Associate Professor

Dr. Kara Bischoff is the Associate Division Chief for Outpatient Palliative Care and the Medical Director of UCSF's Outpatient Palliative Care Service. She provides palliative care to people with a range of serious illnesses, including neurologic diseases, chronic lung diseases, and cancer. She sees patients in clinic and by video.

Dr. Bischoff has particular expertise in palliative care for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She conducts research in this area and leads a national Palliative Care for ALS Working Group. Additionally, Dr. Bischoff is seeking to ensure that people of all demographic groups have equal access to palliative care. Further, she teaches medical students, residents, and fellows. She has been recognized nationally as an Emerging Leader in Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Bischoff received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, followed by a residency and chief residency at UCSF in Internal Medicine, and a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, also at UCSF. She is an active member of The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the International Neuropalliative Care Society. She is a mother, an outdoor enthusiast, and a Bay Area native.
Education
2018 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Chief Residency, 2014 - , University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship, 2014 - , University of California, San Francisco
Residency, 2012 - , University of California, San Francisco
Internship, 2010 - , University of California, San Francisco
MD, 2009 - , Harvard Medical School
BA, 2004 - , Stanford University
Honors and Awards
  • Quality of Care Research Award: Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), ALS Association, 2024
  • Emerging Leader in Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2024
  • Highest Rated Improvement Initiative for Embedded Palliative Care in ALS, UCSF Health Improvement Symposium, 2021
  • Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, 2020
  • Top Doctors Award for Recognition of Excellence, Marin Magazine, 2019
  • Outstanding Achievement of Reducing Unnecessary Utilization, UCSF Value Improvement, 2019
  • Best Commitment to Patient Satisfaction, UCSF Value Improvement, 2018
  • Outstanding Resident Teaching Award, UCSF, 2017
  • Grant Awardee, Stupski Foundation, 2016
  • Case Presentation Poster Award, AAHPM, 2014
  • Quality Week Celebration Award, UCSF, 2014
  • Paper of the Month, Cicely Saunders Institute, 2013
  • Chief Residency, UCSF, 2012-2013
  • Quality and Safety Innovation Challenge Award, UCSF, 2012
  • Distinguished Professor of Geriatrics Award, Society of General Internal Medicine, 2011
  • Thayer Award, Harvard Medical School, 2009
  • First Place Clinical Science Oral Presentation, AMA Student Research Forum, 2008
  • Firestone Award for Excellence in Research, Stanford University, 2004
Publications

  1. Deng LX, Catalli L, Miller S, Sherman C, Lai JC, Bischoff KE. Palliative Care Co-management at a Liver Transplant Center: A Mixed Methods Study. 2026. PMID: 42209921


  2. Grouls A, Leavell YL, Mehta AK, Kojimoto G, O'Riordan DL, Maiser S, Kluger BM, Pantilat SZ, Bischoff KE. Embedding Palliative Care Clinicians in ALS Teams Improves ALS Clinicians' Confidence in Their Patient Management and Satisfaction With Palliative Care. 2026. PMID: 42174751


  3. Pantilat SZ, Bischoff KE, Fazzalaro K, Root MC, Bogetz JF, Thienprayoon R, Bullock K, Meier DE, Rodgers P, Wang DH, Thaxton C, Kamal AH, Postier AC, Clapham S, Aldridge MD, Marks A, Bragg A, Lindvall C, Nicolla J, Currow D, O'Riordan DL. If You Want to Go Far, Go Together: Lessons Learned from Quality Improvement Collaboratives in Palliative Care. 2026. PMID: 41954014


  4. Mehta AK, Kojimoto G, O'Riordan DL, Leavell YL, Maiser S, Grouls A, Smith AK, Pantilat SZ, Kluger BM, Bischoff KE. Patients' and Caregivers' Perceptions of Specialty Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multicenter Evaluation. 2025. PMID: 40827427


  5. Bischoff KE, Kojimoto G, O'Riordan DL, Leavell YL, Maiser S, Grouls A, Smith AK, Pantilat SZ, Kluger BM, Mehta AK. Strengths and Opportunities: Clinicians' Perspectives on Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in the United States. 2025. PMID: 40501419


  6. Melo V, Vanegas G, O'Riordan DL, Kuruvilla P, Pantilat SZ, Rabow M, Chen LM, Bischoff KE. A population health approach to assessing for and addressing palliative care needs in outpatients with advanced gynecologic malignancies. 2025. PMID: 40479982


  7. Rennels CF, Rosow L, Pantilat S, Bell BK, Lomen-Hoerth C, Cohen E, Bischoff KE. Characteristics and Motivations of People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Who Pursue Medical Aid in Dying in California. 2025. PMID: 40321197


