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Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Suzanne Kafaja, MD)

(244 Ratings)

Specializes in: Rheumatology (Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases)

MD, UCLA School of Medicine (2001)

Professional interests include: psoriatic arthritis, lung issues, Raynaud's, and more.

200 Medical Plaza Suite 365 UCLA Rheumatology
Los Angeles, CA 90095

(310) 825-2448

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD is a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA specializing in rheumatology (arthritis & autoimmune diseases). She graduated from MD, UCLA School of Medicine in 2001 and has 25 years of experience. Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD is affiliated with UCLA Health, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Westwood 200 Specialty Care.

Office Locations

200 Medical Plaza Suite 365 UCLA Rheumatology
Los Angeles, CA 90095

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200 Medical Plaza Way Suite 365-c Los Angeles Ca
Novato, CA 90095

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Some issues Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD can help you with:

Lung Issues

Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.

Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	65

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	80

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	20
Female	36

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	32
Black	0
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2013

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	21
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	130

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	17
Female	60

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	40
Black	0
Hispanic	18
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	35
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	20

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2014

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	35
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	27
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	187

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	52
Female	170

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	138
Black	0
Hispanic	40
Asian	22
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	90
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	82

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2015

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	25
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	21
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	174

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	14
Female	66

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	52
Black	0
Hispanic	14
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	40
From 75 to 84	20
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2016

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	31
Osteoperosis	23
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated as a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	235
hospital care	102
inpatient care	102

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	29
Female	99

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	74
Black	0
Hispanic	23
Asian	14
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2017

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	30
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	29
Dementia	13
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	225

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	85

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	71
Black	0
Hispanic	18
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	55
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	0
Less than 65	26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2018

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	27
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	21
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated as a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	223
hospital care	37
inpatient care	37

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	89

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	73
Black	0
Hispanic	17
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2019

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	29
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	153

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	71
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	11
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2020

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	34
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	21
Dementia	10
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	198

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	26
Female	84

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	76
Black	0
Hispanic	17
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2021

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	35
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	26
Dementia	12
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	207

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	20
Female	91

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	76
Black	0
Hispanic	15
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	52
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2022

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	47
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated as a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	209
hospital care	86
inpatient care	86

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	20
Female	105

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	81
Black	0
Hispanic	16
Asian	15
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2023

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	30
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	30
Dementia	9
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated as a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA during 2024 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	326
hospital care	11
inpatient care	11

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Male	28
Female	132

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	103
Black	0
Hispanic	22
Asian	23
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	48
85 and over	11
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD in 2024

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	38
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated as a rheumatologist in Los Angeles, CA were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	185
hospital care	59
inpatient care	59

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD.

**Gender**
Female	84
Male	22

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	6
Non-Hispanic White	68
Hispanic	17
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	0
75 to 84	19
Less than 65	16
65 to 74	48

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	33
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	14
Osteoporosis	28
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	5
Cancer	4
Dementia	3

Education & Training

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD graduated from MD, UCLA School of Medicine in 2001. She completed residency at Internal Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Internal Medicine GME. She is certified by the Rheumatology, American Board of Internal Medicine and has a state license in California.

Medical School: MD, UCLA School of Medicine (2001)

Residency: Internal Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Internal Medicine GME (2007)

Board Certification: Rheumatology, American Board of Internal Medicine (2020)

Licensed In: California

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Cigna LifeSource, Blue Shield of California, Interplan (a HealthSmart product), MultiPlan, SCAN Health Plan - SCAN Classic II, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare West, TriCare, CIGNA, Vivity (offered by Anthem Blue Cross), Blue Shield 65 Plus, First Health, Prime Health Services, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), UnitedHealthcare, Interlink, Aetna - Institute of Excellence, UFCM Health System, Inc. dba California Foundation Medical Care (CFMC), Blue Shield Exclusive PPO Network, Health Net of California, Oscar EPO - Circle Network, OptumHealth Transplant Centers of Excellence (formerly United Resource Network), LifeTrac, Medicare Advantage and Centivo.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Cigna LifeSource

Blue Shield of California

Interplan (a HealthSmart product)

MultiPlan

SCAN Health Plan - SCAN Classic II

Aetna

UnitedHealthcare West

TriCare

CIGNA

Vivity (offered by Anthem Blue Cross)

Blue Shield 65 Plus

First Health

Prime Health Services

Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)

UnitedHealthcare

Interlink

Aetna - Institute of Excellence

UFCM Health System

Inc. dba California Foundation Medical Care (CFMC)

Blue Shield Exclusive PPO Network

Health Net of California

Oscar EPO - Circle Network

OptumHealth Transplant Centers of Excellence (formerly United Resource Network)

LifeTrac

Medicare Advantage

Centivo

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.94 out of 5 stars based on 244 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Los Angeles, CA.

4.94

Overall Rating

(244 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Pfizer Inc.	$60,047 $60,047
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.	$5,995 OPSUMIT $5,995
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$3,287 Adempas $3,287
Roche Products Limited	$2,989 Actemra $1,995	$994
Amgen Inc.	$1,470 Enbrel $111	Prolia $22	$1,338
Other	$2,367 KRYSTEXXA $427	ORENCIA $350	COSENTYX $310	Humira $156	Otezla $140	Other $984

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$67,202
Travel and Lodging	$5,718
Food and Beverage	$3,108
Education	$127

Research Payments

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja, MD has received 218 research payments totaling $1,112,139.

Biography

Dr. Suzanne Kafaja is a board-certified rheumatologist and the Director of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Program at UCLA. She is a highly esteemed physician-scientist who specializes in rheumatology with expertise in scleroderma. She began her journey in the field of science and medicine at UCLA, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology with summa cum laude honors, as well as departmental and college honors. Dr. Kafaja also obtained her medical degree from David Geffen School of…