University of California San Francisco Program

Ophthalmology Analyst Verified · Aug 31, 2026

University of California San Francisco Program

University of California San Francisco Program is a residency program specializing in Ophthalmology, located in San Francisco, California, directed by Saras Ramanathan, MD and coordinated by Regina Akhmadullina. The program accepts applications through September 1, 2027. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (415) 476-2896. 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

UCSF Ophthalmology is a tertiary/quaternary academic program with an internationally recognized research identity, anchored by its unique affiliation with the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for infectious and inflammatory ocular disease research and global blindness prevention. Residents rotate across UCSF Medical Center, Benioff Children's Hospital, the SF VA, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General, giving exposure spanning subspecialty tertiary care, pediatric ophthalmology, and safety-net/underserved populations (including work with people experiencing homelessness). The program is ranked among the top nationally, is the leading NEI-funded vision research department in the country, and offers a K12 career-development pathway with formal tracks in epidemiology/global health, basic-translational science, and bioengineering, underscoring that research training is built into its structure rather than incidental. Its stated mission to train "future leaders" and its close faculty mentorship model signal a preference for residents oriented toward academic medicine, subspecialty fellowship, or physician-scientist careers rather than general community practice.

Who it fits

An applicant with a strong existing research trajectory (basic science, epidemiology, or global ophthalmology) who is pursuing academic ophthalmology or a competitive subspecialty fellowship and is drawn to the Proctor Foundation's international infectious/inflammatory eye disease mission.

Research intensity

Central - research is embedded in the department's identity, with dedicated K12 scholar tracks, NEI's top national funding ranking, and mandatory research opportunities for all residents.

Career orientation

Mixed - Academic Medicine, Physician-Scientist, Fellowship

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