Leslie Suen, MD, MAS

Assistant Professor

Leslie W. Suen, MD, MAS is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the San Francisco General Hospital Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is a primary care and addiction medicine physician–researcher whose work focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating low-barrier, patient-centered models of care for people who use drugs, particularly those who face structural barriers such as homelessness, criminalization, and stigma.

Dr. Suen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended Cornell University for her undergraduate degree in Biological & Environmental Engineering and completed medical school, UC Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency, and research training through the National Clinician Scholars Program at UCSF. She leads a diverse portfolio of NIH-funded research, including a K23 career development award and multiple projects that examine innovative approaches to treating opioid use disorder. Her policy and implementation work includes collaborations with local and state agencies, expanding access to low-barrier treatment, and strengthening addiction treatment capacity across safety-net systems.

Clinically, she practices in adult primary care and in both inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment at San Francisco General Hospital and in the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She is also an affiliate faculty member within the UCSF Pain and Addiction Research Center (PARC), UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI), UCSF Action for Research Center for Health (ARC), the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies (IHPS), and the UCSF Partnerships for Research in Implementation Science for Equity (PRISE) Center.

Education
2022 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, UCSF
2022 - National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) VA Scholar, UCSF
2020 - Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program (StARR), UCSF
2019 - UC Primary Care General Internal Medicine Residency (UCPC), UCSF
M.D., 2016 - Medicine, UCSF
Publications

  1. Krawczyk N, Scott J, Miller M, Coulter A, Ferguson A, Frank D, Jordan A, Joudrey P, Kimmel SD, Levander XA, Potee R, Roberts KE, Russell D, Simon R, Sue KL, Suen LW, Vincent L, Voyles N, Simon C. Envisioning a Humane and Accessible US Methadone Treatment System: Generating Policy and Practice Recommendations From the Liberate Methadone Movement. Substance use & addiction journal 2025. PMID: 41139383


  2. Suen LW, Megerian CE, Browne EN, Chung EO, Akiba CF, Williams J, Humphrey JL, Wenger LD, Ray B, Lambdin BH, Kral AH. Linkage to substance use disorder treatment through syringe services programs and the criminal legal system: A Cross-Sectional Study. American journal of preventive medicine 2025. PMID: 41101402


  3. Suen LW, Rosenwohl-Mack S. Innovative Approaches to Buprenorphine Initiation Amid the Overdose Crisis-Injecting Hope. JAMA network open 2025. PMID: 40815517


  4. Rosenwohl-Mack S, Suen LW, Logan AA, Peterson D, Snyder HR. Outpatient Initiation of 7-Day Injectable Buprenorphine: A Direct-to-Inject Case Series. Substance use & addiction journal 2025. PMID: 40183345


  5. Masson CL, Knight KR, Levine EA, Spillane JA, Liang YCA, Suen LW, Chen MM, Zevin B, Schwartz RP, Coffin PO, Sorensen JL. Barriers to Buprenorphine Treatment Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A Qualitative Study from the Provider Perspective. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 2025. PMID: 40148731


  6. Suen LW, Coffin PO, Boulton KE, Carr DH, Davis CS. Prescribing Psychostimulants for the Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder: Navigating the Federal Legal Landscape. Journal of addiction medicine 2025. PMID: 39846466


  7. Martin M, Baisey T, Skinner S, Ly L, Slown K, Harter K, Nguyen OK, Steiger S, Suen LW. Early Results of Implementing Rapid Methadone Titration for Hospitalized Patients: A Case Series. Journal of general internal medicine 2025. PMID: 39804553


  8. Steiner G, Suen LW, Martin M, Skinner S, Crouch P, Nguyen OK, Slown K, Logan A. Treatment of Inpatient Opioid Withdrawal with Short-Acting Full Agonist Opioids at a Safety-Net Hospital. Journal of general internal medicine 2025. PMID: 39762677


