Dr. Patricia Zheng is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist who cares for patients with neck and back pain. She specializes in using minimally invasive techniques to improve function and decrease pain in patients with spinal disorders.
To detect injuries, Zheng performs electromyography, which measures how muscles respond to nerve signals, and nerve conduction studies, which measure how electrical impulses travel through nerves. She also performs image-guided injections – using X-rays or ultrasound – to alleviate pain and improve quality of life.
Zheng's research focuses on using emerging technologies to optimize and personalize care for patients with arthritic conditions. With the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders, she has received grants to develop mobile applications that collect patient data and facilitate delivery of personalized therapy. Her research has received awards from the National Institutes of Health, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spine Intervention Society and North American Spine Society.
Zheng earned her medical degree from UCSF and completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Stanford University, serving as chief resident. She then completed an interventional spine fellowship, in which she trained in advanced ultrasound- and X-ray-guided procedures, at Stanford.
Zheng grew up in South Pasadena, California. On weekends, she enjoys "van dining" – a way to eat out while social distancing – with her husband and two children on the Peninsula.
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