University of California San Diego Medical Center Program

Neurological Surgery Analyst Verified · Oct 28, 2026

University of California San Diego Medical Center Program

University of California San Diego Medical Center Program is a residency program specializing in Neurological Surgery, located in San Diego, California, directed by Sharona Ben- Haim, MD and coordinated by Cha Esguerra. The program accepts applications through September 27, 2027. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (858) 444-7009. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

UC San Diego's Neurological Surgery residency is a high-intensity academic program anchored in a quaternary-care university health system, with training spread across Jacobs Medical Center's Quad-Pod neurosurgical ORs, Hillcrest's Level 1 Trauma and Burn Center, Rady Children's pediatric neurosurgery, Moores NCI-designated Cancer Center, and the VA San Diego system. Research is embedded in the program's identity rather than optional, supported by the Center for the Future of Surgery simulation/GLP facility, the Neuro Hub streaming platform linking OR-to-lab collaboration, and an active clinical trials portfolio spanning cerebrovascular thrombectomy, neural stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury, and spinal deformity outcomes research. The department's NIH funding ranking and emphasis on "path-defining research" and novel device/technology development signal that it selects for residents oriented toward academic neurosurgery, subspecialization, and translational or device-oriented investigation rather than purely clinical volume. Its breadth of sites (trauma, pediatric, oncologic, cerebrovascular, VA) supports comprehensive exposure while consistently reinforcing an innovation- and research-driven institutional culture.

Who it fits
An applicant with a strong record of bench, translational, or device/technology-focused neurosurgical research who is pursuing an academic subspecialty career (e.g., cerebrovascular, skull base, spine deformity, or neuro-oncology) within a high-volume, quaternary academic system.
Research intensity
Central - research infrastructure (CFS, Neuro Hub, active clinical trials, NIH-ranked funding) is presented as core to departmental identity and expected of trainees.
Career orientation
Academic Medicine
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Neurological Surgery

Name/ID

IMG %

Deadline

State

Accreditation Status

University of California San Diego Medical Center Program
1600521100 Copy

IMG % IMG %

09/27/2027
318 days left

CA

N/A

Deadline 09/27/2027 318 days left
Accreditation Status N/A
SCORE
USMLE STEP 1
USMLE STEP 1
USMLE STEP 2
USMLE STEP 2

SCORE NOTES

VISA POLICY

VISA

GRADUATION CUT OFF

GRADUATION CUT OFF

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

ECFMG CERTIFICATE

ECFMG CERTIFICATE

CURRENT RESIDENTS
Residents
Current Residents.pdf
Program Director
Name: Sharona Ben- Haim, MD
Program Coordinator
Name: Cha Esguerra Email: [email protected] Phone: (858) 444-7009 Address: 200 W Arbor Dr,San Diego
Program Website
https://neurosurgery.ucsd.edu/
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Neurological Surgery IMG Resources

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Add Notes — IMGPrep App Feature

The Add Notes feature is part of the IMGPrep App. Once you subscribe, you can write and save personal notes about this program directly to your account — track your research, flag programs of interest, and build your application shortlist all in one place.

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Email Program — IMGPrep App Feature

The Email feature is part of the IMGPrep App. Subscribers can email University of California San Diego Medical Center Program directly from their email client with one click — the program coordinator’s contact details are pre-loaded so you never have to search for them manually.