SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 30, 2026) — The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is proud to welcome Nya Wagala, MD, as an orthopaedic surgeon in the Division of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery. Dr. Wagala will care for patients at the Orthopaedic Institute in San Francisco and the UCSF Berkeley Outpatient Center.
Dr. Wagala is already a familiar member of the UCSF community, having completed the UCSF Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship in 2026. During her fellowship, she cared for athletes across professional, collegiate, high school and community sports settings while advancing research in the treatment of knee, shoulder and hip injuries.
Clinical Care
Dr. Wagala is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Her areas of interest include sports-related injuries of the knee, shoulder and hip, with research and scholarly work addressing ACL reconstruction, meniscal injury, shoulder instability, rotator cuff repair and hip arthroscopy.
She brings broad experience in athlete care and event coverage. At UCSF, Dr. Wagala provided coverage for the University of San Francisco. Her additional experience includes serving as a team physician for Junipero Serra High School and Central Catholic High School and providing medical coverage for the T100 San Francisco Pro Triathlon and the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship at The Olympic Club.
Research Interests
Dr. Wagala's research focuses on improving the evaluation and surgical treatment of sports-related injuries. Her published work has examined ACL and PCL reconstruction, meniscal allograft outcomes, shoulder instability and rotator cuff repair, and hip preservation surgery. She has also contributed book chapters on knee examination, research design, grant writing and hip imaging.
Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Arthroscopy Techniques, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, and Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. She serves as a reviewer for Arthroscopy and The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Education and Training
Dr. Wagala earned her bachelor's degree and medical degree through the six-year BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in its clinician-scientist track, which included dedicated basic science research and advanced clinical responsibilities. She then completed the UCSF Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship in 2026.
Dr. Wagala is also committed to education, mentorship and service. At UCSF, she has taught musculoskeletal clinical skills to medical students and volunteered with UCSF PlaySafe.
At UCSF, Dr. Wagala will care for patients at the Orthopaedic Institute in San Francisco and the UCSF Berkeley Outpatient Center. She will also be part of the UCSF Women’s Sports Medicine Center and contribute to our clinical, research and educational missions.