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Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases

Accepting New Patients
(Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MDCM, FRCPC)
Specializes in: Infectious Disease and General Practice
Professional interests include: anal cancer
1600 Divisadero Street Floor 3
San Francisco, CA 94143

Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases is an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA specializing in infectious disease and general practice. Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases is affiliated with UCSF Health, UCSF and Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research and Education (ANCRE) Center.

View Doctor's Full Profile (415) 353-7100

Office Locations

1600 Divisadero Street Floor 3
San Francisco, CA 94143
open_in_new
1600 Divisadero Street Third Floor UCSF Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research and Education (ANC...
San Francisco, CA 94115
open_in_new

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“In the randomized phase III trial of more than 4,500 individuals with anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), nine of those assigned to treatment with office-based electrocautery...”—"Early Anal Lesion Treatment Cuts Cancer Risk in People With HIV", MedPage Today, June 2022
“In the study involving nearly 4,500 individuals with anal HSIL detected by screening, nine of those assigned to aggressive therapy -- mostly office-based electrocautery -- went on to develop anal...”—"Ablating High-Grade Anal Lesions Thwarts Progression to Cancer", MedPage Today, February 2022
“"We don t want to spend a lot of testing resources, and create a lot of anxiety, in low-risk groups of women," said senior author Joel M. Palefsky, an infectious disease physician and anal cancer...”—"Anal cancer is on the rise, especially in women. Should they be screened?", Chicago Tribune, May 2019

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Volume:

diagnostic procedures

In 2013, Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases performed more diagnostic procedures procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of providers in related specialties within California.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2013 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 32
gastrointestinal procedures 32
minimally invasive procedures 32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2013

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2013 were depression, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Hypertension 44
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 44
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2014 were gastrointestinal procedures, minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and removal of lesion (e.g. growth).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 25
diagnostic procedures 35
excision 25
gastrointestinal procedures 60
minimally invasive procedures 35
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 25

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 35
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2014

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2014 were hypertension, high cholesterol and depression.

Hypertension 43
High Cholesterol 37
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 35
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2015 were removal of lesion (e.g. growth), anorectal procedures, gastrointestinal procedures and excision.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 14
excision 14
gastrointestinal procedures 14
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 14

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 60
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 60

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2015

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2015 were high cholesterol, hypertension and depression.

Hypertension 43
High Cholesterol 48
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2016 were gastrointestinal procedures, removal of lesion (e.g. growth), anorectal procedures and excision.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 44
diagnostic procedures 35
excision 44
gastrointestinal procedures 79
minimally invasive procedures 35
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 44

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 35
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2016

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2016 were high cholesterol, hypertension and depression.

Hypertension 44
High Cholesterol 48
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2017 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 27
gastrointestinal procedures 27
minimally invasive procedures 27

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 32
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2017

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2017 were high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 39
High Cholesterol 43
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 27
Depression 32
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2018 were gastrointestinal procedures, minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and removal of lesion (e.g. growth).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 12
diagnostic procedures 35
excision 12
gastrointestinal procedures 47
minimally invasive procedures 35
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 12

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 40
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2018 were high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 50
High Cholesterol 54
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2019 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 38
gastrointestinal procedures 38
minimally invasive procedures 38

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 40
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2019 were high cholesterol, hypertension and depression.

Hypertension 53
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 43
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2020 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 20
gastrointestinal procedures 20
minimally invasive procedures 20

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2020 were high cholesterol, depression, hypertension and diabetes.

Hypertension 33
High Cholesterol 58
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 40
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 26
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2021 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 28
gastrointestinal procedures 28
minimally invasive procedures 28

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Age
From 65 to 74 18
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2021 were high cholesterol, hypertension and depression.

Hypertension 49
High Cholesterol 59
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2022 were gastrointestinal procedures, minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and removal of lesion (e.g. growth).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 15
diagnostic procedures 34
excision 15
gastrointestinal procedures 49
minimally invasive procedures 34
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 15

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Age
From 65 to 74 24
From 75 to 84 12
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension and depression.

Hypertension 65
High Cholesterol 67
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 24
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA during 2023 were minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 27
gastrointestinal procedures 27
minimally invasive procedures 27

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 42
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 27
From 75 to 84 13
85 and over 0
Less than 65 14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated during 2023 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension 56
High Cholesterol 67
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated as an infectious disease doctor in San Francisco, CA were gastrointestinal procedures, minimally invasive procedures, diagnostic procedures and removal of lesion (e.g. growth).

anorectal procedures 22
diagnostic procedures 31
excision 22
gastrointestinal procedures 38
minimally invasive procedures 31
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 22

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases.

Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 25
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 2
85 and over 0
Less than 65 21
65 to 74 6

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases From 2013 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 47
High Cholesterol 53
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 6
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 4
Asthma 0
Osteoporosis 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 2
Atrial Fibrillation 0
Cancer 0
Dementia 0

Education & Training

He completed residency at McGill University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine and has a state license in California.

Residency: McGill University Affiliated Hospitals (1985)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (1984)

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UCSF Health
UCSF
Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research and Education (ANCRE) Center

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 27 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases from all over the web to help you find the right in San Francisco, CA. 

5
Overall Rating
Leave a Review
Reviews From Around The Web
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-07-31
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Dr. Palefsky is compassionate, caring, & truly extraordinary in his competence
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-02-04
Patient verified via Press Ganey
I respect and love.My doctor..

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation $35,714 GARDASIL
$20,079 		NON-PRODUCT
$7,863 		GARDASIL9
$174
$7,598
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC $21,388 GARDASIL 9
$10,501
$10,887
QIAGEN Sciences, LLC $7,221
$7,221
Roche Diagnostics Corporation $5,905 CINtec PLUS Cytology
$4,700
$1,205
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. $3,783
$3,783
Other $7,250 Aptima
$2,105 		CINtec PLUS Cytology
$1,445 		GI Solutions
$1,200
$2,500
Types of Payments
Travel and Lodging $45,908
Consulting Fee $19,298
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program $13,330
Food and Beverage $2,725

Research Payments

Dr. Joel M. Palefsky, MD, Infectious Diseases has received 48 research payments totaling $988,494.

Biography

Dr. Joel Palefsky's specialties are infectious disease and general practice. Dr. Palefsky trained at a hospital affiliated with McGill University for his residency. His clinical interests encompass anal cancer. Patients rated him highly, giving him an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). He is professionally affiliated with UCSF Health. Dr. Palefsky has an open panel in San Francisco, CA according to Doctor.com.

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