Cindy Chang, MD

Title(s)Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address1500 Owens St., #200
San Francisco CA 94158
Phone415-885-3807
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0001-6694-6577 Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    The Ohio State University, Columbus, OhioBachelor of Science1984Zoology
    The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OhioDoctorate of Medicine1989Medicine
    University of Cincinnati, Department of Family Medicine, Cincinnati, OhioInternship 1990Family Medicine
    University of California at Los Angeles Division of Family Medicine, Los AngelesResidency1992Family Medicine
    The Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine, Columbus, OhioFellowship1993Primary Care Sports Medicine
    University of California, San Francisco, CA2019Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    The American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation1988Scholarship in Clinical Nutrition
    AOA/The Ohio State University College of Medicine1989Alpha Omega Alpha, National Honor Society in Medicine, Gamma Chapter
    Ohio Academy of Family Physicians1989The Thomas E. Rardin, M.D. Award
    American Academy of Family Physicians and Mead Johnson1991AAFP/Mead Johnson Award for Graduate Medical Education in Family Practice, Alternate Winner
    University of California, Berkeley, University Health Services1996Distinguished Service Award
    American College of Sports Medicine1999Fellow (FACSM)
    University of California, Berkeley, University Health Services1999Distinguished Service Award
    American Medical Society for Sports Medicine2003Founders Award (presented annually to individual, group, or organization who exemplifies the best we
    United States Sports Academy2013Dr. Ernst Jokl Sports Medicine Award (given annually for contributions to the growth and development
    National Athletic Trainers’ Association 2016Jack Weakley Award of Distinction (honors one individual each year for a lifetime of outstanding con
    American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Foundation2016Humanitarian Service Grant (stipend to support humanitarian/sports medicine initiative in underserve
    Korey Stringer Institute2018Lifesaving Education Award
    San Francisco Magazine2018Top Doctors List 2018 Sports Medicine, Dr. Cindy J. Chang
    University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg2019Honorary Senior Research Appointment. WITS Institute for Sport and Health (WISH), Faculty of Health
    American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM)2019Fellow of American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Designation (FAMSSM)
    San Francisco Magazine2019Best Doctors List 2019 Sport Medicine, Dr. Cindy J. Chang
    San Francisco Magazine2020Best Doctors List 2020 Sport Medicine, Dr. Cindy J. Chang

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    Dr. Cindy Chang, MD, is a specialist in primary care sports medicine, with almost 3 decades of experience caring for athletes of all ages and levels, from archery and aquatic sports to wrestling and wheelchair basketball. She was the head team physician at the University of California, Berkeley for all 27 intercollegiate sports, including football, for 13 years. She also served as chief medical officer for Team USA during the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and 2012 London Olympics. Dr. Chang assisted in setting up the medical clinics and providing care in the WNBA COVID "Wubble" in July of 2020.

    As a lifelong competitive athlete, Chang has dealt with multiple injuries of her own, and this personal experience informs her empathetic, individualized approach. She has been a youth sports coach, and her children have played a variety of sports at all levels of competition, with one having played professional soccer in the United States and France.

    Chang enjoys educating her patients about their injuries, sharing findings from examinations and imaging studies, and involving them on decisions regarding appropriate treatment options. She provides referrals to her orthopedic surgeon colleagues or other subspecialists as needed, and also places an emphasis on how to prevent future injury and illness.

    Chang sees athletes of all ages at the UCSF Berkeley OutPatient Center (BOPC) and the Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopaedic Institute at Mission Bay. She sees solely youth athletes at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes, where she is co-director of the Sports Concussion Program. She also sees UC Berkeley students at the Univerisity Health Services.

    Chang's passion lies in education, and she is Program Director of UCSF's Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. Her clinical research interests focuses on improving health and safety for athletes ranging from schoolchildren to adults, including college athletes and competitors in the Olympics and Paralympics. In addition, she serves on the board of Racing Hearts, a non-profit that works to place automated external defibrillators in schools. As an advocate for a myriad of health and safety-related topics, Chang meets with legislators locally and in Sacramento on the importance of supporting California athletic trainers by licensing their profession.

    Chang earned her medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine. She then completed a residency in family medicine at the UCLA Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

    Chang is a past president of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, has served on the board of trustees for the American College of Sports Medicine and chairs the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the California Interscholastic Federation. She also has served on the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations. Chang provides sports medicine coverage at various sporting events in the community, and continues to volunteer as a team physician for UC Berkeley, Berkeley High School, and select USA national teams.
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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Initial Assessment and Management of Select Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Team Physician Consensus Statement. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2024 Mar 01; 23(3):86-104. Herring SA, Kibler WB, Putukian M, Boyajian-O'Neill LA, Chang CJ, Franks RR, Hutchinson M, Indelicato PA, O'Connor FG, Powell A, Roach R, Safran M, Statuta SM, Sutton K. PMID: 38437494.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    2. Preferences of U.S. Veterans Making and Receiving Caring Cards: A Peer Approach to Recovery-Oriented Suicide Prevention. Pract Innov (Wash D C). 2024; 9(1):77-85. Chalker SA, Pozun CT, Chang CJ, Ehret BC, Treichler EBH. PMID: 38586162; PMCID: PMC10996750.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    3. Initial Assessment and Management of Select Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Team Physician Consensus Statement. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024 Mar 01; 56(3):385-401. Herring SA, Kibler WB, Putukian M, Boyajian-O'Neill LA, Chang CJ, Franks RR, Hutchinson M, Indelicato PA, O'Connor FG, Powell A, Roach R, Safran M, Statuta SM, Sutton K. PMID: 37847756.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Nutritional Strategies for Endurance Cyclists - Periodized Nutrition, Ketogenic Diets, and Other Considerations. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2023 Jul 01; 22(7):248-254. Wei RJ, Orbeta L, Hatamiya NS, Chang CJ. PMID: 37417661.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    5. Sexual identity and race/ethnicity as predictors of treatment outcome and retention in dialectical behavior therapy. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023 Oct; 91(10):614-621. Chang CJ, Halvorson MA, Lehavot K, Simpson TL, Harned MS. PMID: 37261739; PMCID: PMC10526887.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. A disproportionate burden: Prevalence of trauma and mental health difficulties among sexual minority versus heterosexual U.S. military veterans. J Psychiatr Res. 2023 05; 161:477-482. Chang CJ, Fischer IC, Depp CA, Norman SB, Livingston NA, Pietrzak RH. PMID: 37086703.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Testing the interpersonal theory of suicide in a sample of sexual minority young adults: Attention to within-group differences. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2023 06; 53(3):415-425. Chang CJ, Dorrell KD, Feinstein BA, Depp CA, Ehret BC, Selby EA. PMID: 36897041.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Use of the Heterosexist Harassment, Rejection, and Discrimination Scale With Different Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Racial/Ethnic Groups: An Examination of Measurement Invariance. Assessment. 2023 12; 30(8):2605-2615. Feinstein BA, Khan A, Chang CJ, Miller SA. PMID: 36859779.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Aspects of positive identity buffer the longitudinal associations between discrimination and suicidal ideation among bi+ young adults. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023 May; 91(5):313-322. Katz BW, Chang CJ, Dorrell KD, Selby EA, Feinstein BA. PMID: 36729515; PMCID: PMC10198870.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Measurement invariance of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) across sexual orientation, gender identity, and race/ethnicity in a sample of sexual minority young adults. Psychol Assess. 2022 Oct; 34(10):978-984. Feinstein BA, Christophe NK, Chang CJ, Silvia PJ, Starr LR, Stein GL, Vrshek-Schallhorn S. PMID: 35925739.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. PrEP Stigma and logistical barriers remain significant challenges in curtailing HIV transmission among Black and Hispanic/Latinx cisgender sexual minority men and transgender women in the US. AIDS Care. 2022 11; 34(11):1465-1472. Watson RJ, Chang CJ, Feinstein BA, Moody RL, Caba A, Eaton LA. PMID: 35848490; PMCID: PMC9842805.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    12. Willingness to Prescribe PrEP to Bisexual Men Depends on Genders of Their Past Partners: A Study of Medical Students in the USA. Arch Sex Behav. 2022 07; 51(5):2535-2547. Feinstein BA, Chang CJ, Bunting SR, Bahrke J, Hazra A, Garber SS. PMID: 35689147.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Age Differences in the Associations Between Outness and Suicidality Among LGBTQ+ Youth. Arch Suicide Res. 2023 Apr-Jun; 27(2):734-748. Feinstein BA, Mereish EH, Mamey MR, Chang CJ, Goldbach JT. PMID: 35506502; PMCID: PMC9719400.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. ACSM-AMSSM Call to Action: Adapting Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2022 May 01; 21(5):159-162. Baggish AL, Chang CJ, Drezner JA, Harmon KG, Kraus WE, Matuszak J, Wasfy MM. PMID: 35522440.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    15. Application of minority stress and the interpersonal theory of suicide in bisexual+ versus gay/lesbian young adults. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2022 08; 52(4):725-739. Chang CJ, Feinstein BA, Chu BC, Selby EA. PMID: 35347743.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Optimizing Health and Athletic Performance for Women. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2022 Feb; 15(1):10-20. de Borja C, Chang CJ, Watkins R, Senter C. PMID: 35023069; PMCID: PMC8804053.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5  
    17. Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship opportunities for Pediatrics-trained physicians in the United States. Phys Sportsmed. 2021 Oct 28; 1-9. Ramirez FD, Chang CJ, Watkins RA, Senter C, de Borja C. PMID: 34674595.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    18. The interplay of familial warmth and LGBTQ+ specific family rejection on LGBTQ+ adolescents' self-esteem. J Adolesc. 2021 12; 93:40-52. Meanley S, Flores DD, Listerud L, Chang CJ, Feinstein BA, Watson RJ. PMID: 34655855.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. A longitudinal examination of the interpersonal theory of suicide for predicting suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ youth who utilize crisis services: The moderating effect of gender. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2021 10; 51(5):1015-1025. Chang CJ, Feinstein BA, Fulginiti A, Dyar C, Selby EA, Goldbach JT. PMID: 34156125; PMCID: PMC8551000.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. The roles of discrimination and social support in the associations between outness and mental health outcomes among sexual minorities. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2021; 91(5):607-616. Chang CJ, Kellerman JK, Fehling KB, Feinstein BA, Selby EA. PMID: 34081498.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Laparoscopic Treatment of Slipping Rib Syndrome in Pediatric Patients. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2020 Nov; 30(11):1253-1256. Squillaro AI, Sanders K, Onwubiko C, Chang CJ, Kim S. PMID: 32955995.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Returning Athletes Back to High School Sports in the COVID-19 Era: Preparing for the Fall. Sports Health. 2020 Nov/Dec; 12(6):518-520. Asif IM, Chang CJ, Diamond AB, Raukar N, Zaremski JL. PMID: 32816648; PMCID: PMC7785895.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    23. Managing Medications in the Training Room and on the Sidelines. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020 Jul; 19(7):249-250. Young CC, Higgs JD, Chang CJ. PMID: 32692059.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Sexual Violence in Sport: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. Clin J Sport Med. 2020 07; 30(4):291-292. Koontz JS, Mountjoy M, Abbott KE, Aron CM, Basile KC, Carlson CT, Chang CJ, Diamond AB, Dugan SA, Hainline B, Herring SA, Hopkins E, Joy EA, Judge JP, LaBotz M, Matuszak J, McDavis CJ, Myers RA, Nattiv A, Tanji JL, Wagner J, Roberts WO. PMID: 32516236.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Sexual violence in sport: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Feb; 55(3):132-134. Koontz JS, Mountjoy M, Abbott KE, Aron CM, Basile KC, Carlson CT, Chang CJ, Diamond AB, Dugan SA, Hainline B, Herring SA, Hopkins BE, Joy EA, Judge JP, LaBotz M, Matuszak J, McDavis CJ, Myers RA, Nattiv A, Tanji JL, Wagner J, Roberts WO. PMID: 32554408.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Sexual Violence in Sport: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. Sports Health. 2020 Jul/Aug; 12(4):352-354. AMSSM Sexual Violence in Sport Task Force, Koontz JS, Mountjoy M, Abbott KE, Aron CM, Basile KC, Carlson CT, Chang CJ, Diamond AB, Dugan SA, Hainline B, Herring SA, Hopkins BE, Joy EA, Judge JP, LaBotz M, Matuszak J, McDavis CJ, Myers RA, Nattiv A, Tanji JL, Wagner J, Roberts WO. PMID: 32510278; PMCID: PMC7787563.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Sexual Violence in Sport: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020 Jun; 19(6):232-234. Koontz JS, Mountjoy M, Abbott KE, Aron CM, Basile KC, Carlson CT, Chang CJ, Diamond AB, Dugan SA, Hainline B, Herring SA, Hopkins E, Joy EA, Judge JP, LaBotz M, Matuszak J, McDavis CJ, Myers RA, Nattiv A, Tanji JL, Wagner J, Roberts WO. PMID: 32516194.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement: Mental Health Issues and Psychological Factors in Athletes: Detection, Management, Effect on Performance, and Prevention-Executive Summary. Clin J Sport Med. 2020 03; 30(2):91-95. Chang CJ, Putukian M, Aerni G, Diamond AB, Hong ES, Ingram YM, Reardon CL, Wolanin AT. PMID: 32000168.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. Mental Health Issues and Psychological Factors in Athletes: Detection, Management, Effect on Performance, and Prevention: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. Clin J Sport Med. 2020 03; 30(2):e61-e87. Chang CJ, Putukian M, Aerni G, Diamond AB, Hong ES, Ingram YM, Reardon CL, Wolanin AT. PMID: 32000169.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Mental health issues and psychological factors in athletes: detection, management, effect on performance and prevention: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement-Executive Summary. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Feb; 54(4):216-220. Chang C, Putukian M, Aerni G, Diamond A, Hong G, Ingram Y, Reardon CL, Wolanin A. PMID: 31810972.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 34     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Inter-Association Consensus Statement: The Management of Medications by the Sports Medicine Team. J Athl Train. 2018 11; 53(11):1103-1112. Chang CJ, Weston T, Higgs JD, Ohkubo M, Sauls A, Tedeschi F, White M, Young CC. PMID: 30525936; PMCID: PMC6333221.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
    32. Cardiovascular screening of Paralympic athletes reported by chief medical officers of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jan; 53(1):43-44. Toresdahl BG, Blauwet C, Chang CJ, Ling DI, Asif IM. PMID: 30219800.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    33. The First Decade of Web-Based Sports Injury Surveillance: Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in US High School Boys' Soccer (2005-2006 Through 2013-2014) and National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer (2004-2005 Through 2013-2014). J Athl Train. 2018 Sep; 53(9):893-905. Kerr ZY, Putukian M, Chang CJ, DiStefano LJ, Currie DW, Pierpoint LA, Knowles SB, Wasserman EB, Dompier TP, Comstock RD, Marshall SW. PMID: 30372638; PMCID: PMC6208297.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. The First Decade of Web-Based Sports Injury Surveillance: Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in US High School Girls' Soccer (2005-2006 Through 2013-2014) and National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer (2004-2005 Through 2013-2014). J Athl Train. 2018 Sep; 53(9):880-892. DiStefano LJ, Dann CL, Chang CJ, Putukian M, Pierpoint LA, Currie DW, Knowles SB, Wasserman EB, Dompier TP, Comstock RD, Marshall SW, Kerr ZY. PMID: 30372637; PMCID: PMC6208306.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Cardiovascular screening of Olympic athletes reported by chief medical officers of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Sep; 52(17):1097-1100. Toresdahl BG, Asif IM, Rodeo SA, Ling DI, Chang CJ. PMID: 29794086.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. The last Summer Olympics? Climate change, health, and work outdoors. Lancet. 2016 Aug 13; 388(10045):642-4. Smith KR, Woodward A, Lemke B, Otto M, Chang CJ, Mance AA, Balmes J, Kjellstrom T. PMID: 27533426.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Care of the endurance athlete: promotion, perception, performance and professionalism. Br J Sports Med. 2011 Nov; 45(14):1083-4. Asplund C, Chang CJ. PMID: 22084824.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Sideline evaluation and management of acute hip trauma in a collegiate athlete. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2008 Sep-Oct; 7(5):281-3. Callahan W, Chang CJ. PMID: 18772688.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    39. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in athletes. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2006 Sep; 5(5):254-7. Saxena A, Chang CJ, Wang S. PMID: 16934207.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Treating and avoiding herpes and tinea infections in contact sports. Phys Sportsmed. 2004 Oct; 32(10):43-4. Landry GL, Chang CJ, Mees PD. PMID: 20086383.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    41. Herpes and tinea in wrestling: managing outbreaks, knowing when to disqualify. Phys Sportsmed. 2004 Oct; 32(10):34-41. Landry GL, Chang CJ. PMID: 20086382.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    
    42. Subtalar dislocation in a female gymnast. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003 Oct; 2(5):265-6. Yi S, Chang CJ. PMID: 12959707.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. Two unusual cases of acetabular fractures sustained during sports. Clin J Sport Med. 2002 Mar; 12(2):127-9. Moazzaz P, Chang CJ. PMID: 11953561.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
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