  8. Suen AO, Bischoff K, Iyer AS, Radhakrishnan K, Fenton C, Singer JP, Sudore RL, Kotwal A, Farrand E. Differences in Healthcare and Palliative Care Utilization at the End of Life: a Comparison Study Between Lung Cancer, COPD, and IPF. 2024. PMID: 39186972


  9. Bischoff KE, Liera D, Tang J, Madugala N, Cohen E, Galea MD, Lindenberger E, Pantilat SZ, Lomen-Hoerth C. Development and Piloting of a Bereaved Care Partner Survey to Inform Quality Improvement in ALS Supportive Care. 2024. PMID: 39111585


  10. Bischoff KE, Patel K, Boscardin WJ, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Smith AK. Prognoses Associated With Palliative Performance Scale Scores in Modern Palliative Care Practice. 2024. PMID: 38976269


  11. Calton BA, Nouri S, Davila C, Kotwal A, Zapata C, Bischoff KE. Strategies to Make Telemedicine a Friend, Not a Foe, in the Provision of Accessible and Equitable Cancer Care. 2023. PMID: 37958296


  12. Tsang M, Bischoff KE, Schoenbeck KL, Berry K, O'Riordan D, Fakhri B, Wong SW, Shah N, Olin RL, Andreadis C, Vieaux J, Cohen E, Shepard Lopez N, Mannis GN, Rabow M. Value of embedded palliative care: outpatient palliative care and healthcare utilization for hematologic malignancies. 2023. PMID: 36809787


  13. Bischoff KE, Vanegas G, O'Riordan DL, Sumser B, Long J, Lin J, Berkey AR, Kobayashi E, Zapata C, Rabow MW, Pantilat SZ. A Systematic Approach to Assessing and Addressing Palliative Care Needs in an Outpatient Population. 2023. PMID: 37380147


  14. Digitale JC, Nouri SS, Cohen EL, Calton BA, Rabow MW, Pantilat SZ, Bischoff KE. Differential Use of Outpatient Palliative Care by Demographic and Clinical Characteristics. 2023. PMID: 37084827


  15. Leiter RE, Bischoff KE, Carey EC, Gelfand SL, Iyer AS, Jain N, Kramer NM, Lally K, Landzberg MJ, Lever N, Newport K, O'Donnell A, Patel A, Sciacca KR, Snaman JM, Tulsky JA, Rosa WE, Lakin JR. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Delivering Specialty-Aligned Palliative Care. 2023. PMID: 37001173


  16. Zapata CB, Dionne-Odom JN, Harris HA, Kalanithi L, Lin J, Bischoff K, Fazzalaro K, Pantilat SZ. Honoring What We Say We Do: Developing Real-World Tools for Routine Family Caregiver Assessment and Support in Outpatient Palliative Care. 2023. PMID: 36608316


  17. Rohlfing AB, Bischoff KE, Kolaitis NA, Kronmal RA, Kime NA, Gray MP, Bartolome S, Chakinala MM, Frantz RP, Ventetuolo CE, Mathai SC, De Marco T, PHAR investigators. Palliative care referrals in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry. 2022. PMID: 36470050


  18. Bischoff KE, Lin J, Cohen E, O'Riordan DL, Meister S, Zapata C, Sicotte J, Lindenfeld P, Calton B, Pantilat SZ. Outpatient Palliative Care for Noncancer Illnesses: One Program's Experience with Implementation, Impact, and Lessons Learned. 2022. PMID: 35442773


  19. Bischoff KE, Lin J, Cohen E, O’Riordan D, Meister S, Zapata C, Lindenfeld P, Calton B, Pantilat SZ.. Outpatient Palliative Care for Non-Cancer Illnesses: One Program’s Experience with Implementation, Impact & Lessons Learned 2022. PMID:


  20. Fahrner-Scott K, Zapata C, O'Riordan DL, Cohen E, Rosow L, Pantilat SZ, Lomen-Hoerth C, Bischoff KE. Embedded Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Program and Lessons Learned. 2022. PMID: 36157626


  21. Deng LX, Bischoff KE, Kent DS, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Lai JC. Frailty is strongly associated with self-reported symptom burden among patients with cirrhosis. 2021. PMID: 33731588


  22. Deng LX, Kent DS, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Lai JC, Bischoff KE. Symptom Burden Is Associated with Increased Emergency Department Utilization among Patients with Cirrhosis. 2021. PMID: 34348042


  23. Fahrner-Scott K, Zapata C, O’Riordan DL, Cohen E, Rosow L, Pantilat SZ, Lomen-Hoerth C, Bischoff KE.. Embedded Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Program and Lessons Learned 2021. PMID:


