• Benihoff Children's Hospitals Oakland and SF

    UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship

UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship

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

Program Details

Duration: 1 year (August 1, 2028 to July 31, 2029)

Fellowship Positions: 1 (POSNA-accredited)

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026 through SF Match

Combined Salary & Housing Allowance (AY2027-28): $113,149.00 plus benefits

Interview Date: March 12th, 2027

The Pediatric 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 able to accept international medical graduates who do not require visa sponsorship and who are eligible for an unrestricted medical license to practice in California. Please visit the California Medical Board's website to determine if your school is eligible for an unrestricted medical license in the state of California.

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

If you have any general questions, please feel free to send an email to our education team at orthoeduteam@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 offers comprehensive, well-rounded training in every aspect of the specialty. Based on an adult-learning model, our program prepares fellows to become clinically and technically exceptional surgeons who deliver outstanding care to diverse pediatric populations.

  • Fellows gain in-depth, hands-on experience across all major subspecialty areas, including:

    • Pediatric Trauma
    • Spinal Deformity
    • Pediatric Sports Medicine
    • Hip Preservation 
    • Limb Deformity and Deficiences
    • Neuromuscular Orthopaedics
    • Pediatric Foot and Ankle 
    • MSK Oncology
     
  • Our fellows train at premier regional institutions and major referral centers for Northern and Central California including UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, a designated Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center; and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, a major referral center.
     
  • In the second half of the training period, fellows may pursue up to 1-3 months of an overseas elective in Global Orthopaedics.
     
  • 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. Faculty perform over 1,600 operative procedures annually and see more than 31,000 outpatients. 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. Advanced training includes pediatric spine, trauma, limb deformity, and hip preservation. Pediatric trauma experience is provided throughout the year. 

A variety of opportunities exist to engage in global health work during the Fellowship.  Fellows can contribute content to our on-line pediatric orthopaedic educational platform Global HELP, which supports surgeons around the global; they can participate in week-long educational courses in LMICs through our Institute for Global Orthopaedic and Traumatology; or for those that really want to engage longer-term in global orthopaedic education and service, they can spend 1-3 months in Uganda through Dr. Sabatini’s partnership program based at CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital.  

Research

Opportunities for clinical, basic science, and biomechanics research at UCSF are available, including mentorship, study groups, databases, and lab resources; a new link will be provided soon to access these opportunities. Fellows must prepare at least one manuscript for publication and may attend national meetings with funding support.

Didactics

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

Thursdays: Indications and Fellows Case Conference 

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 attending at least one scientific meeting, and additional support is provided if presenting original research. 

Video Guides

UCSF Faculty

Thank you for your interest in our UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics Fellowship Program. Please contact any of us or Ortho Education Team OrthoEduTeam@ucsf.edu for more information about our program.