
Overview
Dr. Joel Palefsky is an expert in infectious diseases and cancers associated with these diseases. He is an internationally recognized expert on the biology, treatment, progression and history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the anus and genitals, particularly in the setting of HIV infection. He directs the UCSF Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research and Education (ANCRE) Center, the world's first clinic devoted to anal cancer prevention. Palefsky's research focuses on the biology and treatment of anal cancer. He is vice chair of the AIDS Malignancy Consortium, a research group supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that investigates new treatments for AIDS-related cancers, and chair of the Anal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) Study, a multisite NCI study examining whether treating anal cancer precursor lesions prevents the development of anal cancer and seeking to identify biomarkers of cancer progression. Palefsky earned his medical degree at McGill University and completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at Stanford University. Palefsky is founder and past president of the International Anal Neoplasia Society. He is also past president of the International Papillomavirus Society and founder and chairperson of its international campaign for HPV awareness.
Dr. Palefsky is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Human Papillomavirus Infection, HIV/AIDS, Kaposi Sarcoma, AIDS Dysmorphic Syndrome, and Endoscopy.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 218 peer reviewed articles and participating in 6 clinical trials. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Graduate Institution
Residency
Specialties
Licenses
Board Certifications
Fellowships
Hospital Affiliations
Languages Spoken
Gender
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
Locations
1600 Divisadero St., Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115
Additional Areas of Focus
Dr. Palefsky has provided the following conditions as areas of focus. Please note that we may not have enough data to validate their experience in some of these conditions.
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
6 Clinical Trials
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Angelle Labeaud is an Infectious Disease provider in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Labeaud is highly rated in 18 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, Arbovirosis, Dengue Fever, and Togaviridae Disease.
University Of California San Francisco
Diane Havlir is an Infectious Disease provider in San Francisco, California. Dr. Havlir is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Sepsis, and COVID-19.
University Of California San Francisco
Michael Peluso is an Infectious Disease provider in San Francisco, California. Dr. Peluso is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Long Haul COVID, HIV/AIDS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Joel M. Palefsky
How do I make an appointment with Dr. Joel M. Palefsky?
You can book an appointment with Dr. Joel M. Palefsky by calling their office at 415-353-7100. MediFind provides direct contact information so you can schedule visits, second opinions, or consultations without navigating third-party calendars.
Is Dr. Joel M. Palefsky a top-rated expert for Human Papillomavirus Infection?
MediFind is an objective health platform that identifies experts based on real-world data. Dr. Joel M. Palefsky is classified as an Elite expert for Human Papillomavirus Infection, meaning they are among the top experts in the country for this condition. This ranking is based on their volume of patients, published research, and peer connections.
What conditions does Dr. Joel M. Palefsky specialize in?
While Dr. Joel M. Palefsky is a Infectious Disease, they have specific expertise in Human Papillomavirus Infection, HIV/AIDS, and Kaposi Sarcoma. MediFind analyzes a doctor's articles and referral patterns to identify their specific areas of focus within Infectious Disease.
Does Dr. Joel M. Palefsky participate in research or clinical trials?
Yes. Dr. Joel M. Palefsky has published 218 articles and abstracts on conditions like Human Papillomavirus Infection. You can view a list of Dr. Joel M. Palefsky's latest peer-reviewed publications and clinical trial participation on their profile to see if they are active in new treatments.
Does Dr. Joel M. Palefsky accept my insurance?
Dr. Joel M. Palefsky accepts most major insurance plans, including Anthem BCBS and Cigna. We recommend calling the office directly at 415-353-7100 to verify that your specific plan is currently accepted before your visit.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Elite
- Human Papillomavirus InfectionDr. Palefsky isElite. Learn about Human Papillomavirus Infection.
- Distinguished
- HIV/AIDSDr. Palefsky isDistinguished. Learn about HIV/AIDS.
- Experienced
- AIDS Dementia ComplexDr. Palefsky isExperienced. Learn about AIDS Dementia Complex.
- AIDS Dysmorphic SyndromeDr. Palefsky isExperienced. Learn about AIDS Dysmorphic Syndrome.
- EndoscopyDr. Palefsky isExperienced. Learn about Endoscopy.
- Kaposi SarcomaDr. Palefsky isExperienced. Learn about Kaposi Sarcoma.
- MyelitisDr. Palefsky isExperienced. Learn about Myelitis.

