Program Overview
At our institution, we love to encourage didactic learning through academic preparation and research. We offer a series of weekly engaging lectures and conferences covering various topics.
- Anatomy and surgical cadaver dissection
- Hands-on workshops for surgical skills, casting, and splinting
- Expert-led lectures related to basic science, biomechanics, foot and ankle, adult arthroplasty, sports medicine, biomechanics, pediatrics, oncology, hand, spine, trauma, and rehab
Throughout our five-year residency, we have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal medicine, including:
- Joints
- Trauma
- Spine
- Foot and ankle
- Sports
- Pediatrics
- Hand
- Tumor
- General Orthopaedics
Resident Rotation Schedules
From Year 1 through Year 5, your rotations at the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program at St. Mary’s will include residency training at the following institutions:
UCSF Health St. Mary’s Hospital
Alameda County Medical Center — Highland Hospital
Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California
PGY-1 Year Overview
The internship year at the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program consists of a comprehensive introduction to medicine and surgery. It incorporates a wide variety of specialties and disciplines that allow you to build a solid foundation of academic and practical medical knowledge. Six months are spent on orthopaedic surgery and six months on off-service rotations. Each rotation in Intern year is one month long.
PGY-1 Rotations:
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
- Orthopaedic Surgery – 2 months at Highland Hospital, 2 months at Kaiser Oakland and 2 months at UCSF St. Mary’s
- Internal Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)
PGY-2 Through PGY-5 Year Overview
The second through fifth years of resident training incorporate intense academic concentration on orthopaedic surgery. Training takes place at four distinct institutions that help residents gain a balanced understanding of the subtle differences within the healthcare system. One-half day a week is dedicated to outpatient clinical duties, and residents have the opportunity to engage in a variety of private outpatient clinical experiences.
PGY-2 Through PGY-5 Rotations:
- Joints
- Spine
- Foot and Ankle
- Sports
- General Orthopedics
- Hand
- Pediatrics
- Tumor
- Research
Residents complete 2 Research Rotations over PGY 2 and 3 (a total of 4 months) with the support of our research director, Dr Richard Raji.
For more information about the orthopaedic residency program at UCSF St. Mary’s, please contact Cheryl Hanes, Program Coordinator at [email protected].
Program Leadership
Program Director
Dr. Brian Farrell
Attending Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon at Kaiser Oakland
SFORP Class of 2014
Assistant Program Director
Dr. Jennifer van Warmerdam
Attending Arthroplasty Surgeon at UCSF St Mary’s
SFORP class of 2009
Highland Hospital Site Director
Dr. James DiStefano
Attending Orthopaedic Sports Surgeon, Highland Hospital
SFORP Class of 2011
Program Coordinator
Cheryl Hanes
[email protected]
Letter from the Program Director
The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at St. Mary’s was founded in 1961. Our program has produced nearly two hundred graduates who have gone on to provide orthopaedic care throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country. Currently 11 members of our faculty are alumni of the program, which demonstrates our passion for resident education and
our desire to continue to support our program, which has given us our strong foundation in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Our program has remained relatively unchanged over several decades and offers several unique qualities.
First, we have a small close-knit group of 15 residents. Our residents form lifelong relationships with their peers and the faculty. Our residents work hard to challenge each other and improve their knowledge and skills as a group.
Second, we have a unique diversity of rotation sites, which include the private practice setting at UCSF Health – St. Mary’s, the hospital-based practice at Kaiser Oakland Medical Center, the county hospital at Highland Hospital and the pediatric rotations at Shriner’s Hospital for Children. The different practice environments provide our residents with a broad exposure to the orthopaedic subspecialties.
Third, our approach to training is an apprenticeship model that allows for early operative experience and one-on-one training with faculty in both the operating room and the clinic. Our faculty are universally committed to teaching and have made the choice to practice with the clear intention of training excellent orthopaedic surgeons.
We are interested in finding humble physicians with a broad range of talents and a desire to commit themselves to providing high quality medical care for our population. The specialty of Orthopaedic Surgery is demanding but it is also extremely rewarding. The key to becoming a successful surgeon is to start with a strong educational foundation. We are proud of our tradition and our approach to resident education. If you are interested in our program, we strongly encourage you to come rotate with us on a sub-internship.
