UCLA General Surgery Residency Program: Comprehensive Requirements and Opportunities

The UCLA General Surgery Residency Program is highly competitive, emphasizing resident education and cultivating future surgeon-leaders. This article provides a detailed overview of the program's requirements, training environment, research opportunities, and application process.

Training Philosophy and Environment

The General Surgery Residency at UCLA places tremendous emphasis on resident education. The program develops appropriate, graduated resident autonomy under the supervision of academic faculty within the County hospital environment. Residents obtain a rich and early operative experience. Chief residents graduate with close to 1200 cases each (the national average is 1050), indicating an exceptional level of surgical exposure. Senior residents actively participate as teaching assistants to the junior residents, fostering a collaborative learning atmosphere.

A key advantage of the program is the absence of operative surgical fellows, ensuring that chief residents do not compete for cases with more senior trainees. The program prides itself on providing training in open, laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic surgery, ensuring residents graduate with a diverse set of operative experiences.

Clinical Experience and Affiliations

The residents’ clinical experience is augmented by affiliations with surrounding hospitals, including:

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (pediatric surgery)
UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital (solid organ transplant and endocrine surgery)
University of Southern California (burn surgery)
City of Hope Medical Center (surgical oncology)
Kaiser Permanente South Bay and Baldwin Park (general surgery and minimally invasive surgery).

These affiliations provide exposure to a wide range of surgical specialties and patient populations. Harbor-UCLA boasts a well-rounded, dedicated faculty of full-time academicians, each appointed by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Research and Professional Development

Resident research and professional development time is an expectation between the 3rd and 4th year of training. Residents may elect to stay at Harbor or seek research opportunities elsewhere. In recent years, residents have enrolled at the National Cancer Institute Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship, participated in basic science research at City of Hope Cancer Institute, at UCLA Main Campus, and at the University of California, Irvine.

Research residents regularly participate in presentations at local, regional, and national meetings and have been recognized with scholarships and awards for their work. Harbor’s combination of outstanding hands-on training and research experience has translated into great success in placing chief residents into fellowship. Many graduates have pursued fellowship training in a wide array of specialties: Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Trauma/Critical Care, Vascular, Colorectal, MIS, Cardiothoracic, and Plastic Surgery. Some graduates affirm their preparedness by taking jobs in general and rural surgery.

Application Process and Requirements

The UCLA General Surgery Residency Program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP or “The Match”) and will accept applications only via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Important NRMP Codes

Categorical General Surgery: NRMP Code 1956440C0
Preliminary General Surgery: NRMP Code: 1956440P0

Application Steps

The steps to apply are as follows:

Complete the NRMP match enrollment materials on AAMC

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Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) on ERAS and include the following:
- Dean’s letter (MSPE)
- Medical school transcript with grades
- Personal statement
- USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores (The program does not have a cut-off score and reviews your application as a whole)
- Three letters of recommendation
All graduates from foreign medical schools must have certification from the Education Committee for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) before your application is reviewed.

Application Review Timeline

Categorical General Surgery Applicants:

Applications are reviewed beginning in early October.
Interview invitations are sent out between October 27th - November 2nd.
Interview dates: November 19, 2025, December 3, 2025, and January 7, 2026.
All interviews for the 2025-2026 application cycle will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

Preliminary General Surgery Applicants:

Applications are reviewed in January.
All interviews should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.

Salary and Compensation

The salary is commensurate with academic rank and experience. In accordance with AB 168 and SB 1162, the initial/base salary range for this position is $168,700-455,961. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan, which provides for eligibility for additional compensation.

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Faculty and Academic Opportunities

The Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is seeking an MIS/Advanced GI Surgeon at the Assistant or Associate Professor level to join the academic practice within the Division of General Surgery. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of clinical excellence and academic productivity. This position offers teaching, clinical and research opportunities in a large academic center. The appointee will have expertise in minimally invasive surgical approaches and provide care for general surgery patients with a focus on the surgical management of complex hernias in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Practice locations include Santa Monica Hospital. Other duties will include teaching and supervision of trainees and students, and scholarly activity. Academic rank and compensation are dependent upon qualifications. Candidates must have an MD degree or equivalent and be board-eligible or certified and be eligible for California medical licensure.

Institutional Values and Mission

The shared values of the DGSOM (David Geffen School of Medicine) are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms an unswerving commitment to doing what is right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time.

The UCLA Mission Statement states, "As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of the state of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education."

Reflecting on personal and professional experiences, highlighting past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan is essential. As a University employee, compliance with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time, is required. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Program Goals and Objectives

The UCLA General Surgery Residency Training Program is dedicated to training the next generation of surgeon-leaders by:

Graduating residents are defined by their excellence in surgical technique, clinical decision making, and dedication to improving the lives of patients.
Cultivating clinical excellence through weekly didactic sessions, hands-on simulations, cadaver labs, and patient-centered case conferences. As a result, graduates of the program achieve one of the highest first-time pass rates of both the American Board of Surgery Qualifying and Certifying examinations.
Promoting academic excellence through one-on-one research mentoring and collaboration across specialties, professions, countries, and institutions.
Aspiring to achieve true workforce diversity in general surgery through mentoring, advocacy, and the cultivation of an inclusive work environment.

Clinical Experience: Breadth and Depth

In surgical training, there is no substitute for the breadth and depth of clinical experience. Residents grow comfortable in the management of both highly complex and common general surgery ailments, as well as the structural determinants of health across patient populations. Residents develop expertise in the management of complex disease at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, the highest-ranked medical center on the West Coast and an international referral center.

