A. Ning Zhou, MD (he/him/他, pronounce Zhou like "Joe"), is a double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist whose clinical and scholarly work centers on the intersection of neurodivergence, gender diversity, and cultural identity — including autistic and ADHD people, transgender and gender-diverse communities, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ Asian Americans. Alongside his San Francisco-based private practice, he is a Senior Psychiatric Physician Specialist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and directs the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Area of Distinction at the UCSF Psychiatry Residency Training Program, where he supervises and teaches psychiatry trainees and students. He trained at UChicago, UCSF, Columbia, and Cornell, is a WPATH Standards of Care 8 Certified Mentor and Member, and presents and publishes widely on neurodiversity- and gender-affirming care.

    • NewYork-Presbyterian Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program of Columbia and Cornell Universities (2018-2020)

    • University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program (2014-2018)

      • Chief Resident for Education (2017-2018)

      • Area of Distinction in LGBTQ+ Mental Health (2018)

      • Area of Distinction in Cultural Psychiatry (2018)

    • University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine: MD (2014)

    • University of Southern California: BA, Neuroscience, summa cum laude (2009)

    • Private Practice, San Francisco (2023–now)

      • Out-of-network solo practice specializing in gender-affirming and neurodiversity-affirming psychiatric care for queer, gender diverse, and neurodivergent youth and adults. Dr. Zhou provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, gender health evaluation, autism/ADHD assessment, psychotherapy, medication management, parent-guidance, consultation, and second opinions.

    • Senior Psychiatric Physician Specialist, San Francisco Department of Public Health (2020-now)

      • Staff Psychiatrist, Dimensions Clinic for Youth (2020-now)

        • Integrated medical/behavioral health clinic serving youth ages 12-25. Dimensions offers comprehensive medical care, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. Dr. Zhou provides psychiatric care to patients who are connected to medical care and therapy at Dimensions.

      • Consulting Psychiatrist, Castro-Mission Health Center (2020-now)

        • Integrated and collaborative care in primary care clinic. Dr. Zhou provides consultation to primary care providers and behavioral health clinicians, serving a large LGBTQ+ population.

      • Staff Psychiatrist, Chinatown Child Development Center (2021-now)

        • Specialty mental health clinic in Chinatown that serves children and adolescents.

      • Staff Psychiatrist, Chinatown/North Beach Mental Health Services (2020-2023)

        • Specialty mental health clinic in the Chinatown area that serves many Asian immigrants and refugees.

      • Co-Facilitator, Autism & Co-Occurring Conditions Consultation group (2025-now)

      • Co-Facilitator, Youth & Families Gender Consultation Group (2021-now)

      • Member, Gender Health SF Consultation Group (2020-now)

    • Co-facilitator, Social Anxiety Group for Transgender and Gender Expansive Teens, UCSF (2021)

    • Psychiatrist, Columbia Gender Identity Program (2019-2020)

      • Co-facilitator, Gender Identity Therapy Group for Young Adults (2019)

    • Co-facilitator, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group, Cornell Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program & Youth Anxiety Center (2019)

    • Psychiatrist, UCSF Alliance Health Project, serving LGBTQ & HIV-affected communities (2014-2018)

    • Co-facilitator, Multifamily Skills Group, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program for Adolescents & Young Adults, UCSF (2017-2018)

    • Co-facilitator, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Group, UCSF (2017)

    • Director, LGBTQ+ Mental Health Area of Distinction, UCSF Psychiatry Residency Training Program (2020-now)

    • Supervisor of child and adolescent psychiatry fellows, psychiatry residents, and medical students

    • Didactic lecturer on various topics, including caring for transgender and gender diverse individuals, adult ADHD, adult autism, and shared decision-making.

