Stipend commensurate with level of training (PGY 5 or 6) plus benefits.
Deadline
November 5, 2026
Duration
1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Latest source audit
3 Oct 2026
Duration · published1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Clinical exposureHigh-volume programme at UC San Diego Medical Center (Hillcrest and Jacobs) and the VA Medical Center covering degenerative, traumatic, infectious, adult deformity and oncologic conditions, with major open reconstructions and computer-assisted MIS applied to deformity, revision, trauma and tumour; the fellow oversees the combined ortho–neurosurgery VAMC spine service. NASS: 70% operative / 30% non-operative; lumbar 45%, cervical 35%, thoracic 20%.
Funding · publishedStipend commensurate with level of training (PGY 5 or 6) plus benefits.
DestinationUnited States
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
What the official evidence currently supports
Decision-critical fields are separated into confirmed facts, partial information and points requiring direct confirmation.
—Not published
International applicant eligibility
The cited source does not explicitly confirm international-applicant eligibility.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Completed an ACGME orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery residency · Board-qualified or board-certified · Unrestricted California Medical License prior to commencement · California Fluoroscopy License prior to commencement · Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption (UC San Diego / San Diego County health-care worker policy)
✓Published by official source
Programme classification
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific.
?Confirm directly with host
Hands-on restrictions
Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
Unrestricted California Medical License and California Fluoroscopy License before the fellowship starts.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
—Not published
Language requirements
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Not published.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
Stipend commensurate with level of training (PGY 5 or 6) plus benefits.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
83% of core application fields verified
Checked 3 Oct 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-01. Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ registration✓ deadline✓ application process✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— international eligibility · not published by the cited official source— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— visa / work authorisation · not published by the cited official source— required documents · not published by the cited official source
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineNovember 5, 2026
Commencing dateAugust 1
Application route / cycleSF Match; interviews February 2027, in person.
Deadlines and intake dates can change between cycles. The data-quality ledger above explicitly labels application fields that the cited official source does not publish.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Published entry requirements
Clinical / academic eligibility
Completed an ACGME orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery residency
Board-qualified or board-certified
Unrestricted California Medical License prior to commencement
California Fluoroscopy License prior to commencement
Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption (UC San Diego / San Diego County health-care worker policy)
Registration, licence & examinations
Unrestricted California Medical License and California Fluoroscopy License before the fellowship starts.
Visa / work authorisation
Not published.
Application documents
Application via SF Match (documents not itemised on programme page)
Licensing, visa and document rules depend on the individual programme and application cycle. OrthoFellow does not infer USMLE, AHPRA, ECFMG, recommendation-letter or visa requirements from the country alone.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A one-year orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship at UC San Diego emphasising complex open reconstruction and advanced MIS for deformity, revision, trauma and tumour, with graduated autonomy, a fellow-run VA spine service and protected research time.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Benefits included (not itemised); protected research time; access to the SSEW surgical training centre (cadaveric and large-animal labs).
Benefits may depend on appointment type, training level, visa status and the active academic year. OrthoFellow keeps stipend and benefits separate so a salary figure is not mistaken for the full package.
HOST INSTITUTION
About UC San Diego School of Medicine – Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (UC San Diego Health)
UC San Diego Health's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery trains fellows at UC San Diego Medical Center (Hillcrest), Jacobs Medical Center and the VA San Diego Healthcare System.
Spine Fellowship Program DirectorOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Fellowship supervisor / program leadership
Affiliation
UC San Diego Health
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
R. Todd Allen is listed in the cited programme evidence as spine fellowship program director for Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
R. Todd Allen is listed by the official programme source as spine fellowship program director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Spine Fellowship Program Co-Director (NASS)Official profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
UC San Diego Health
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Vinko Zlomislic is listed in the cited programme evidence as spine fellowship program co-director (nass) for Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Vinko Zlomislic is listed by the official programme source as spine fellowship program co-director (nass). A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Spine Assistant Program Director (NASS); Health Sciences Assistant Clinical ProfessorOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
UC San Diego Health
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Micah Blais is listed in the cited programme evidence as spine assistant program director (nass); health sciences assistant clinical professor for Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Micah Blais is listed by the official programme source as spine assistant program director (nass); health sciences assistant clinical professor. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Takashi Hirase is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Takashi Hirase is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Names and fellowship roles come from the cited programme source. A green “individual profile verified” label means the position, qualifications and biography were also checked against an official personal or institutional profile. OrthoFellow displays a portrait only when it can be tied to an official profile or faculty source; otherwise the host institution brandmark is shown, with initials retained only when neither image is available. Faculty rosters may change.