David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) Requirements

To become eligible for the MD Degree at David Geffen School of Medicine, each student must meet DGSOM program objectives, learning objectives of required courses and clerkships, and required clinical experiences. This is determined through formative and summative assessments in each course and clerkship.

DGSOM has an effective system of student monitoring and advising; it is ultimately the student's responsibility to be aware of their academic performance and possible failure to complete course requirements (as established by each unit of the curriculum). At the conclusion of each academic year, the Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion reviews the academic progress of each student to make a decision for promotion to the next course year. The Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion may require that an individual student repeat a portion or all of an academic year (subsequent to incomplete or unsatisfactory course work or an approved leave of absence). Students have a maximum of six academic years ending at the conclusion of the School of Medicine Spring term of the sixth academic year for degree completion excluding time spent on an approved academic leave of absence. Refer to the Leaves of Absence policy and the annual School of Medicine academic calendars.

Graduation Requirements

All requirements must be completed to be eligible for graduation.

Passing All Coursework: Students must maintain a satisfactory level of performance in DGSOM coursework.
Annual recommendation for promotion by the Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, & Promotion (CASPP)
Passing National Board Examinations: Students must take and pass USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)
Passing the Clinical Performance Examination (CPX): Students must take and pass CPX
Completion Time: Students must successfully complete the designated four-year program of medical education. DGSOM does not offer a formal extended program. Recognizing that some students may need additional time, students may take no longer than six years to complete the program. Approved Medical and Academic Leaves of Absence are not counted towards the six-year limit.
Recommendation of Degree: Upon successful completion of the curriculum of DGSOM, the student is recommended to the FEC for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The final approval for graduation is made by the FEC and the Vice Dean for Education of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dual Degree Programs

PRIME-LA: PRIME-LA students are required to complete a MD + Master’s Degree. PRIME-LA students must complete their MD + Master’s Degree within 150% of the published program length.
UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP): MSTP students are required to complete the MD portion of their degree within 150% of the published program length. Students complete their medical training at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and their PhD in one of many graduate training programs at UCLA or the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology (OMFS Residency): The Postdoctoral/Residency Program is a six-year dual-degree training program, leading to both a M.D. degree and an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) residency certificate.

Graduate Aspirations

The program aims to cultivate graduates who are:

COURAGEOUS: A physician who welcomes uncertainty as a space for discovery, questions and challenges the world around them, and is unafraid to do what is difficult. They consistently seek out areas for growth and are advocates for their patients, profession, science, and society.
CURIOUS: A physician who always has the desire to ask “Why”. They are internally motivated to challenge assumptions, ask questions, seek creative answers, and to continuously improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
DEDICATED: A physician who has the passion to persevere towards long-term goals, is motivated by a strong sense of purpose and ownership, and embraces lifelong learning.
ETHICAL: A physician who is honest, altruistic, and patient-centered. They are motivated by duty, integrity, social justice, and concern for the common good.
HUMBLE: A physician who recognizes the honor of practicing medicine, helping others, and contributing to scientific knowledge. They accept the limits of their own knowledge and abilities, are willing to grow and change their own perspective, and are open to learning from others.
HUMANISTIC: A physician who values and strives to treat everyone with kindness, genuine compassion, empathy, and respect for their diverse background and values.
REFLECTIVE: A physician who is mindful, conscientious, and adaptable.

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center: A Comprehensive Training Environment

The Surgery Residency Program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center represents a comprehensive training opportunity in the field of general surgery. The program is situated within a top-tier academic institution, known for its diverse surgical faculty members and its commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research.

Program Overview

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is both a major safety net hospital and a tertiary referral center, recognized as one of the busiest Level I Trauma Centers in the Western United States. The Department of Surgery comprises 13 divisions staffed by a total of 50 full-time and 10 part-time faculty members. The program offers residency training in General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery, and fellowships in related surgical specialties. The faculty is dedicated not only to service but also to education, embodying a mentorship-driven approach to residency training and resident development.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

The program prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, establishing a dedicated committee that routinely engages in initiatives aimed at fostering a supportive training environment. These include mentorship opportunities, community outreach programs, and a holistic approach to applicant review. Women hold a significant presence in the faculty and leadership roles within the Department.

Facilities and Technologies

The Harbor-UCLA Medical Center boasts state-of-the-art surgical facilities, which include 16 newly built ultramodern operating rooms and a fully equipped 50+ bed emergency room catered to high-level trauma management. The practice is equipped with advanced surgical technologies and techniques, such as endovascular methods for treating complex thoracic aortic issues, robotic surgery programs across various specialties, and innovative chemotherapeutic approaches.

Education and Wellness

Education is a cornerstone of the residency experience, highlighted by unique programs including 'Residents and Fellows as Teachers' and a structured 'Surgical Trainee Assessment of Readiness' exam aimed at enhancing the instructional capacity of trainees. Resident wellness is also of paramount importance, featuring annual retreats, programming focused on fitness, stress management, and nutrition.

Research Opportunities

Research is deeply integrated into the residency at Harbor-UCLA, supported in part by the Lundquist Institute, which secures funding from the NIH and other significant sources. Faculty and trainees engage in cutting-edge research, including notable contributions to trials such as those presented in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding noninferiority of antibiotics for acute appendicitis management. An 'Annual Resident Research Day' celebrates scholarly work and fosters a culture of inquiry.

Visa Support and Application Competitiveness

The program offers visa sponsorship for qualified international medical graduates, facilitating training opportunities that align with the program's mission of diversity and inclusiveness. While competitive, the program maintains an inclusive stance toward applicants with varied educational backgrounds, including those from DO and IMG communities.

Special Application Requirements

Specific application criteria are followed, which may include guidelines regarding the year of graduation and limits on failed STEP examinations.

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