University of Southern California-Los Angeles General Medical Center USC-LA General Program

Plastic Surgery Analyst Verified · Jul 27, 2026

University of Southern California-Los Angeles General Medical Center USC-LA General Program

University of Southern California-Los Angeles General Medical Center USC-LA General Program is a residency program specializing in Plastic Surgery, located in Los Angeles, California, directed by Haig Yenikomshian, MD and coordinated by Erica Luong.. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at eluong@med.usc.edu or (323) 442-7903. 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

USC/LA General is a large, academic, tertiary/quaternary integrated (and independent) plastic surgery program built across nine hospital affiliates spanning 3,700+ beds, from the safety-net LAC+USC Medical Center to Keck Hospital, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai, and Rancho Los Amigos. The breadth of sites gives residents concentrated exposure across microsurgery, craniofacial/pediatric reconstruction, hand surgery, burn critical care, gender-affirming surgery, oncologic reconstruction, and a resident-run aesthetic clinic in Beverly Hills/Marina del Rey, reflecting a philosophy of progressive autonomy culminating in chief-resident-run services at LAC+USC. Research is heavily embedded, with a dedicated division research fellowship (126 manuscripts and 173 presentations in 2024) and structured faculty-resident reading/discussion curricula by site, indicating the program values scholarly productivity alongside operative skill. Graduates pursue both academic and private-practice careers, with strong subspecialty fellowship placement in hand, craniofacial, microsurgery, and burn surgery, and the program explicitly frames its mission as training "the next generation of leaders" in the specialty.

Who it fits

An applicant with substantial plastic surgery research output and demonstrated interest in complex reconstructive/microsurgical or craniofacial work who seeks a high-volume, multi-institutional academic training environment with a pathway toward fellowship subspecialization or academic practice.

Research intensity

Strong - a formal division research fellowship, high annual scholarly output (126 manuscripts, 173 presentations in 2024), and structured faculty mentorship indicate research is heavily encouraged and integrated into training.

Career orientation

Mixed - Academic Medicine, Fellowship, Community Practice

Important

The program offers both an Integrated pathway (via NRMP/PSCA) for medical students and a separate Independent pathway for surgeons who have completed or are completing training in General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, or Neurosurgery (or at least 3 years of General Surgery), applying through SF Match rather than ERAS.

Choose Specialty / Choose Another Program

Plastic Surgery

Deadline

Accreditation Status N/A

SCORE

USMLE STEP 1

USMLE STEP 2

SCORE NOTES

VISA POLICY

VISA

GRADUATION CUT OFF

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

ECFMG CERTIFICATE

PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

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CURRENT RESIDENTS