Application Process

Eligibility

To be eligible for the UCSF Thoracic Surgery Residency Program, applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited General Surgery residency by the date of starting the program.

Current UCSF categorical general surgery residents in good standing are eligible to apply for the Fast Track 4/3 program. Both cardiac-track as well as thoracic-track residents are encouraged to apply. Interested residents should contact our program coordinator approximately two years before they start their fourth clinical year. Typically, this is during the first half of their first research year.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted during the fourth year of clinical surgery training. Applicants must apply online through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) website.

Applications are considered complete once the following documents are received through ERAS:

• Common Application Form (CAF)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) Report (generated by the program from the CAF)
• Personal Statement
• Medical School Transcript(s)
• Dean’s Letter
• Three Letters of Recommendation (one Chairman letter if possible)
• Official Transcripts from NBME with all USMLE Scores
• ABSITE Scores
• NRMP Applicant Number

Students and graduates from international medical schools must also provide the following:

• Verification of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification (provided through ERAS)
• Verification of ECFMG J-1 visa status
• Verification of United States residency status (permanent resident, naturalized citizen, etc.)
• Copy of valid (unexpired) Medical Board of California Authorization Letter

Please note we will not accept any additional supporting documents by mail or email.

Applicants must register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) website for the matching process. The UCSF program code is 14924170.

Deadline

We currently accept 1-2 candidates each year through the NRMP Thoracic Surgery Residency Match, with selection taking place one year in advance of program start. Electronic submission of all application materials on ERAS is typically due in November of the application year. Please refer to Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) and National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for specific deadlines. 

Interview Dates

Interviews will be held at the Parnassus Campus each Spring, typically in February and March. Typically, a candidate reception dinner is hosted by the Program Director the evening before interviews. Candidates will then meet with the Program Director and our cardiothoracic faculty the following morning, followed by a tour of the campus led by the current residents.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact our program administrator:

Mari Collings
Education Program Administrator
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
500 Parnassus Avenue, Suite MUW-405
San Francisco, CA 94143-0118
tel: 415-353-7502
[email protected]