Jun 07, 2023
    One of the most outstanding interactions with a doctor I have ever had!
    Jun 06, 2023
    Dr. Aronson is excellent in every way! She may be the best physician I have had. She listens carefully, considers seriously the problems I presented, is empathetic and highly intelligent
    May 17, 2023
    Dr Louise Aronson is first rate! She is intelligent, empathetic, kind, listens attentively and is generally concerned about her patient's wellbeing. She is both personable and professional, a rare combination
    May 17, 2023
    A very thorough and hopeful experience
    May 16, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a wonderful doctor! I hope UCSF can hire more like her!
    May 09, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a fabulous doctor who listens, questions us about many topics and offers great solutions.
    May 03, 2023
    Excellent visit
    Apr 07, 2023
    Excellent visit. All my questions answered and clear advice given.
    Mar 15, 2023
    Dr. Aronson is a compassionate, skilled gerontologist.
    Mar 14, 2023
    Dr Aronson is a great listener and took time to illicit my health related concerns and address them. She is outstanding in the care she delivers.
    Mar 14, 2023
    Louise Aronson is the very best!!!!!
    Mar 02, 2023
    Excellent care.

    Selected research

    See all research

    My work

    Elderly driving: How to talk to your loved ones about handing over the keys

    Dr. Aronson discusses the risks and nuances of when to stop driving.

    Watch the story on CBS

    A doctor speaks out about ageism in medicine

    Dr. Aronson discusses her book, why she prefers the term "elderhood and how to push back against ageism in medicine.

    Read the story on Kaiser Health News

    I’m a geriatrician. There’s no clear age that is 'too old' to be president.

    Dr. Aronson talks about how individual the aging process is, and how there's no one-size-fits-all cutoff age for jobs.

    Read the story in the Washington Post

    Contact me

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