    • California: Physician and Surgeon, Medical Board of California (2015–now)

    • New York: Physician, The University of the State of New York Education Department (2018–now)

    • Psychiatry (2018–now)

    • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2020–now)

    • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Global Education Initiative (GEI)

      • SOC8 Certified Mentor (2024–now)

      • SOC8 Certified Member (2023–now)

    • UCSF Pathways to Discovery

      • Certificate in Health Professions Education (2018)

    • Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists Stuart Nichols Award (2023)

      • For outstanding achievements in LGBTQ+ Community Mental Health

    • American Psychiatric Association/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellow (2017-2019)

      • Awarded $26,000 to develop expertise and improve minority mental health

    • UCSF Department of Psychiatry Outstanding Teacher Award (2018)

      • For exceptional commitment to resident education and excellence in teaching residents and medical students

    • University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Daniel X. Freedman Award (2014)

      • For a senior medical student with outstanding performance in the general field of psychiatry

    • University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society (2013)

      • In recognition of exemplary service, integrity, clinical excellence and compassion

    • University of Southern California Order of the Laurel and the Palm (2009)

      • Highest honor for graduating students, recognizing exceptional leadership and service; awarded to fewer than 1% of graduates

Additional Education and Training

    • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Global Education Initiative (GEI)

      • Sexuality Workshop (2022)

      • Advanced Identity Evolution Workshop (2021)

      • Advanced Medical Course (2021)

      • Advanced Ethics Workshop (2020)

      • Advanced Child & Adolescent Workshop (2020)

      • Advanced Mental Health Course (2020)

      • Foundations Course (2020)

    • Gender Health Training Institute. Instructor: Shawn Giammattei, PhD

      • Changes in the WPATH Standards of Care, Version 8: How SOC8 Impacts Your Gender Affirmative Practice (2022-2023)

      • Unpacking & Contextualizing Gender: An Immersive Workshop (2022)

      • The Ins & Outs of Gender Health Evaluations: An Immersive Workshop (2021)

      • Advanced Coaching and Mentorship (2021-2022)

    • Gender Health SF and UCSF Alliance Health Project. Instructors: Michelanne Baker, PsyD, Adrienne Lovelund, PsyD & Kelly Hansen, LCSW

      • Foundations for Mental Health Presurgical Assessments for Gender-Affirming Surgeries (2021)

    • San Francisco Department of Public Health Behavioral Health Services

      • The Gender Affirmative Model and Its Clinical Applications. Instructors: Diane Ehrensaft, PhD, and Shawn Giammattei, PhD (2023)

      • Working with Families of Transgender and Gender Expansive Children and Youth. Instructor: Shawn Giammattei, PhD (2023)

      • Introduction to Gender Expression Care: What is it and how can it assist my transgender and nonbinary clients in their journey? Instructor: Monica Prata (2023)

      • Gender Well Part II: Getting Children and Youth in Focus. Instructor: J. Cohen, LCSW (2021)

      • Fertility Issues for Trans and Gender Expansive Youth: Decision-making through the lens of family building options. Instructors: Diane Ehrensaft, Phd & Jen Hastings, MD (2021)

      • Gender Well: Transgender and Nonbinary Children, Youth, and Their Families in Systems of Care during COVID-19 and Beyond. Instructor: J. Cohen, LCSW (2020)

    • The Autism Clinical Interview for Adults (ACIA Version 3). Instructors: Jeremy Parr, MD & Sarah Wigham, PhD

      • Training for Use in Clinical Services and Research (2025)

    • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Second Edition (ADOS-2). Instructors: Courtney Burnette, PhD & Whitney Gealy, PhD

      • Introductory Training for Clinicians (2025)

    • Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum - 2nd edition (MIGDAS-2). Instructor: Marilyn Monteiro, PhD

      • Reveal Their Story: Sensory-Based Interview (2023)

      • Using the Adult MIGDAS-2: In-Person and Remote Applications (2023)

    • UCSF Center for ASD and NDDs Annual Conference

      • Advancing Care of People with Autism Through Scientific Research (2025)

      • Autism Diagnostic Assessment in 2024: Special Considerations for Working with Increasingly Complex Referral Populations (2024)

      • Evidence-Based Interventions for Individuals Diagnosed with ASD Across the Lifespan (2023)

      • Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Best Practice Guidelines for Measure Selection and Interpretation (2022)