Current Residents
PGY-5, Class of 2025
Alex Rosinski, MD
Undergraduate: University of Washington
Medical School: UC Irvine College of Medicine
Fellowship: Hand and Microvascular Surgery-University of Kentucky
Andrea Rowland, MD
Undergraduate: UCLA
Medical School: University of Toledo SOM
Fellowship: Spine- University of Washington Harborview Medical Center
Ishan Shah, MD
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine - USC
Fellowship: Trauma: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
PGY-4, Class of 2026
Benjamin Crawford, MD
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine
John Shapton, MD
Undergraduate: University of Washington
Medical School: Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine Science
Ian Singleton, MD
Undergraduate: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine
PGY-3, Class of 2027
Carson Gardner, MD
Undergraduate: UCLA
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine-USC
Anna Martin, MD
Undergraduate: University of Cambridge
Medical School: Trinity College Dublin
Ariana Paniagua, MD
Undergraduate: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
PGY-2, Class of 2028
Stephanie Chang, MD
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
Amit Piple, MD
Undergraduate: UC San Diego
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Mayur Urva, MD
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Medical School: New York Medical College
PGY-1, Class of 2029
Oliver Dong, MD
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Nathan Smith, MD
Undergraduate: Penn State University-University Park
Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine
Ana Starcevich, MD
Undergraduate: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: UC Davis College of Medicine
Didactics
Weekly Didactics
Didactics occur every Tuesday morning throughout the academic year. All residents are released from clinical duties to attend. The year begins with Summer Anatomy Sessions, followed by OITE preparation and then attending-led lectures and workshops covering a broad foundation of orthopaedics. Throughout the year, we have in-person bio-skills labs supported by our partners in industry. The broad curriculum serves as the foundation for the academic portion of the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program (SFORP).
Summer Anatomy
Our summer lecture series begins with anatomy and surgical cadaver dissection from July through September. This series includes an emphasis on functional anatomy and surgical operative approaches. Residents have access to the anatomy lab throughout the summer to practice dissection and prepare the approaches. Our anatomy lectures have an attending specialist for each focused anatomical area.
Journal Club
We host a monthly journal club covering each orthopaedic subspecialty. These are well attended by faculty, alumni and residents.
Site-Specific Didactics
St. Mary’s: Thursday morning Spine Conference
Kaiser Oakland: Bi-monthly Trauma Conference, held in conjunction with Highland residents and faculty. The monthly Arthroplasty Conference is held in conjunction with Highland residents and faculty.
Highland Hospital: Monday Fracture Conference, Wednesday Journal Club
Application Process
Thank you for your interest in the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program (SFORP). We participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for our annual match. We offer three (3) categorical orthopaedic surgery residency positions each year, with a total of fifteen residents participating in our program annually. Contact your medical school Dean's office to obtain the ERAS application.
We require three (3) letters of recommendation and a letter from the Dean of your medical school. Be sure to have your letters of recommendation sent officially through ERAS. You are responsible for following up with your selected references to ensure your information has been sent and received before the deadline.
After your application materials have been uploaded to ERAS, our program director and interview committee will review your application. It is imperative that you include all of the required documentation with your application in order for you to be considered for an interview.
The deadline for application materials each year is November 1.
When submitting your personal statement, highlight your unique qualities and experiences and explain your specific interest and future goals in orthopaedic surgery.
We participate in Universal Offer Day, as set by the AOA annually. Our interview invitations will be sent on Universal Offer Day. We will conduct three (3) days of interviews on three consecutive Fridays in January. You will only be required to participate in one of these three interview days. Please allow a total of 3 hours for your interviews.
For more information, please contact our Program Coordinator, Cheryl Hanes, at [email protected].
Medical Student Clerkship
The San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program (SFORP) offers four-week clerkships for students currently enrolled in medical school. The rotation will offer a breadth of orthopaedic exposure in multiple clinical environments aimed at furthering the student's orthopaedic knowledge and preparing them for residency. Furthermore, the rotation provides an opportunity for the residents to familiarize themselves with the program.
Rotations can be scheduled for dates starting May 1st through November 1st. Applications will open on February 1st of every year.
Rotation Schedule
Students rotate at both St. Mary's Hospital (2 weeks) and Highland Hospital (2 weeks). The rotation may start at either of the sites, and after two weeks, the student will switch to the other site.
Responsibilities
- Students will be assigned to a resident/service at St. Mary's. They will participate in all aspects of clinical care associated with that service, including clinic, OR, rounding, and pre-operative planning.
- At Highland, students will function as an integral part of the trauma service team helping with rounding, clinic, evaluation of patients in the emergency room, and operative management of orthopaedic trauma.
- Students will attend weekly Tuesday morning didactics with the residents
- At St. Mary's, students will also attend Thursday morning spine conference with the residents every week
How to Apply
Please submit the following:
- Medical Student Affiliation Agreement
- Certificate of Insurance from Medical School
- Application for Clerkship
- Medical Student Contact Information
- Copies of (2) step TB/PPD Tests: First TB must be within one year of rotation, and Second TB must be within 3 months of rotation.
- Current Immunization Records and Mask Fit Test within the current year (will only accept 1860 Kimberly Clark or 3M N95)
- USMLE Step 1 Certificate and USMLE Step 2 score, if taken
- Current CV
- 1/2 page summary: Please describe your specific interest in orthopaedic surgery and include your reasons for wanting to participate in an elective rotation at SFORP. We also recommend that you take this opportunity to include important information about yourself that you would like to share with our Program Director, Dr. Brian Farrell.
