UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

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UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

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Pioneering musculoskeletal discovery and innovating care to transform lives. orthosurgery.ucsf.edu

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF provides expert treatment for all aspects of musculoskeletal injuries including inpatient and outpatient surgical care, rehabilitation, and orthotics and prosthetics. Our physicians have specific training and experience in a broad range of orthopaedic specialties such as sports medicine, trauma, joint replacement, pediatrics, oncology, spine, shoulder and elbow, foot and ankle, and hand. The Department is internationally recognized for its work in patient care, education, and research. Our basic and translational research programs focus on cartilage and disc regeneration, fracture healing, molecular and stem cell biology, bioengineering, and musculoskeletal development.

11/05/2026

Thank you, UCLA, for a fantastic UC Women of Ortho Leadership Summit!

On October 24, faculty, residents and fellows from UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC San Diego came together at UCLA for the 2026 UC Women of Ortho Annual Leadership Summit.

The day was filled with inspiring conversations, shared experiences and meaningful connections—exploring well-being, leadership in orthopaedic research and navigating career transitions.

Featured speakers included Kristy Weber, MD, Past President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Shyni Varghese, PhD, UCLA's Vice Chair of Research; and Tamara Scerpella, MD, Chair of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

We're especially proud of UCSF's Melissa Zimel, MD, Coleen Sabatini, MD, MPH, and Rosanna Wustrack, MD—founding members of UC Women of Ortho who continue to help shape this collaborative community through their service on the annual summit planning committee.

A big thank-you to UCLA for hosting and to everyone who made this gathering so special. We can't wait to see everyone next year!

Link in bio/learn more: https://orthosurgery.ucsf.edu/outreach/local/uc-women-ortho

11/04/2026

$100K Grant Awarded to RISE to Advance Brain Injury Rehabilitation

A big thank you to the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation for awarding a $100K Equity & Innovation Grant to RISE (Rehabilitative In-room Support and Engagement), an innovative program focused on improving recovery for patients with traumatic brain injuries at Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG).

We are especially proud of Amica Cohn, MD, assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, who will help lead this important work.

RISE brings together Rehabilitation Services, Nursing and Neurosciences to train 15 nursing assistants as Restorative Coaches, extending rehabilitation activities beyond scheduled therapy sessions and creating more opportunities for patient recovery.

Congratulations, Dr. Cohn, and the entire RISE team! We are grateful to the Foundation for supporting this important step toward patient-centered care.

Read the full story (link in bio).

Photo: Amica Cohn, MD (fourth from left, holding check), joins RISE team members and Foundation representatives at the grant award ceremony.

Photo courtesy of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation.

11/03/2026

Does Spine Research Travel?

Can spine research in one part of the world improve lives everywhere?

It's a question four UCSF orthopaedic surgeons — David Gendelberg, MD, David Shearer, MD, MPH, Saam Morshed, MD, PhD, and Ashraf N. El Naga, MD — explore alongside an international research team in a new study published in Global Spine Journal.

Much of today's spine research comes from wealthier countries, where access to specialized care, medical equipment and treatment may be very different from other parts of the world.

Led by senior author Dr. Gendelberg, the team examined 50 years of clinical spine research across sub-Saharan Africa. The finding? Just 154 studies met their criteria over five decades.

But there's encouraging news: International research collaborations were associated with more rigorous studies, offering a promising path toward stronger evidence and better spine care worldwide.

“The goal isn't simply to expand spine research. It's to make sure that research reflects the patients and communities we're trying to help.” — David Gendelberg, MD

Read the study/link in bio : https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682261498667

10/30/2026

It's Halloween at UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery!

The costumes were fantastic. The creativity was impressive. And somehow, everyone still managed to get some work done.

Behind the scrubs, lab coats and wonderfully creative costumes are the people who make this department such a special place.

Happy Halloween from all of us at UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery!

Have fun, stay safe and remember: Candy is not a food group. We've checked.

10/29/2026

Knee Pain? Know Your Options!

From physical therapy to surgery, finding the right treatment starts with understanding your options.

UCSF orthopaedic surgeon Nicholas Colyvas, MD, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and a leader in meniscus repair and preservation, was featured in The New York Times discussing knee health, treatment options and why preserving joint tissue matters.

