Alisa Gean-Gersch, MD
Clinical Professor
Radiology
School of Medicine

alisa.gean@ucsf.edu 415-425-4900

Alisa D. Gean, MD is a Professor Emerita of Neuroradiology and Adjunct Professor Emerita of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Gean obtained both her BS and MD degrees at Stanford University. Following medical school, she did an Internship in Internal Medicine at San Francisco Children’s Hospital, now called California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC).

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She then moved to Boston where she completed a 4-year Residency program in Diagnostic Radiology and a 2-year Fellowship in Neuroradiology, both at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Gean joined the faculty at UCSF in 1989 as the Chief of Neuroradiology at San Francisco General Hospital. Her primary professional interest is in the field of central nervous system trauma. She also has devoted special attention to the areas of stroke and HIV disease. The sheer volume of patients, extremes of illness, and the unique circumstances of the vulnerable patient population presenting to San Francisco General Hospital have provided her with a wealth of experience and expertise in central nervous system injury and disease. Dr. Gean lectures nationally and internationally on the topic of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and she is a founding member of the Brain and Spine Injury Center (“BASIC”) at UCSF. She has written extensively on the topic of TBI, and is the sole author of the internationally recognized textbook, “Imaging of Head Trauma”. She has consulted with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Defense, and the National Football League on the topic of head injury.

A senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology, Dr. Gean obtained her Certification of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in 1996 and was recertified in 2006. Dr. Gean served as a National Medical Board Examiner for the American Board of Radiology for both the certification of trainees at the Board examination level as well as for post-fellowship certification at the CAQ level. Dr. Gean has previously held positions as a San Francisco mayoral delegate to the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, and she continues to volunteer as a neuroradiology consultant to the Asia/Pacific Rim. She has delivered over 200 national and international invited lectures, written 4 books, 24 book chapters, and over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and scientific abstracts. Dr. Gean's editorial activities have included JAMA, American Journal of Neuroradiology, Radiology, Journal of Trauma, Journal of Neurotrauma, Annals of Neurology, Journal of Neuro-AIDS, and the Journal of Computed Assisted Tomography.

In 2008, Dr. Gean volunteered her clinical expertise at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to study combat TBI suffered in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Through this experience, she has devoted her recent academic pursuits to understanding the similarities and differences between civilian brain injury and that suffered in combat, terrorism, and natural disasters. In recognition of that work, Dr. Gean finished another single-authored textbook titled “Brain Injury: Applications from War and Terrorism”.

Expertise: Neuroradiology

Specialty: Brain and spine trauma, central nervous system trauma

Professional Interests: Craniospinal trauma, maxillofacial and orbital trauma, non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, HIV/AIDS, neuro imaging, MR imaging, traumatic brain injury, central nervous system stroke, enology (viticulture and viniculture)

Education and Training:

  • Undergraduate Degree; Biochemistry, Stanford University
  • Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine, California
  • Internship: Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, California - Medicine
  • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston - Radiology
  • Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston - Neuroradiology
  • Diplomat, National Board of Medical Examiners (1984)
  • Diplomat, American Board of Radiology (1987)
  • American Society of Neuroradiology, Junior Member (1988)
  • American Society of Neuroradiology, Senior Member (1989)
  • California State Medical Licensure (1989-Present)
  • United States Drug Enforcement Licensure (1989-Present)
  • X-Ray Supervisor and Operator License (1989)
  • Re-certification (CAQ) in Neuroradiology, American Board of Radiology (2008)
  • Certified Specialist in Wine (CSW), Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers), Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma Candidate, Italian Wine Scholar (IWS), French Wine Scholar (FWS), California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS)

Awards

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  • Leadership Recognition Award, Radiology Society of North America, 2011
  • Mayoral Delegate for City of San Francisco for 30th Anniversary, Shanghai-SF Sister City Relationship, 2010
  • RSNA Leadership Recognition Award, Radiological Society of North America, 2005-2009
  • Lecture Grant for Traumatic Brain Injury, National Institute for Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 2004
  • RSNA Leadership Recognition Award, Radiological Society of North America, 2004
  • RSNA Leadership Recognition Award, Radiological Society of North America, 2003
  • Lecture Grant for Traumatic Brain Injury, National Institute for Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 2002
  • Annual Patrick Dolan Lecturer, Indiana University, 2000
  • Annual Juan M. Taveras Lecturer, Harvard Medical School, 1998
  • Department Achievement Award in Teaching, San Francisco General Hospital, 1992
  • Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, University of California, San Francisco Department of Radiology, 1991

Education & Training

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  • Certified Sommelier, WSET Diploma Candidate, French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar, CSW Enology San Francisco Wine School, Court of Master Sommeliers, Napa Valley College 95-2000
  • Residency/Fellowship Neuroradiology Harvard Medical School 1989
  • M.D. School of Medicine Stanford Medical School 1983
  • BS Biochemistry Stanford University
  • Faculty Neuroradiology University of California, San Francisco

Interests

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  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Craniospinal trauma
  • Enology
  • Central Nervous System stroke
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Non-traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Neuroimaging
  • Maxillofacial and Orbital Trauma

Websites

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Publications (34)

Top publication keywords:
Diagnostic ImagingMagnetic Resonance ImagingTomography, X-Ray ComputedHydrocephalusThoracic DiseasesCraniocerebral TraumaHematoma, SubduralAthletic InjuriesCerebral HemorrhageCerebral AngiographyBrain InjuriesVitreous HemorrhageIntracranial Hemorrhage, TraumaticSubarachnoid HemorrhageHematoma, Epidural, Cranial

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