Elaine Y Tsao, MD

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hear my name

Education and Training

• Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, Medical Degree
• Northshore University Health System-Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Residency
• University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, Fellowship

Board Certifications

• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine

Notable Awards

• Seattle Top Doctor 2024, awarded by Seattle Magazine
• Seattle Top Doctor 2023, awarded by Seattle Magazine
• Seattle Top Doctor 2022, awarded by Seattle Magazine

Clinical Interests

• Cerebral palsy
• Brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Tone management
• Cancer-related impairments
• Arthrogryposis

Research Interests

Functional outcomes and program development in pediatric cancer rehabilitation.

Tsao EY, Levin J, Gober J, Lynch ME, Chaviano KN, Tsetlina V, Javaid S. Practice patterns and experiences of pediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians in cancer rehabilitation., PM R 2025 May

Tsao E, Flanigan M, Johnson L, Toy M, Giannini E, Bjornson K. Functional outcomes of pediatric patients in Short-term Pediatric Rehabilitation Intensive Therapy (SPRINT) while receiving acute oncologic and hematologic care. PM&R 2022 Mar;14(3):357-365

Lam N, Tsao E, Tse J. (2021). Chapter 2: Brain Tumors. In M. Gonzalez-Fernandez, S. Schaaf, J. Zumsteg, D. Perret, DJ Kennedy (Eds.), Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Bartoletta J, Tsao E, Bouchard M. A Retrospective Analysis of Nonoperative Treatment Techniques for Idiopathic Toe Walking in Children: Outcomes and Predictors of Success. PM&R 2021 Oct;13(10):1127-1135

Osorio M, Tsao E, Apkon S. (2020). Chapter 733: Ambulation Assistance. In R.M. Kliegman, J.W. St Geme, N.J. Blum, S.S. Shah, R.C. Tasker, K.M. Wilson (Eds.), Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st Edition, (pp. 3767-3769)

Tsao E, Pruitt D, McMahon M. (2020). Chapter 39: Rehabilitation of the Child with Cancer. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology, 8th Edition

Kornafel T, Tsao EY, Sabelhaus E, Surges L, Apkon SD. Physical and Occupational Therapy for a Teenager with Acute Flaccid Myelitis: A Case Report., Phys Occup Ther Pediatr 2017 Oct; 37(5):485-595