Frances Tao, MD, MPH

Dr. Frances Tao is a primary care sports medicine physician who practices in San Luis Obispo. She is board certified in family medicine and sports medicine. She sees patients of all ages, and has a focus on treating non-operative musculoskeletal conditions. Her professional interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound, ultrasound-guided procedures, orthobiologics, medical education, preventive medicine, public/ global health, and health equity. She is a strong advocate for her community, and believes in shared decision-making with her patients and families.

Dr. Tao received her medical degree from UC Riverside School of Medicine where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honors Society. She then completed her family medicine residency at UCLA. There, she led the wellness committee. Subsequently, she completed a fellowship in primary care psychiatry through UC Irvine, as well as a fellowship in primary care sports medicine through UC San Francisco. She previously served as head team physician for Lowell High School, assistant team physician for UC Berkeley‘s NCAA Division I sports, and assistant team physician for a professional soccer team— the Oakland Roots. Dr. Tao received her undergraduate degrees from UC San Diego, and obtained a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard.

Over the years, Dr. Tao has delivered multiple presentations and served on numerous leadership roles regionally, at the state level, as well as on the national level. In these capacities, she has continued to contribute to medical education, and helped to update concussion and mental health guidelines. Her most recent research interests include social determinants of health, platelet rich plasma, and running related injury among adolescents.

Dr. Tao was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, working out, traveling, sharing meals with loved ones, and spending time with her family.