UC San Diego Division of Plastic Surgery Residency Program

Message from the Chief 

Welcome to the Division of Plastic Surgery!

If you are interested in reconstructive and plastic surgery, we provide a 6-year integrated plastic surgery training program coordinated with multiple surgical divisions and departments to create a comprehensive surgical training pathway for physicians seeking a career in plastic surgery. 

Our program highlights the diversity of plastic surgery with rotations in all surgical fields and multiple specialty fields. This extensive clinical experience is combined with a robust educational conference schedule, intern boot camps, training sessions, research, and visiting professor lectures.

At UC San Diego, we recognize the importance of a broad education achieved through multiple clinical environments.  UC San Diego's integrated plastic surgery program utilizes four distinct medical campuses, including Jacobs Medical Center, Hillcrest Medical Center, Rady Children's Health and the VA San Diego Healthcare System.  

Jacobs Medical Center represents the latest in state-of-the-art surgical training facilities. Opened in 2016 on the La Jolla Medical Campus, Jacobs Medical Center was designed as a center for advanced surgical care, comprehensive cancer treatment and high-risk obstetrics and neonatology. The La Jolla Medical Campus also includes the Thornton Hospital, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, Shiley Eye Institute and Moores Cancer Center. At Jacobs Medical Center, our residents participate in complex head and neck reconstruction, surgical oncology reconstruction, breast reconstruction, elective hand surgery, oculoplastic surgery and the full complement of aesthetic surgery.

The Hillcrest Medical Campus is located in the heart of San Diego (Hillcrest) and houses one of only two Level 1 Trauma Centers in the region, as well as the area's only regional burn center and a hyperbaric and complex wound treatment center. Hillcrest Medical Campus is a large volume center for the treatment of complex trauma, upper or lower extremity reconstruction, burn reconstruction, laser surgery, facial reanimation and treatment of vascular anomalies.

Rady Children's Health is the largest, free-standing pediatric hospital in California and the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in the San Diego area. Rady Children's Health is home to UC San Diego's craniofacial care center, vascular anomalies clinics and the Fresh Start International Surgical Care Program. Rady Children's Health is internationally recognized for the treatment of complex craniofacial disorders and is ranked nationally as one of the top pediatric hospitals across multiple specialties. Rady Children's Health affords residents the opportunity to gain skills in cleft lip and palate repair, craniosynostosis treatment, vascular lesions management and multidisciplinary pediatric sleep apnea treatment and the full spectrum of acute and elective pediatric reconstructive surgery.

The VA San Diego Healthcare System provides medical services to a large population of San Diego veterans, active military and their families. The Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  Medical Center has continued renovations for over five years, providing six operating rooms and one robotic suite as part of its surgical expansion. The hospital affords residents unique reconstructive opportunities, including microvascular surgical treatment, trauma reconstruction, oncology reconstruction, transgender surgery and advanced wound care.

The role of the plastic surgeon in the 21st century continues to expand as new treatments and procedures are developed to improve the quality of life for patients.  We strive to advance the treatment of all areas in plastic surgery through the comprehensive education of our residents. Our program is designed to provide residents with the relevant training and ethical guidance to meet the needs of plastic surgery patients for generations to come.

Applicants interested in becoming part of our residency program are encouraged to apply through the National Residency Match Program.