  9. Suen LW, Chiang AY, Jones BLH, Soran CS, Geier M, Snyder HR, Neuhaus J, Myers JJ, Knight KR, Bazazi AR, Coffin PO. Outpatient Low-Dose Initiation of Buprenorphine for People Using Fentanyl. JAMA network open 2025. PMID: 39853975


  10. Incze MA, Simon C, Suen LW. Methadone's Moment. JAMA 2024. PMID: 39418049


  11. Steiger S, McCuistian C, Suen LW, Shapiro B, Tompkins DA, Bazazi AR. Induction to Methadone 80 mg in the First Week of Treatment of Patients Who Use Fentanyl: A Case Series From an Outpatient Opioid Treatment Program. Journal of addiction medicine 2024. PMID: 39150067


  12. Suen LW, Incze M, Simon C, Englander H, Bratberg J, Groves Scott G, Winograd R. Methadone's Resurgence in Bridging the Treatment Gap in the Overdose Crisis: Position Statement of AMERSA, Inc (Association for Multidisciplinary Education, Research, Substance Use, and Addiction). Substance use & addiction journal 2024. PMID: 38804606


  13. Jones BLH, Geier M, Neuhaus J, Coffin PO, Snyder HR, Soran CS, Knight KR, Suen LW. Withdrawal during outpatient low dose buprenorphine initiation in people who use fentanyl: a retrospective cohort study. Harm reduction journal 2024. PMID: 38594721


  14. Wenger LD, Morris T, Knight KR, Megerian CE, Davidson PJ, Suen LW, Majano V, Lambdin BH, Kral AH. Radical hospitality: Innovative programming to build community and meet the needs of people who use drugs at a government-sanctioned overdose prevention site in San Francisco, California. Volume 126. The International journal on drug policy 2024. PMID: 38492432


  15. Duhart Clarke SE, Victor G, Lynch P, Suen LW, Ray B. Cannabis donation as a harm reduction strategy: a case study. Volume 21 of Issue 1. Harm reduction journal 2024. PMID: 38449029


  16. Fraimow-Wong L, Martín M, Thomas L, Giuliano R, Nguyen OK, Knight K, Suen LW. Patient and Staff Perspectives on the Impacts and Challenges of Hospital-Based Harm Reduction. JAMA network open 2024. PMID: 38386317


  17. Haley DF, Agoos ER, Yarbrough CR, Suen LW, Beletsky L. Missed Opportunities: Substance Use Hotline Operator Uncertainty of State Buprenorphine Prescribing via Telemedicine. Volume 18 of Issue 1. Journal of addiction medicine 2023. PMID: 38126704


  18. Coffin PO, Suen LW. Methamphetamine Toxicities and Clinical Management. Volume 2 of Issue 12. NEJM Evidence 2023. PMID: 38320504


  19. Davis J, Bepo L, Suen LW, McLaughlin MM, Adamo M, Abbs E, Lemke G, Azari S. Implementing Heart Plus: Design and Early Results of a Novel Co-Management Clinic for Patients with Stimulant-Associated Cardiomyopathy. Journal of cardiac failure 2023. PMID: 37984791


  20. Ravi A, Vittinghoff E, Wu AHB, Suen LW, Coffin PO, Hsue P, Lynch KL, Win S, Kazi DS, Riley ED. Cocaine Use is Associated With Increased LVMI in Unstably Housed Women With Polysubstance Use. Substance abuse 2023. PMID: 37830512


  21. Suen LW, Steiger S, Shapiro B, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Lambdin BH, Knight KR. "Get in and get out, get on with life": Patient and provider perspectives on methadone van implementation for opioid use disorder treatment. The International journal on drug policy 2023. PMID: 37778132


  22. Davidson PJ, Wenger LD, Morris T, Majano V, Browne EN, Lambdin BH, Suen LW, Kral AH. Impact of a high-volume overdose prevention site on social and drug disorder in surrounding areas in San Francisco. Volume 252. Drug and alcohol dependence 2023. PMID: 37748424


