Dr. Stephanie W. Cheng

Dr. Stephanie Cheng is a palliative care specialist who provides supportive care for patients with terminal or life-altering illnesses. With a primary focus on managing symptoms for patients with cancer, she also facilitates group medical visits – which can help patients with chronic conditions improve their self-care skills – through the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. She has a special interest in relieving symptoms and improving quality of life through a whole-person approach that considers each patient's physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. Cheng co-created group medical visits that center on teaching patients integrative approaches to treat common cancer-related symptoms. She also co-leads group medical visits focused on self-compassion based on research-informed practices developed by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. A nature and forest therapy guide, she also facilitates virtual forest therapy walks, which are based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku , or forest bathing, and involve therapeutic immersion in nature. Cheng has a long-standing meditation practice and has completed trainings in chaplaincy through the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, mind-body techniques through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and awakening joy practices with meditation teacher James Baraz. She also completed a two-year program focused on illness, aging, death and compassionate action from a contemplative perspective through Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center and Metta Institute. After studying anthropology, Cheng earned her medical degree at Oregon Health & Science University. She completed a residency in family medicine at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (a UCSF affiliate), followed by a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine, with a focus on integrative medicine, at the George Washington University. Cheng is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health. She is passionate about planetary health and serves as a faculty affiliate at the UCSF Center for Climate, Health and Equity. Outside of work, Cheng enjoys spending time with her family and dog, as well as playing the harp.

Dr. Cheng is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, and Oligodendroglioma.

Dr. Cheng is board certified in American Board Of Family Medicine, Family Medicine and American Board Of Family Medicine, Hospice & Palliative Medicine. She is actively involved in clinical research, co-authoring 10 peer reviewed articles and participating in 1 clinical trial. Dr. Cheng is currently accepting new patients.