    • San Francisco Department of Public Health

      • Supporting Autistic Trans & Nonbinary Youth and Adults. Instructor: Finn Gratton, LMFT, LPCC (2023)

      • Dimensions 2SLGBTQIA+ Neurodivergent Training. Instructors: Alyssa Fenix & Kat Zwick, LPCC (2022)

    • WPATH Global Education Initiative

      • Neurodiversity Workshop (2022)

    • Eating Disorder Recovery Support Conference

      • Exploring the Intersection of Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders (2024)

      • Addressing the Needs of Our Trans Communities with Eating Disorders (2021)

    • Queer and Trans Internal Family Systems

      • Food For Thought: Internal Family Systems, Body Trust, and Eating Disorders. Instructor: Sand Chang, PhD (2023)

    • San Francisco Department of Public Health

      • Primary Care Behavioral Health Eating Disorders Update. Instructor: Karen Mu, MD, PhD (2021)

    • Queer and Trans Internal Family Systems. Instructors: Sand Chang, PhD & Nic Wildes, LMHC

      • Internal Family Systems Foundations for Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer Therapists (2023)

    • Alchemy Community Therapy Center

      • 7-Week Ketamine Assisted Therapy Training for Providers (2023)

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Instructor: Russ Harris, MD

      • ACT for Trauma (2020)

      • ACT for Depression and Anxiety (2019)

      • ACT for Adolescents (2019)

      • ACT for Beginners (2019)

    • Columbia University Medical Center

      • Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance Commitment Therapy for Adolescent Substance Abuse. Instructor: Christian Thurstone, MD (2020)

      • Organizational Skills Training Workshop. Instructor: Richard Gallagher, PhD (2019)

    • San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis

      • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program (2016-2018)

    • Psychotherapy training experiences during psychiatry residency and fellowship (2014-2020)

      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

      • Interpersonal Psychotherapy

      • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (couples and family therapy)

      • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

      • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

      • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

    • Center for Mindfulness

      • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Mind-Body Medicine. Instructors: Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD & Saki Santorelli, EdD, MA (2014)

    • Level Up Psychotherapy. Instructor: Serenity Serseción, PhD

      • Dissociative Disorders & Plural Communities (2026)

    • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

    • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

      • Committee Member, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee

      • Member, Neurodiversity Informed Care for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Working Group, Autism & Intellectual Disability Committee

      • Member, Gender and Sexuality Alliance Workgroup, Asian Caucus

    • American Psychiatric Association (APA)

    • Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists (AGLP)

    • Association of LGBTQ+ Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (Pride CAPA)

    • Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC)

    • Northern California Psychiatric Society (NCPS)

      • Member, Committee on Asian American Issues

    • Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (NCROCAP)

    • Mind the Gap - Gender Affirmative Care for Children, Youth, & Their Families in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area

    • Neurodiversity-Affirming Consultation Group — facilitated by Finn V. Gratton, LMFT, LPCC

    • Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook (Clinician Community) — facilitated by Megan Anna Neff, PsyD

    • Neurodiversity in Psychiatry — facilitated by Stacy Greeter, MD

    • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Peer Consultation

    • Internal Family Systems Peer Consultation

    • Community Engagement Research in Improving Mental Health Equity Through Neurodiversity-Informed Culturally Equitable (NICE) Interventions in Autistic Youth (Stanford Neurodiversity Project)

    • Bridging the Practitioner-Research Divide: Autism Assessment for Transgender and Gender Diverse Patients (University of Massachusetts Boston)

    • Satisfaction and Acceptability of Neurodivergence-Affirming Autism Assessment for Gender Diverse Young Adults (SFDPH)

    • Pharmacogenetics of Neurodivergent and Gender Diverse Patients (SFDPH)

    • Healthcare experiences of Chinese transgender and nonbinary individuals (SFDPH)

    • Sexual orientation and gender identity language in Mandarin Chinese (SFDPH)

    • Coming out and intersectionality of gay Chinese/Chinese-American male emerging adults (Columbia/Cornell)

Languages Spoken

  • English

  • Mandarin Chinese (conversational)