  23. Suen LW, Wenger LD, Morris T, Majano V, Davidson PJ, Browne EN, Ray B, Megerian CE, Lambdin BH, Kral AH. Evaluating oxygen monitoring and administration during overdose responses at a sanctioned overdose prevention site in San Francisco, California: A mixed-methods study. Volume 121. The International journal on drug policy 2023. PMID: 37652815


  24. Chen A, Ayub MH, Mishuris RG, Rodriguez JA, Gwynn K, Lo MC, Noronha C, Henry TL, Jones D, Lee WW, Varma M, Cuevas E, Onumah C, Gupta R, Goodson J, Lu AD, Syed Q, Suen LW, Heiman E, Salhi BA, Khoong EC, Schmidt S. Telehealth Policy, Practice, and Education: a Position Statement of the Society of General Internal Medicine. Journal of general internal medicine 2023. PMID: 37095331


  25. Noel M, Abbs E, Suen L, Samuel L, Dobbins S, Geier M, Soran CS. The Howard Street Method: A Community Pharmacy-led Low Dose Overlap Buprenorphine Initiation Protocol for Individuals Using Fentanyl. Journal of addiction medicine 2023. PMID: 37579105


  26. Suen LW, Vittinghoff E, Wu AHB, Ravi A, Coffin PO, Hsue P, Lynch KL, Kazi DS, Riley ED. Multiple substance use and blood pressure in women experiencing homelessness. Addictive behaviors reports 2023. PMID: 36875801


  27. Leyde S, Abbs E, Suen LW, Martin M, Mitchell A, Davis J, Azari S. A Mixed-methods Evaluation of an Addiction/Cardiology Pilot Clinic With Contingency Management for Patients With Stimulant-associated Cardiomyopathy. Journal of addiction medicine 2022. PMID: 36729467


  28. Leyde S, Abbs E, Suen LW, Martin M, Mitchell A, Davis J, Azari S. A Mixed-methods Evaluation of an Addiction/Cardiology Pilot Clinic With Contingency Management for Patients With Stimulant-associated Cardiomyopathy. Journal of addiction medicine 2022. PMID: 37267175


  29. Duhart Clarke SE, Megerian CE, Suen LW, Wenger LD, Lambdin BH, Davidson PJ, Kral AH. Prevalence and factors associated with neck injection among people who inject drugs in San Francisco, California. Volume 241. Drug and alcohol dependence 2022. PMID: 36402050


  30. Samuel L, Caygill-Walsh R, Suen LW, Mohebbi S, Geier M. Triple Threat: Response to the Crises of COVID-19, Homelessness, and Opioid Use Disorder With a Novel Approach to Buprenorphine Delivery: A Case Series. Volume 16 of Issue 6. Journal of addiction medicine 2022. PMID: 35245914


  31. Smith-Bernardin SM, Suen LW, Barr-Walker J, Cuervo IA, Handley MA. Scoping review of managed alcohol programs. Volume 19 of Issue 1. Harm reduction journal 2022. PMID: 35879719


  32. Suen LW. A Seat at the Table. Volume 97 of Issue 7. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 2022. PMID: 34732648


  33. Wyatt JP, Suen LW, Coe WH, Adams ZM, Gandhi M, Batchelor HM, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Satterwhite S, Pérez-Rodríguez R, Rodríguez-Guerra E, Albizu-Garcia CE, Knight KR, Jordan A. Federal and State Regulatory Changes to Methadone Take-Home Doses: Impact of Sociostructural Factors. Volume 112 of Issue S2. American journal of public health 2022. PMID: 35349318


  34. Suen LW, Coe WH, Wyatt JP, Adams ZM, Gandhi M, Batchelor HM, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Satterwhite S, Pérez-Rodríguez R, Rodríguez-Guerra E, Albizu-Garcia CE, Knight KR, Jordan A. Structural Adaptations to Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Take-Home Dosing for Opioid Use Disorder in the Era of COVID-19. Volume 112 of Issue S2. American journal of public health 2022. PMID: 35349324


