Please watch this short video about our pediatric orthopaedic fellowship program to learn more.

Interested in combining a career in orthopedics with care of children? Listen to the UCSF Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship podcast with Dr. Sanjeev Sabharwal and Dr. Ishaan Swarup, Directors of the program. 

Welcome to the UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship

Duration: 1 year (August 1 to July 31)

Fellowship Positions: 1 (POSNA accredited)

Application Deadline: November 1, 2025 through SF Match

Combined Salary & Housing Allowance (AY2025-26): $113,149.00 plus benefits

Interview Date: Friday, January 23, 2025

The Pediatrics Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship program is accredited by POSNA and participates in the San Francisco Match (SF Match). Prior to the start of fellowship, successful completion of an orthopaedic surgery residency is required, as is a California State Medical License.

We are unable to accept international medical graduates who require visa sponsorship and who are not eligible for an unrestricted medical license to practice in California.

All application requirements are listed on the POSNA website: https://posna.org/Resources/Fellowships

For any additional questions about our fellowship program, please contact our fellowship coordinator Brad Stark at brad.stark@ucsf.edu.

In accordance with Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health, or disability. UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories in the selection process. For detailed information, please visit the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

Fellowship Introduction

The UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship is designed to provide the fellow with a comprehensive and well-rounded training in all aspects of pediatric orthopaedics. Our mission is to train fellows to be clinically and technically competent and well-prepared for providing outstanding care to all pediatric patients. This fellowship is based on an adult-learning model and offers an in-depth experience in all subspecialty areas of pediatric orthopaedic surgery, including pediatric trauma, spinal deformity, pediatric sports, hip and limb deformity.

Primary training sites include UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, a level 1 pediatric trauma center, and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. Both sites are major referral centers for Central and Northern California.

In the second half of the training period, fellows may pursue a 4-week overseas elective in Global Orthopaedics. Clinical electives are also available at the UC Davis/Northern California Shriner’s Hospital for Children for additional experience in Motion Analysis and pediatric hand surgery. Fellows have access to UCSF’s research infrastructure, teach medical students and residents, and participate in UCSF’s global health initiatives.

Fellowship Experience

Extensive clinical and academic opportunities exist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. UCSF is consistently ranked as one of the best hospital systems in the nation. The fellowship prepares fellows for academic or private practice, emphasizing compassion, competency, and mentorship.

Fellows are exposed to all subspecialty areas, with structured mentorship during the first six months and elective opportunities during the second six months. Pediatric trauma experience is provided throughout the year.

Opportunities exist to travel abroad through the Institute of Global Health and Traumatology. Advanced training includes pediatric spine, trauma, limb deformity, and hip preservation.

Faculty perform over 1,700 operative procedures annually and see more than 45,000 outpatients.

Research

Opportunities for clinical, basic science, and biomechanics research at UCSF are available, including mentorship, study groups, databases, and lab resources. Fellows must prepare at least one manuscript for publication and may attend national meetings with funding support.

Didactics

Wednesdays: UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds

Held weekly (September through June) with invited guest speakers discussing general orthopaedic topics including pediatrics.

Thursdays: Indications and Fellows Case Conference

Joint conference between Oakland and San Francisco campuses to review cases and plan complex surgeries.

Fridays: Didactic and Journal Club

Sessions focus on pediatric orthopaedic topics with active fellow participation.

Other Conferences

Fellows are encouraged to attend IPOS and POSNA conferences during the fellowship year. Funding is provided for presenting original research.

Video Guides

UCSF Faculty

	Sanjeev Sabharwal, MD, MPH (Professor, Fellowship Director)  Residency: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Fellowship: Shriner’s (UCLA) and Children’s Hospital (USC) Clinical Expertise: Limb Lengthening and Deformity Correction
	Ishaan Swarup, MD (Assistant Professor, Associate Fellowship Director)  Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery Fellowship: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Clinical Expertise: Spinal Deformity and Hip Preservation
	Michael Chau, MD PhD (Assistant Professor) Residency: University of Minnesota (orthopaedic residency) Fellowship:  University of Texas Southwestern/Scottish Rite for Children (pediatric orthopaedic surgery) orthopaedic sports medicine surgery (Cedar Sinai/Kerlan Jobe Institute) Clinical Expertise: Dr, Chau is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the surgical and non-surgical management of sports-related injuries and conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee in young athletes
	Celina DeBorja, MD (Assistant Professor) Residency: Hackensack Meridian Health at Jersey Shore University Medical Center  Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Boston (Harvard University) Clinical Expertise: Sports and Dance Medicine, Bone Health, Injury Prevention, and Pediatric Fractures
	Eliana Delgado, MD (Professor) Residency: UCSF Fellowship: St. Louis Shriner’s Hospital  Clinical Expertise: General Pediatric Orthopaedics
	Mohammad Diab, MD (Professor) Residency: University of Washington Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Boston (Harvard University) Clinical Expertise: Spinal Deformity and Hip Preservation
	Jaclyn Hill, MD (Associate Professor) Residency: Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program Fellowship: Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Clinical Expertise: Dr. Hill is a pediatric orthoaedic surgeon with a specialty in pediatric Limb lengthening, complex reconstruction and clubfoot.
	Jason Jagodzinski, MD (Assistant Professor) Residency: University of Wisconsin Fellowship: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital Clinical Expertise: Pediatric Sports Medicine and Trauma
	Donald Kephart, MD (Assistant Professor) Residency: UC Davis Medical Center Fellowship: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Clinical Expertise: Orthopaedic surgeon, treating the musculoskeletal manifestations of neuromuscular diseases, pediatric fractures and infections, as well as general pediatric orthopaedic conditions.
	Nirav Pandya, MD (Chief of Pediatrics Orthopaedic Surgery, Vice-Chair of Pediatric Clinical Operations) Residency: University of Pennsylvania Fellowship: UCSD/Rady Children’s Hospital Clinical Expertise: Pediatric Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy
	Faustine Ramirez, MD (Assistant Professor) Residency: UCSF Fellowship:Stanford University Clinical Expertise: Primary care sports medicine doctor who cares for children and young adults with a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions
	Coleen S. Sabatini, MD, MPH (Associate Professor) Residency: Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Clinical Expertise: Clubfoot/Pediatric Foot Deformities, Trauma, Global Health
	Rhonda Watkins, MD, MPH (Assistant Professor) Residency: University of California San Francisco Fresno Fellowship: Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital Clinical Expertise: Primary care sports medicine doctor who cares for children and young adults with a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions

Thank you for your interest in our UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics Fellowship Program. Please contact any of us or program coordinator Brad Stark brad.stark@ucsf.edu for more information about our program.