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Michael W. Rabow

MD

Palliative care physician
Committed to walking 8,000 steps daily

Dr. Michael Rabow is an internist who provides palliative care, treating hospitalized patients with life-altering or terminal illnesses. He is director of the Symptom Management Service at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate director of the UCSF Palliative Care Leadership Center.

Rabow's research is in the areas of palliative care, family members as caregivers and education on end-of-life care.

Rabow earned his medical degree at UCSF, where he completed a residency in general internal medicine. He completed fellowships at UCSF in internal medicine and medical education research.

Rabow has served as a consultant to hospitals and hospital systems to develop or expand palliative care services. He was the executive producer of The Caregivers, a documentary about four families caring for loved ones with brain tumors. The film has been used to educate doctors, nurses and other health care professionals about the needs of family caregivers. In addition, he runs one of the country's leading consultation services for patients receiving palliative care at home.

Rabow is a fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. At the Institute for the Study of Health & Illness at Commonweal, a nonprofit institute in Bolinas, California, he serves as director of the Center for the Study of the Healer's Art.

  • Education

    UCSF School of Medicine, 1993

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, Primary Care Internal Medicine, 1996

  • Fellowships

    UCSF Medical Center, Internal Medicine, 1997

  • Board Certifications

    Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

    Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor

I am humbled every day by the bravery and resilience of my patients and their loved ones.

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    44 Ratings
    About our process
    Sep 17, 2024
    Kind, approachable, compassionate, collaborative.
    Aug 30, 2024
    Dr. Rabow was typically friendly, engaged, accessible, attentive, curious, and pointedly informed me and offered suggestions and advice that are helpful, usable and attainable. I am fortunate and grateful to have him.
    Aug 01, 2024
    Would have liked him to tell me how often does he meet with patient.
    Jun 15, 2024
    Dr Rabow is kind, compassionate, and collaborative. I appreciate the option of a virtual visit especially when seeing a provider at Mission Bay. The length of travel across town to is very inconvenient for me.
    Nov 20, 2023
    Compassionate, caring listener. Very easy to talk to.
    Oct 18, 2023
    Very approachable, collaborative and friendly.
    Sep 20, 2023
    Dr Rabow was kind, considerate and collaborative.
    Nov 16, 2022
    Care provider did not seem able to hear me by not incorporating what I had said into his comments. Care provider expressed warranted frustration in an impatient and disrespectful way. Empathy seemed nonexistent.

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