Please contact Program Coordinator Cheryl Haynes [email protected].
Salaries and Benefits
The San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program (SFORP) is part of the CIR-UC Union. Salaries and Benefits and negotiated through the CIR-UC union.
Residency PGY
|
Monthly |
Annual |
| I |
$7,324.17 |
$87,890 |
| II |
$7,522.00 |
$90,264 |
| III |
$7,764.25 |
$90,264 |
| IV |
$8,017.25 |
$96,207 |
| V |
$8,289.92 |
$99,479 |
Health Insurance
Housestaff are eligible for health; dental; life; accidental death and dismemberment; long‐term disability; and vision plans offered through the School of Medicine. Housestaff insurance is bundled; therefore, if a trainee opts out of health insurance than he/she is not eligible for any of the other insurance types. When a trainee is enrolled in a health insurance plan, he/she is also enrolled in dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long‐term disability.
As employees of the University of California, San Francisco, SFORP residents receive a robust benefits package. For more information on resident and fellow benefits and to take full advantage of everything this program has to offer please visit USCF's overview of benefits for residents and clinical fellows.
Educational Funds and Benefits
You will receive an educational stipend of $1000 per year which can be used to purchase educational books, reference materials or can be used towards additional educational expenses. Our program will reimburse your initial medical license and DEA fees, including one renewal prior to graduation.
Educational Courses
PGY2-5 Residents are allowed one week educational leave annually to attend the following courses:
- PGY-2: AO North America Basic Principles and Techniques of Operative Fracture Management Course for Residents
- PGY-3: AAOS Annual Academy Meeting
- PGY-4: AO North America Principles of Operative Fracture Management Part 2 Advanced Principles and AAOS or Miller Board Review Course
- PGY-5: AAOS Annual Academy Meeting OR Optional 2nd Board Review Course
All expenses are covered by the program to attend the above referenced courses including course fees, hotel, airfare, transportation and a $100.00 meal allowance per day. You are often able to attend many other local and national educational and training courses throughout your residency, based on pre-approval from the Program Director.
Lab Coats
At the start of residency, you receive new lab coats. Weekly laundry service is provided by the Medical Center at no charge to you.
On-Call Accommodation
The Medical Center shall provide, at no charge to you, "on-call rooms" for overnight stays at the Medical Center during your on-call periods under the SFORP program.
Cafeteria
Meal stipends are provided at all our rotation sites per the institutional policy.
Parking
The Medical Center's parking garage shall be available to you during your on-call periods under the Program, when you're required to be on the Medical Center premises during rotation to another facility, and on those ordinary on-duty days when you must leave the Medical Center premises for professional purposes and return to the Medical Center premises on the same day.
Resident Life
Resident life in the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program is both rigorous and rewarding, reflecting a balance of hard work and camaraderie. Based across San Francisco and Oakland, residents live on either side of the Bay Bridge, taking full advantage of the culture and natural beauty the Bay Area offers. As a small, close-knit program, residents develop meaningful friendships, supporting one another through the challenges of training and celebrating successes together. Many residents have built families in residency and the program supports 4 weeks of maternity or paternity leave. A major event of the social calendar is our annual summer retreat—recently to destinations like Tahoe and Lake Berryessa—as well as holiday parties, wellness days, and a post-OITE adventure. Residents and attendings celebrate the years of hard work and friendship on graduation day with the SFORP tradition of a round of golf before the graduation ceremony.
Program History
The San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program began in 1963 as an amalgamation of several free-standing Orthopedic Training programs in San Francisco. The catalyst for the formation of a combined program was Colonel Lloyd W. Taylor, MD. He had recently retired from a long career in the United States Army Medical Corps and his last duty station was as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and director of Orthopedic Education at Letterman Army Hospital at the Presidio. He went into private practice in San Francisco at St. Mary ‘s Hospital and set about combing the existing Orthopedic Residencies at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mary’s Help (now Seton), Public Health Hospital, Franklin Hospital (now Ralph K Davies) French Hospital, and the VA Hospital Martinez into a strong, single unified program in 1963. It was under the direction of himself and his partners, Dr. Garnet Wynne, and Dr. Richard B. Welch.
The program has always attracted applicants of the highest caliber. With an emphasis on community-based orthopedic surgery and a strong emphasis on basic science, the program has produced outstanding surgeons who have established practices throughout the United States and have risen to the highest levels of office in State and National Orthopedic Associations. Despite its small size, the Alumni Association has remained in close contact with the SFORP Residency Program, providing financial and educational support to excellent future Orthopedic Surgeons.
History of SFORP courtesy of Dr. Ed DeMayo, founder of the SFORP Alumni Association.
