Physician Biography

Dr. Takao was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. After studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Takao moved west and graduated with honors from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Zoology and Design. He then went on to earn his medical degree from the now University of Toledo College of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine internship and worked in the emergency room at Kaiser Oakland before finishing his pediatrics residency at UCSF Children's Hospital Oakland.

Experience 

Dr. Takao has been in private practice in the greater East Bay Area for over 35 years. He practices general pediatrics and has extensive experience with pediatric asthma, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and newborn care. Through years of practice diagnosing and treating a wide range of problems, he has acquired the expertise necessary to keep care in-office when possible to prevent unnecessary referrals and emergency room visits. He closely counsels families through physical and emotional crises that have been pervasive before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For 20 years, Dr. Takao has taught second and third-year medical students as part of the “Foundations of Medical Care” program through the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. He has mentored pediatric interns and residents at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Dr. Takao has hospital staff privileges at UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland. 

Accolades 

For 20 years Dr. Takao served on the Board of Directors of the American Lung Association. In 2005 he received the Bernard Gregory Award for advancing cultural diversity.  

From 2007 to 2013, Dr. Takao served on the senior medical staff leadership team at Children’s Hospital Oakland. In 2008, he served as President of the Medical Staff.

In 2013, Dr. Takao was awarded the UCSF Essential Core Teaching Award for exemplary performance as an instructor. 

In July 2023, Dr. Takao was promoted to the position of Full Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF. 

Personal

Dr. Takao lives in Moraga and has three children. He is an avid skier and loves snorkeling in Hawaii among the Honu (green turtle). He enjoys music and plays the ukulele. For many summers, Dr. Takao served as a camp physician at the University of California Alumni Family Camp (Lair of the Bear).  He also served as a staff physician for many years to athletes competing in the IronMan triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.