VA Medical Center

San Francisco VA Health Care System

The San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SFVAHCS) is one of the leading VA academic medical centers. Serving over 300,000 United States veterans from eight counties in Northern California. It conducts cutting-edge research for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gulf War illness, epilepsy, depression, and other conditions associated with nerve loss in the brain.

Visit the Radiology imaging specialty care at San Francisco VA Health Care System website

Location/Address

4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
(SFVAMC buildings map - pdf)

Highlights

  • Among leading VA academic medical centers.
  • Serves over 300,000 United States veterans from eight counties in Northern California.
  • Research for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gulf War illness, epilepsy, depression, and other conditions associated with nerve loss in the brain.

Clinical Services

A broad range of clinical services is offered in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, and nuclear medicine.

Body Imaging

Our group uses ultrasound, CT and MRI to diagnose and treat disorders of the liver, pancreas, colon, uterus, ovaries, prostate, and bladder.

Chest Imaging

We provide a comprehensive evaluation of both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems using advanced imaging modalities:

  • CT angiography (CTA) of the pulmonary arteries and aorta
  • High resolution CT of the lung
  • Imaging of lung cancer including a screening program
  • New technologies for cardiac imaging MRI and coronary CT

Interventional Radiology

The types of disorders we evaluate and treat include primary and metastatic liver cancers, liver or bile duct diseases requiring biliary drainage, peripheral vascular diseases and disorders of circulation. Our physicians recommend appropriate therapies, refer patients for procedures, admit patients to the hospital when necessary, and see the patients for follow-up care. We work collaboratively with our surgical and medical colleagues to ensure that our patients receive the potential benefits of all therapeutic alternatives.

Musculoskeletal Imaging

We offer a full range of musculoskeletal imaging techniques with MRI, CT, and ultrasound. We also provide an array of minimally invasive treatments and diagnostic services including joint and bursal steroid injections, ultrasound-guided barbotage, and CT-guided bone biopsies.

Our expert musculoskeletal radiologist is experienced and dedicated to safely performing procedures with patient comfort in mind. We work closely with our colleagues in orthopedics, rheumatology, and endocrinology to provide expert imaging interpretations so that our veterans receive first-class care. 

Neuroradiology

State-of-the-art imaging of the head and neck is offered with CT, MRI, and molecular modalities such as PET. The group has expertise in the full array of neurologic disease, including brain tumors, stroke and other vascular disorders, spine disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain malformations.

Neuroendovascular Surgery

Neuroendovascular surgery is a subspecialty of the UCSF Department of Radiology where world-renowned physicians develop and perfect new techniques to treat stroke, brain tumors, cerebral aneurysm and other life threatening conditions of the central nervous system through endovascular approaches.

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine helps doctors to determine the causes of a medical problem based on functional information about tissues organs or bones (via for example a nuclear medicine bone scan). We provide expert diagnosis and treatment including:

  • Bones
  • Brain
  • Benign and malignant tumors
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Heart and vascular diseases
  • Lungs
  • Renal

Research

Patients in the VA system enjoy consistent long-term coverage, and understand the value of participating in longitudinal studies that help clinicians monitor their health status. As the largest integrated health care system in the US, the VA system affords unparalleled opportunities to assemble large patient databases that permit an analysis of the drivers of disease and the response to therapies.

The San Francisco VA has substantial imaging infrastructure in place to support advanced imaging programs. This includes: 3T and 7T MRI scanners that are dedicated for research; clinical 3T and 1.5T MRI scanners; PET-CT; state-of-the-art CT scanners; and US scanners.

Robust research programs exist throughout the San Francisco VA with strong collaborative opportunities across the UCSF community. Developed teams have been established for the study of neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease (vascular and neuro surgery; cardiology and cardiac surgery); musculoskeletal disease (orthopedic surgery, endocrinology); and big data (epidemiology). Scientists at the VA are eligible to apply for research support from unique VA funding sources.

Broader opportunities exist for interactions with UC Berkeley, principally through the Bioengineering Graduate Group, and with the Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

Education

Our radiologists all have UCSF faculty appointments and are dedicated to providing top-notch education to our trainees. Radiology residents and fellows from UCSF rotate through the clinical services at the VA on a monthly basis. Residents from other services, including internal medicine and podiatry, also rotate through radiology to gain clinically applicable knowledge in radiology.

In addition to informal teaching at the workstation, we provide weekly onsite lectures by our specialist radiologists. 

How to get here

Address

4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121

Public Transportation

The SFVAMC is served by the 38 Geary/Ft. Miley MUNI bus line (make sure the destination sign includes "Fort Miley"). The Medical Center is at the end of the 38 Geary/Ft. Miley route.

Shuttle Service

A shuttle service is available from the UCSF Parnassus Campus. More information, including a schedule, is available on the UCSF Campus Life Services web site.

Parking

Public parking is located in front of Building 1, off of 42nd Avenue.

Staff

  • Shannondor Marquez (Business Manager)
  • Jack Liberati (Chief Technologist)

Our Team

Assistant Professor
Asst Professor in Residence
Professor
Division Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Professor Clinical Radiology
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor in Res
Professor
Director of Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Disease
Director
Professor
Associate Director Clinical Scientists T32 Training Program
Lead of Chemistry, Probes, and Molecular Therapy (CPMT)
Professor in Residence