University of California San Francisco Program

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Analyst Verified · Aug 31, 2026

University of California San Francisco Program

University of California San Francisco Program is a residency program specializing in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, located in San Francisco, California, directed by Steven D. Pletcher, MD and coordinated by Pranathi Sundaram.. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (415) 476-4952. 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's Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency is a flagship academic program embedded in a top-NIH-funded research institution, drawing on tertiary/quaternary clinical sites (Moffitt Long, Mount Zion, San Francisco General, and the SF VA Medical Center) to expose residents to the full breadth of subspecialty pathology. Research is deeply woven into departmental identity, with named laboratories (Coleman Memorial, Epstein, Head and Neck Cancer Research Lab, Center for Auditory Hair Physiology) and active NIH-caliber science, including CRISPR-based and cochlear implant work, alongside a growing clinical trials portfolio in rhinology, laryngology, and pediatric hearing loss. The department supports seven fellowships (facial plastics, laryngology, pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck oncology, neurotology, global health/CHESA, administrative), signaling strong subspecialization and fellowship-bound career trajectories among graduates. Distinctive features include a dedicated global health equity pathway (CHESA) with an international partner site in Cambodia, longstanding West Coast accreditation history, and a faculty culture that visibly recruits and celebrates academically credentialed incoming residents from top US medical schools.

Who it fits

An academically driven, research-active applicant from a strong medical school pedigree who is pursuing competitive subspecialty fellowship training and possibly global health equity work, rather than a broad community-generalist ENT career.

Research intensity

Strong - research is embedded in departmental identity through named laboratories, NIH funding prominence, active clinical trials, and dedicated research fellowships, though not explicitly mandated for all residents.

Career orientation

Fellowship - the program's structure (seven subspecialty fellowships) and emphasis on subspecialty research and global health pathways indicate residents are being prepared predominantly for post-residency fellowship and academic subspecialization.

Important

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit one of their program-signaling preferences, as the program states it does not anticipate offering interviews absent this signal.

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