University of California San Diego Medical Center Program

Program Identity & Fit

UC San Diego's orthopaedic surgery residency is an academic, university-based program anchored by the region's only academic health system and one of the few adult Level I trauma centers in San Diego, offering high-volume clinical exposure across nine affiliated teaching facilities. The program's defining structural feature is its bifurcated track system: a five-year clinical pathway (four residents/year) and a separate six-year research pathway (one resident/year) with a dedicated second-year research block under internationally recognized faculty, each with distinct NRMP codes and rank lists. Research infrastructure is substantial and translational, spanning bone/cartilage regeneration, spine neuromuscular physiology, skeletal biology, musculoskeletal imaging/bioengineering, and immunometabolism, reflecting a department that integrates basic science with clinical orthopaedics rather than treating research as an adjunct. The program emphasizes balanced sub-specialty exposure alongside comprehensive general orthopaedic training, a close-knit cohort structure (~26 residents total), and explicit interest in both general and specialized career preparation.