  35. Suen LW, Lee TG, Silva M, Walton P, Coffin PO, Geier M, Soran CS. Rapid Overlap Initiation Protocol Using Low Dose Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in an Outpatient Setting: A Case Series. 2022. PMID: 35149614


  36. Suen LW, Davy-Mendez T, LeSaint KT, Riley ED, Coffin PO. Emergency department visits and trends related to cocaine, psychostimulants, and opioids in the United States, 2008-2018. 2022. PMID: 35120449


  37. Suen LW, Davidson PJ, Browne EN, Lambdin BH, Wenger LD, Kral AH. Effect of an Unsanctioned Safe Consumption Site in the United States on Syringe Sharing, Rushed Injections, and Isolated Injection Drug Use: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis. Volume 89 of Issue 2. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2022. PMID: 34723925


  38. Suen LW, Lunn MR, Sevelius JM, Flentje A, Capriotti MR, Lubensky ME, Hunt C, Weber S, Bahati M, Rescate A, Dastur Z, Obedin-Maliver J. Do Ask, Tell, and Show: Contextual Factors Affecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Disclosure for Sexual and Gender Minority People. 2022. PMID: 35073205


  39. Suen LW, Rafferty H, Le T, Chung K, Straus E, Chen E, Vijayaraghavan M. Factors associated with smoking cessation attempts in a public, safety-net primary care system. 2022. PMID: 35145838


  40. Lambdin BH, Davidson PJ, Browne EN, Suen LW, Wenger LD, Kral AH. Reduced Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalisation with Use of an Unsanctioned Safe Consumption Site for Injection Drug Use in the United States. Volume 37 of Issue 15. Journal of general internal medicine 2022. PMID: 35020166


  41. Leyde S, Suen L, Pratt L, DeFries T. Transition from Oxycodone to Buprenorphine/Naloxone in a Hospitalized Patient with Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report. 2022. PMID: 34993878


  42. Suen LW, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Satterwhite S, Knight KR. "The idea is to help people achieve greater success and liberty": A qualitative study of expanded methadone take-home access in opioid use disorder treatment. Volume 43 of Issue 1. Substance abuse 2022. PMID: 35499469


  43. Chung K, Rafferty H, Suen LW, Vijayaraghavan M. System-Level Quality Improvement Initiatives for Tobacco Use in a Safety-Net Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of primary care & community health 2022. PMID: 35748431


  44. Suen LW, McMahan VM, Rowe C, Bhardwaj S, Knight K, Kushel MB, Santos GM, Coffin P. Factors Associated with Pain Treatment Satisfaction Among Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain and Substance Use. 2021. PMID: 34772764


  45. Kral AH, Lambdin BH, Wenger LD, Browne EN, Suen LW, Davidson PJ. Improved syringe disposal practices associated with unsanctioned safe consumption site use: A cohort study of people who inject drugs in the United States. Volume 229 of Issue Pt A. Drug and alcohol dependence 2021. PMID: 34654588


  46. Davy-Mendez T, Vittinghoff E, Dilworth SE, Suen LW, Braun C, Coffin PO, Satre DD, Riley ED. Non-fatal stimulant overdose among homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, California. 2021. PMID: 34600248


  47. Suen LW, Makam AN, Snyder HR, Repplinger D, Kushel MB, Martin M, Nguyen OK. National Prevalence of Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders Among Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations: NHAMCS 2014-2018. Journal of general internal medicine 2021. PMID: 34518978


  48. Suen LW, Lunn MR, Katuzny K, Finn S, Duncan L, Sevelius J, Flentje A, Capriotti MR, Lubensky ME, Hunt C, Weber S, Bibbins-Domingo K, Obedin-Maliver J. What Sexual and Gender Minority People Want Researchers to Know About Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Questions: A Qualitative Study. Archives of sexual behavior 2020. PMID: 32875381


  49. Suen LW, Leyde S, Min K, Volow A, Rabow M, Sudore RL. Thinking Outside the Visit: Primary Care Patient Perspectives on Helpful Advance Care Planning Methods. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 31654349