Using UC-wide data, his research on WALANT and language access improves surgical care for patients who prefer languages other than English
SAN FRANCISCO (December 2, 2025) — Christopher Orozco, a second-year UCSF medical student and member of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Socioeconomic, Acculturation, Language Lab (sALLud), has been awarded the 2025 Short-Term Dean’s Prize for his research on WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet) in patients who prefer languages other than English. His project is titled “Disparities in the Utilization of Wide Awake Local Anesthetic Hand Surgery.”
Using UC-wide data, Orozco examined how language preference and other sociodemographic factors influence the use of wide-awake procedures, including carpal tunnel release and trigger finger release, for example, identifying disparities that may affect equitable adoption of these surgical techniques.
“If we can understand where these gaps exist, we can start closing them,” Orozco said. “This research ensures patients feel informed, supported, and safe throughout their surgical experience, ultimately improving outcomes and building trust.”
“Christopher’s work exemplifies high academic standards and a commitment to advancing inclusive, high-quality care,” Dr. Lauren Shapiro, an orthopaedic hand surgeon and principal investigator of the sALLud Lab, said. “His research reflects a commitment to health equity, patient-centered care, and data-driven approaches to improving surgical experiences and outcomes. Through his dedication and thoughtful scholarship, Christopher is helping to ensure that all patients, regardless of language or background, receive equitable and high-quality care.”
The Short-Term Dean’s Prize recognizes outstanding UCSF medical student research conducted during the Summer Explore program, which provides mentorship, research guidance, and funding to pursue an eight-week research project between the first and second years of medical school. Award recipients are selected based on the quality of their abstract and presentation to a faculty review committee.
Orozco conducted his research under the mentorship of Dr. Shapiro, Dr. Thomas Peterson, an assistant professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Dr. Alicia Fernandez, professor and associate dean of Population Health and Health Equity for UCSF School of Medicine, and Dr. Rachel Gottleib, a UCSF orthopaedic surgery resident. The project represents a highly collaborative, cross-departmental effort to address health disparities from multiple perspectives.
Orozco, from Castaic, Calif., earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is interested in healthcare disparities, patient-centered research, and improving access through technology and innovation. He will present his findings at the next UCSF Inquiry Symposia, where he will receive his award from UCSF Inquiry Leadership.
About sALLud
Led by Dr. Shapiro, sALLud researchers investigate healthcare disparities among underrepresented patient populations. The lab focuses on the interplay between socioeconomic factors, acculturation, and language in healthcare and aims to identify disparities and promote solutions that advance equitable, patient-centered care.
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