Physician Biography

Dr. Takao was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio.  After studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati, he moved west and graduated with honors from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Zoology and Design.  He earned 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 Children's Hospital Oakland.

He began private practice in Orinda with Drs. Seymour Harris and Philip Chamberlain.  He has been in private practice in the greater East Bay area for 30 years.  He practices general pediatrics and has extensive experience with pediatric asthma and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  He closely counsels families through physical and emotional crises.  Dr. Takao has hospital staff privileges at Children’s Hospital Oakland and Alta Bates-Summit Medical Center.  For 15 years, Dr. Takao has taught third and fourth year medical students as part of  the “Foundations of Medical Care” program through the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.  In 2013, he was awarded the 2013 Essential Core Teaching Award for exemplary efforts as an instructor.    For over 24 years, Dr. Takao has mentored pediatric interns and residents at Children’s Hospital Oakland.  In July 2012, he was promoted to the position of Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF.    From 2007 to 2013, Dr. Takao served on the senior medical staff leadership team at Children’s Hospital Oakland, including being President of the Medical Staff in 2008.   Currently, Dr. Takao serves as peer reviewer and counsel on the Well Being Committee for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital-Oakland. 

Dr. Takao served on the Board of Directors of the American Lung Association for 20 years and received the association's Bernard Gregory Award in 2005 for advancing cultural diversity.  For 27 years, he volunteered as a camp physician every summer at the University of California Alumni Family Camp (Lair of the Bear).  For multiple years, he has served as a staff physician to the athletes competing in the IronMan triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.  

Dr. Takao and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Moraga and have three children.  He is an avid skier and loves snorkeling in Hawaii among the Honu, or green turtle. He enjoys music and plays the ukulele.