With expertise in minimally invasive surgery and sports medicine, Dr. Colyvas emphasizes the importance of individualized care to help patients get back to the activities they love.

Thank you, Dr. Colyvas, for sharing your expertise and helping patients better understand their knee treatment options!

Read the full story in The New York Times. Link in bio.

10/29/2026

Bonjour, Québec! UCSF Spine Takes the Stage

Rajiv Sethi, MD, PhD, chief of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery at UCSF, recently served as keynote speaker at the 54th Annual Québec Scoliosis Society Meeting, held Oct. 22–24 in Bromont, Québec, Canada.

The annual gathering brought together clinicians, researchers, fellows and students for scientific exchange, with a strong emphasis on basic science research and emerging advances in scoliosis care.

Dr. Sethi also served as a visiting professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Université de Montréal, sharing expertise and strengthening international academic connections.

From advancing the science of scoliosis to embracing a little Montréal Canadiens hockey spirit, it was a memorable visit.

Merci to the Québec Scoliosis Society for the warm welcome!

10/28/2026

What I Know Now. Lessons in Medicine and Life.

Today's UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds brought together three distinguished leaders in medicine—Diana Farmer, MD; James Kasser, MD; and Daniel Lowenstein, MD—for a special conversation reflecting on lessons learned throughout their careers.

Moderated by Mohammad Diab, MD, the discussion explored the experiences, challenges and insights that shape careers in medicine and life.

Thank you to our panelists for sharing their perspectives and wisdom with the UCSF community!

Photo, front row, from left: Dr. Mohammad Diab, Dr. James Kasser, Dr. Diana Farmer and Dr. Daniel Lowenstein.

10/27/2026

Step into the latest advances in foot and ankle care!

Join UCSF Health Stanyan Hospital (formerly St. Mary’s Medical Center) for its Annual Foot and Ankle Symposium on Saturday, December 5, 2026.

Led by Lawrence Oloff, DPM, FACFAS, this multidisciplinary virtual program explores emerging technologies, evolving surgical techniques, biologic therapies, and patient-centered care—with practical insights to inform clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes.

Designed for podiatrists, medical professionals treating lower-extremity conditions, residents, and medical students.

December 5, 2026
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pacific
Virtual | CME credits available

Register at cmeonline.com. Link in bio.

10/26/2026

Three UCSF residents. Three innovative research projects.

Congratulations to UCSF Orthopaedic Surgery residents Hannah Chi, MD, MS; Jeremiah Taylor, MD, MS; and Jessica Schmerler, MD, recipients of the 2026 Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Resident Research Grants!

Each resident received an OREF grant to support research addressing important challenges in musculoskeletal health:

• Dr. Chi: “G9a/GLP inhibition reprograms FAPs and improves muscle quality”
Research mentor: Brian Feeley, MD.

• Dr. Taylor: “Suzetrigine After Labral Repair: An Opioid-Sparing Strategy”
Research mentor: Brian Feeley, MD.

• Dr. Schmerler: “Advancing Care Coordination and Efficient Specialty Services for Distal Radius Fractures (ACCESS-DRF)”
Research mentor: Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS.

These awards recognize the promise of our resident investigators and their contributions to advancing orthopaedic care.

Please join us in congratulating all three!

Read more at the link in our bio.

10/23/2026

The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is proud to announce that its chair, C. Benjamin Ma, MD, has been elected director-elect of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

Dr. Ma will join a 21-member board guiding certification standards for more than 30,000 orthopaedic surgeons nationwide. He follows past UCSF chairs Drs. LeRoy C. Abbott, David Bradford and Thomas P. “Tad” Vail, continuing the department’s tradition of national leadership.

“Patients trust us with their health, their mobility and their quality of life,” said Dr. Ma.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ma on this appointment and his continued service to patients and the profession!

Read the full story at the link in our bio.
https://orthosurgery.ucsf.edu/about/news-media/setting-standards-orthopaedic-surgeons-ucsfs-c-benjamin-ma-md-joins-american-board

Address

500 Parnassus Avenue, MU 320W
San Francisco, CA
94143

Telephone

+14153532808

Website

http://orthosurg.ucsf.edu/, https://linktr.ee/ucsforthosurg

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