Welcome

Greetings!

Welcome to the UC San Diego Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency and Fellowship Program! We are proud to offer a rigorous, high-volume, and innovation-driven training program in one of the most diverse and dynamic clinical environments in the country.

As program director, I am honored to lead a team of dedicated faculty who are committed to the professional and personal development of every resident and fellow. Our program is built on a foundation of clinical excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a strong tradition of mentorship and collaboration. Whether in the operating room, clinic, or research lab, we emphasize thoughtful, patient-centered care grounded in the latest evidence and technology.

Residents at UC San Diego receive early and progressive operative exposure across a range of practice settings, including our academic tertiary-care centers (Jacobs Medical Center and UC San Diego Medical Center), the VA San Diego Healthcare System, outpatient-based labs, and Kaiser San Diego. This broad experience ensures you will develop technical proficiency across the spectrum of vascular surgery — from open thoracoabdominal aortic reconstructions and complex limb salvage to advanced endovascular procedures and dialysis access.

With case volumes averaging over 1,000 major vascular procedures per resident during training, our graduates are confident, independent, and technically exceptional. Our philosophy of graduated autonomy means that from your earliest years, you will be supported in the operating room with increasing responsibility as you demonstrate readiness, decision-making ability, and technical skill.

But technical training is only one component of our program. We also prioritize a robust didactic curriculum, protected educational time, and a culture of academic excellence. Weekly conferences, journal clubs, mock oral exams, and surgical skills labs foster lifelong learning and prepare our trainees for board certification and academic leadership.

Our faculty are nationally recognized leaders in vascular surgery, passionate educators, and innovative scientists. They actively involve residents in cutting-edge translational and clinical research — including NIH-funded studies on diabetic vasculopathy, wound healing, and endovascular therapeutics.

We are proud of the residents and fellows who have trained here — exceptional individuals who go on to academic faculty roles, as well as hybrid or community practice with confidence and a commitment to excellence.

If you are seeking a program that blends surgical complexity, operative independence, and academic rigor in a collaborative and supportive environment, we believe UC San Diego is the ideal place for you to thrive. Please contact our Program Administrator Erika Somers, 858-226-8841.

We look forward to welcoming you to San Diego!

John Lane, M.D.

Professor of Surgery
Vascular and Endovascular Therapy
0+5 Vascular Residency Program Director