SAN FRANCISCO (August 06, 2026) — After more than 35 years of caring for children, mentoring physicians, and advancing pediatric orthopaedic surgery, Eliana Delgado, MD, MPH, is retiring from the University of California, San Francisco. She has been the Department’s longest tenured faculty member and is leaving behind a legacy of compassion, leadership, and service that has shaped generations of patients and medical professionals.
Throughout her career, Dr. Delgado cared for children and families throughout Northern California at UCSF Mission Bay, Parnassus Heights, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and St. Luke's Hospital. She witnessed significant milestones in UCSF's evolution, including the transition of pediatric services from the Parnassus campus to Mission Bay. Dr. Delgado also served as a trauma physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, caring for patients with complex injuries and urgent orthopaedic needs.
Alongside her partners, she helped transform pediatric orthopaedics from a small clinical service into the nationally recognized program it is today. Dr. Delgado and the other pediatric orthopaedic faculty are at the forefront of pediatric orthopaedics, and often present their work at major academic meetings such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons of North America (POSNA) annual meetings, sharing their passion for pediatric orthopaedics beyond the San Francisco community.
“Dr. Delgado has been a model of loyalty and selflessness,” said Dr. Mohammad Diab. “She has been indefatigable in her work and complete in her commitment, all with an easy wit and piercing insight. She is the old school that underpins our profession, to whom every one of us - patients and colleagues alike - owes an enduring debt.”
"Dr. Delgado has been a key member of the UCSF faculty for many years. Her commitment to patient care, mentorship, and contributions to the development of medical students and residents has left an enduring impact on our institution and the countless lives she has touched," said Dr. Ishaan Swarup, current division chief for pediatric orthopaedics.
Beyond patient care, Delgado became known as an exceptional educator and mentor. She guided countless medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty members while championing opportunities for women in orthopaedic surgery through organizations and programs including the Perry Initiative and UC Women in Orthopaedics.
"It’s a privilege to be here — to be part of a healing picture for a patient and their family," Dr. Delgado said, reflecting on the work that defined her career.
Dr. Delgado’s impact will continue to be felt in the thousands of children she treated, the physicians she mentored, and the pediatric orthopaedic program she helped build at UCSF. Colleagues and former patients celebrate a physician whose career has been defined by clinical excellence, empathy, and an enduring commitment to the next generation. Here are some reflections from colleagues and former students.
Dr. Stephanie Wong, current faculty and former UCSF orthopaedic surgery resident, described Delgado as "a trusted mentor, generous teacher and role model whose guidance has shaped generations of students, residents, fellows and faculty."
Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, department chair, said, "Her warmth, wisdom, and steady leadership have strengthened our department and enriched the lives of colleagues across UCSF and beyond."
Dr. Nirav Pandya, current faculty and former division chief for pediatric orthopaedics, said, "Dr. Delgado has been a renowned clinician throughout Northern California for several decades. She took care of so many families in the area for generations. There was no case she did not turn away, no matter how difficult the pathology. She was a lifelong learner who drew on her years of experience to take care of kids in the area."
Dr. Coleen Sabatini, current faculty and former division chief for pediatric orthopaedics, highlighted Delgado's commitment to expanding opportunities in medicine. "Through her mentorship of medical students and residents and her involvement in programs such as UC Women in Orthopaedics and the Perry Initiative, Dr. Delgado has inspired future generations of women to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery," said Dr. Sabatini.
Dr. Theodore Miclau, current faculty and vice chair for systems and operations, said, "Dr. Delgado leads with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others—qualities that have defined her career and will remain an enduring part of her legacy.”
Dr. Delgado joined the UCSF faculty in 1989 following the completion of her medical degree and orthopaedic surgery residency at UCSF, and a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis. Her path to medicine began with studies at the College of San Mateo, San Francisco State University, and the University of California, Berkeley before she earned her medical degree at UCSF.