The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery participates in ERAS and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
Each year, UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery matches seven first-year residents (PGY-1s) to the 5-year program, and one to a six-year program with one year of dedicated research. All applications are handled through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Application requirements
- Personal statement
- Dean’s letter
- Medical school transcript
- Three letters of recommendation (one must be a non-ortho letter, i.e. internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, non-ortho research, general surgery, pediatrics, etc).
- CV
- (USMLE) Step I score
Please do not email or mail additional documents directly to the program. All documents must be uploaded in (ERAS).
Application deadline
The 2025-2026 application due date is Friday, October 10th, 2025.
Interviews
The 2025-2026 interview dates are Thursday, January 15th and Friday, January 16th, 2026.
Please direct any additional questions to our residency program coordinator, Dan Peterson at Dan.Peterson@ucsf.edu.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a residency position, applicants must have graduated from, or be currently enrolled in the final year at, a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Applicants must be eligible for employment and graduate medical education training in the U.S. under UCSF GME policies, having obtained U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid visa to work in the U.S. Applicants must also successfully complete the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step I. Additional USMLE examination (Step II CK and CS) must be completed in accordance with UCSF GME requirements prior to matriculation.
Selection Criteria
- Applicants must demonstrate the academic foundation and professional readiness required to successfully complete orthopaedic surgery residency training at UCSF. This includes evidence of:
- Foundational medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and patient care skills
- Engagement in research, quality improvement, education, or other scholarly activities that contribute to the advancement of medicine and patient care
- Commitment to compassionate, evidence-based healthcare delivery across diverse populations and systems
- Applicants should exemplify the character, qualities, and potential to advance the field of orthopaedics and musculoskeletal care. In particular, applicants are expected to demonstrate:
- Leadership - the capacity to guide teams, advocate for patients, and contribute to the advancement of the field.
- Motivation and Drive - perseverance, resilience, and commitment to excellence, as reflected in personal growth, accomplishments, distance traveled, or obstacles overcome in their educational or professional journey.
- Scholarly Engagement -participation and productivity in research, quality improvement, education, or other scholarly activities that advance science, medical knowledge, and patient care.
- Commitment to Education - sustained interest in teaching and mentoring peers, students, and patients, and a dedication to life-long learning.
- Service and Outreach - meaningful contributions to communities through clinical work ,advocacy, volunteerism, or other activities that extend the impact of medicine beyond the hospital.
- Collegiality and Collaboration - the ability to strengthen the residency and UCSF community through teamwork, respect, and inclusivity.
Selection and Appointments
The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery selects and appoints residents in accordance with the University of California and GME policy, and in compliance with all Federal and State laws.
It is the policy of UCSF and its affiliated hospitals that programs do not discriminate against qualified applicants based upon gender, ethnicity, race, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process. We are committed to promoting community, culture and engagement within all areas of our Department including our training programs.
The Department only reviews applications received through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Applicants are chosen for interviews based upon the contents of their ERAS application viewing each student’s file holistically. The selection of residents will be made on the basis of aptitude, academic accomplishments, communications skills, and personal qualities. Students who complete sub-internships at UCSF are selected for interviews based on both their ERAS application and their rotation performance as rated by Faculty and Residents with whom they worked. The applicant will be notified by email if he/she has been granted an interview. The Program Director chairs the Residency Selection Committee. The Residency Selection Committee is comprised of both Faculty and Chief Residents who are chosen to participate in the interview process. After all interviews are completed, the Residency Selection Committee members submit their scores to construct a final rank list that is submitted by the Program Director to the NRMP.
The offer of a residency or fellowship position is not final until the UCSF Attestation Statement (http://medschool.ucsf.edu/gme/appts/Individual.html) has been completed by the applicant and reviewed by the program. The attestation form asks for information about matters that are relevant to liability, credentialing and licensure1 requirements such as malpractice claims, drug and alcohol abuse, disciplinary action, and criminal convictions or pending charges. All “yes” responses require a detailed explanation. After review, an offer of a contract may be revoked or the conditions of the offer revised. Discovery of untruthful or misleading answers on the attestation form may subject an applicant to withdrawal of an offer or a resident to disciplinary action. Eligibility is defined in a separate policy.