  24. Bischoff KE, Choi S, Su A, Cohen E, O'Riordan DL, Oettel E, Blachman M, Meister S, Zapata C, Lindenfeld P, Calton B, Witt L, Pantilat SZ, Shah RJ. Better Together: A Mixed-Methods Study of Palliative Care Co-Management for Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease. 2021. PMID: 34115958


  25. Calton B, Shibley WP, Cohen E, Pantilat SZ, Rabow MW, O'Riordan DL, Bischoff KE. Patient and Caregiver Experience with Outpatient Palliative Care Telemedicine Visits. 2020. PMID: 34223495


  26. Smith GM, Calton BA, Rabow MW, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL. Comparing the Palliative Care Needs of Patients Seen by Specialty Palliative Care Teams at Home Versus in Clinic. 2020. PMID: 33246071


  27. Calton BA, Bischoff K, Pantilat SZ. "I Just Need to Hold His Hand": Telemedicine Is Powerful, But Not Perfect. 2020. PMID: 33147095


  28. Bischoff KE, Zapata C, Sedki S, Ursem C, O'Riordan DL, England AE, Thompson N, Alfaro A, Rabow MW, Atreya CE. Embedded palliative care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a mixed-methods pilot study. 2020. PMID: 32285263


  29. Liu AY, O'Riordan DL, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Pantilat SZ. A Comparison of Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure and Cancer Referred to Palliative Care. 2020. PMID: 32101304


  30. Schoenherr LA, Bischoff KE, Marks AK, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Trends in Hospital-Based Specialty Palliative Care in the United States From 2013 to 2017. 2019. PMID: 31808926


  31. Ufere NN, O'Riordan DL, Bischoff KE, Marks AK, Eneanya N, Chung RT, Jackson V, Pantilat SZ, El-Jawahri A. Outcomes of Palliative Care Consultations for Hospitalized Patients With Liver Disease. 2019. PMID: 31326503


  32. Bischoff K, Yang E, Kojimoto G, Shepard Lopez N, Holland S, Calton B, Adkins SH, Cheng S, Miller BJ, Rabow MW. What We Do: Key Activities of an Outpatient Palliative Care Team at an Academic Cancer Center. 2018. PMID: 29431580


  33. Bischoff K, O'Riordan DL, Marks AK, Sudore R, Pantilat SZ. Care Planning for Inpatients Referred for Palliative Care Consultation. 2018. PMID: 29159371


  34. Bischoff KE, O'Riordan DL, Fazzalaro K, Kinderman A, Pantilat SZ. Identifying Opportunities to Improve Pain Among Patients With Serious Illness. 2017. PMID: 29030211


  35. Bischoff K, Anderson W, Pantilat SZ. A Video Is Worth a Thousand Words. 2017. PMID: 28914286


  36. Pantilat SZ, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Bragg AR, O'Riordan DL. The Palliative Care Quality Network: Improving the Quality of Caring. 2017. PMID: 28384070


  37. Kamal AH, Harrison KL, Bakitas M, Dionne-Odom JN, Zubkoff L, Akyar I, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Bragg AR, Bischoff KE, Bull J. Improving the Quality of Palliative Care Through National and Regional Collaboration Efforts. 2015. PMID: 26678966


  38. Rabow MW, Dahlin C, Calton B, Bischoff K, Ritchie C. New Frontiers in Outpatient Palliative Care for Patients With Cancer. 2015. PMID: 26678973


  39. Bischoff K, Currow DC, Corvera C, Pantilat SZ.. Unanswered Questions in Malignant Bowel Obstruction 2014. PMID:


  40. Bischoff K, Shah SM, Dhaliwal G, Hollander H. A heart-breaking case of fever and rash. 2014. PMID: 24687288


  41. Bischoff KE. Response letter to Thomas Finucane, MD. 2013. PMID: 24219220


  44. Bischoff KE, Sudore R, Miao Y, Boscardin WJ, Smith AK. Advance care planning and the quality of end-of-life care in older adults. 2013. PMID: 23350921


  45. Ajijola OA, Macklin EA, Moore SA, McCarty D, Bischoff KE, Heist EK, Picard M, Ruskin JN, Dec GW, Singh JP. Inpatient vs. elective outpatient cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation and long-term clinical outcome. 2010. PMID: 20852289


  47. Gottlieb D, Schwartz ML, Bischoff K, Gauvreau K, Mayer JE. Predictors of outcome of arterial switch operation for complex D-transposition. 2008. PMID: 18442569


  48. Bischoff K, López C, Shaffer K, Schwaitzberg S. Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Abdominal Wall Cellulitis 2008. PMID: