Dan Wheeler, MD

Associate Professor

Dan Wheeler is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF, Senior Associate Program Director for the UCSF Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Assistant Chief of the Medical Service at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

As Senior APD, he leads the program’s mentoring and advising efforts, directs professional development for the program’s chief residents, and oversees career mentorship for residents pursuing hospital medicine. He is passionate about clinical teaching, creating supportive clinical learning environments, and mentoring trainees and faculty alike. His contributions to education leadership were recognized with induction into UCSF’s Academy of Medical Educators in 2021.

At the San Francisco VA, Dan serves as Assistant Chief of Medicine, helping oversee clinical operations across the Medical Service and directing the SFVA-SFGH Joint Medical Grand Rounds. Clinically, he practices as a hospitalist on the VA inpatient services and in the Veterans' Integrated Perioperative (VIP) Clinic.

Prior to his return to UCSF, Dan served as Curriculum Committee Chair for the University of Minnesota Internal Medicine Residency Program, where he was named Faculty Teacher of the Year in 2018.

Dan earned his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his residency and chief residency at UCSF.
Education
2019 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Chief Residency, 2016 - Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Residency, 2015 - Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
M.D., 2012 - , University of Minnesota Medical School
B.A., 2007 - American Studies, Amherst College
Honors and Awards
  • Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, University of California, San Francisco, 2021
  • Faculty Teacher of the Year, University of Minnesota, internal medicine residency program, 2018
  • Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 2014
  • Dr. James Rubin Memorial Fund Award, University of Minnesota Medical School, 2012
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, University of Minnesota Medical School, 2011
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society, University of Minnesota Medical School, 2011
Publications
  1. Bernal J, Cresalia N, Fuller J, Gin B, Laves E, Lupton K, Malkina A, Marmor A, Wheeler D, Williams M, van Schaik S. Comprehensive Assessment of Clinical Learning Environments to Drive Improvement: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Program. Teaching and learning in medicine 2022. PMID: 36001491


  2. Lessing JN, Wheeler DJ, Beaman J, Diaz MJ, Dhaliwal G. How to facilitate an unscripted morning report case conference. 2019. PMID: 31749299


  3. Wheeler DJ, Zapata J, Davis D, Chou C. Twelve tips for responding to microaggressions and overt discrimination: When the patient offends the learner. Medical teacher 2018. PMID: 30277121


  4. Wheeler DJ, Cascino T, Sharpe BA, Connor DM. When the Script Doesn't Fit: An Exercise in Clinical Reasoning. Journal of general internal medicine 2017. PMID: 28337688


  5. Wheeler DJ, Mihara K, Chiovaro J. Seeing Wisely. Volume 32 of Issue 2. Journal of general internal medicine 2017. PMID: 27896695


  6. Makaroun LK, Bowman C, Duan K, Handley N, Wheeler DJ, Pierluissi E, Chen AH. Specialty Care Access in the Safety Net-the Role of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2017. PMID: 28239019


  7. Wheeler D, Marcus P, Nguyen J, Kwong A, Khaki AR, Valencia V, Moriates C. Evaluation of a Resident-Led Project to Decrease Phlebotomy Rates in the Hospital: Think Twice, Stick Once. Volume 176 of Issue 5. JAMA internal medicine 2016. PMID: 27043912


  8. Wheeler DJ, Freeman AL, Ellingson AM, Nuckley DJ, Buckley JM, Scheer JK, Crawford NR, Bechtold JE. Inter-laboratory variability in in vitro spinal segment flexibility testing. Volume 44 of Issue 13. 2011. PMID: 21764061


  9. Wheeler DJ, Garabekyan T, Lugo R, Buckley JM, Jones C, Lotz M, Lotz JC, Ma CB. Biomechanical comparison of transosseous versus suture anchor repair of the subscapularis tendon. Volume 26 of Issue 4. 2010. PMID: 20362822