SAN FRANCISCO (February 29, 2024) — The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is pleased to welcome Claudio Díaz Ledezma, MD, a distinguished orthopedic surgeon specializing in Arthritis and Joint Replacement. He has joined our Department as an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery.
About Claudio Díaz Ledezma, MD
With a robust clinical background, Dr. Díaz Ledezma has dedicated his career to advancing the field of orthopaedic surgery and joint replacement. He practiced for ten years in Chile before returning to the United States. He served as Chairman of Orthopaedics at Hospital Clínico Metropolitano El Carmen Dr. Luis Valentín Ferrada and as a member of recognized private health institutions in Chile. His tenure in these roles, along with his membership on the Adult Reconstruction Knee Program Committee of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, speaks volumes about his commitment to excellence in patient care. He also served as faculty for the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Spring Meeting. Dr. Díaz Ledezma served as the President of the Chilean Society of Hip Surgery during 2023.
Surgically, he has experience in hip and knee replacement, including outpatient surgery, complex primary, and revision cases. He has been a pioneer of the use of the direct anterior approach for hip replacement in Latin America.
In addition to his clinical endeavors, Dr. Díaz Ledezma is deeply engaged in research, presenting over 100 podium presentations in 7 different countries. His editorial roles, including serving on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Arthroplasty and as Associate Editor of Revista Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatología, underscore his dedication to shaping the discourse within his field. He has been the most cited orthopaedic surgeon in Chile during the last 3 years, being the number one expert both in hip and knee replacement in Chile.
Dr. Díaz Ledezma earned his Medical Degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the most prestigious medical school in Chile, before specializing in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Universidad del Desarrollo, one of the leading programs in his country. He furthered his expertise with a research fellowship at in Joint Replacement Research at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, and after obtaining the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification, he completed an Adult Reconstruction Clinical Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University/Rothman Institute. Notably, Dr. Díaz Ledezma was honored as the 2020 Rothman Ranawat Fellow by The Hip Society, a testament to his outstanding contributions and leadership within the orthopaedic community.
Outside of clinic, Dr. Díaz Ledezma enjoys embarking on adventures to parks with his daughter and wife, exploring San Francisco on foot, and savoring diverse local cuisines.
At UCSF, Dr. Díaz Ledezma will see patients at both the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute at the Mission Bay campus in San Francisco and the UCSF Redwood Shores Specialty Care Clinic. He is happy to see patients who speak Spanish.
