Dr. Melissa Zimel, orthopaedic oncologist, director of the UCSF Sarcoma Center and associate professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, has been selected as an inaugural Health Equity Action & Leadership (HEAL) Traveling Fellow by the Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
Dr. Zimel is one of two surgeons nationwide selected for the inaugural Health Equity Action & Leadership Traveling Fellowship, which is focused on healthcare transformation, value-based care and leadership development.
SAN FRANCISCO (June 17, 2026) — Dr. Melissa Zimel, orthopaedic oncologist, director of the UCSF Sarcoma Center and associate professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, has been selected as an inaugural Health Equity Action & Leadership (HEAL) Traveling Fellow by the Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium (ODLC).
Dr. Zimel is one of only two orthopaedic surgeons selected nationally for the fellowship's inaugural class. The program was created to prepare emerging surgical leaders for the evolving healthcare environment, where clinical excellence must be aligned with value-based care, patient access, health equity, operational leadership and healthcare transformation.
As part of the fellowship, Dr. Zimel will participate in immersive leadership experiences at Duke University and New York University, engaging with healthcare leaders, care teams and institutions advancing innovative approaches to musculoskeletal care delivery and system improvement.
The fellowship also includes enrollment in the Dynamize Health/Cornell Transformative Value-Driven Care Leadership Certificate Program, providing executive education in healthcare economics, population health, policy, innovation and organizational leadership.
"Dr. Zimel's selection as an inaugural ODLC HEAL Traveling Fellow is a well-deserved recognition of her leadership, clinical excellence and commitment to improving patient care," said Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
"Dr. Zimel goes above and beyond in her dedication to her patients, research and colleagues and is incredibly deserving of this honor," said Dr. Rosanna Wustrack, chief of Orthopaedic Oncology at UCSF. "Her experiences while on the fellowship will enrich our practice and directly benefit our patients here at UCSF upon her return."
Dr. Zimel serves as director of the UCSF Sarcoma Center and is recognized for her clinical expertise and research focused on improving outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal cancers.In 2024, Dr. Zimel received the UCSF Health Exceptional Physician Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to patient care, innovation and clinical excellence. She serves the chair for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery’s Community, Culture and Engagement Committee, which actively promotes a culture of respect, collaboration, and excellence among our faculty, trainees, staff, and patients.
According to ODLC, the HEAL Traveling Fellowship was designed to develop orthopaedic leaders who can help transform healthcare systems by improving care delivery, patient outcomes, team performance and community impact. Through immersive site visits and executive leadership training, fellows gain firsthand experience in advancing innovation, value-based care and health equity across healthcare organizations.
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