Life as a Trainee
Living in San Diego as a UC San Diego student, resident and fellow has all the hallmarks of an envious vacation. San Diego is well known for its great weather, beautiful beaches and access to diverse cultural experiences. Year-round sunshine encourages an active lifestyle where health and wellness can be prioritized.
Hiking and watersports are a short drive away; whether you enjoy hiking at Mission Trails, surfing at La Jolla Shores, running along the boardwalk at Pacific Beach, or catching a yoga class on the beach, there are a myriad of options to choose from. San Diego is 2 hours from ski slopes at Big Bear and 30 minutes from Mexican culture south of the border.
Music enthusiasts can see performances by the world-class San Diego Symphony and La Jolla Music Society, experiencing breathtaking venues such as Copley Symphony Hall, the Rady Shell and the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Sports enthusiasts can catch baseball games at Petco Stadium and hockey, basketball, and lacrosse at the Pechanga Sports Arena. UC San Diego's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is the official health care provider of the Padres, Seals and Tritons.
After a full day of fun, enjoy an array of culinary experiences in San Diego's vibrant restaurant scene. Eat pizza and pasta in Little Italy; enjoy fresh seafood in La Jolla and Del Mar; sample great East Asian cuisine near Convoy Street; and, no matter where you go in the city, you'll have access to some of the best Mexican food in the country.
Health and Wellness
We value physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness in our department, encouraging our students, residents and fellows to participate in unique hobbies that help them stay healthy despite busy schedules. Close friendships among colleagues and mentorships with faculty create a supportive environment where our trainees can learn and grow as surgeons and as humans.
Every year our PGY 4 residency class organizes a residency-wide retreat day focused on fostering wellness and building camaraderie. Our chief class also organizes two residency wellness days each year during our normal Wednesday morning didactics time. These events offer opportunities for all residency classes to come together to participate in fun activities outside of regularly scheduled clinical and educational responsibilities.
Transportation
All of our practice locations are located within a 15 minute drive from each other. Although San Diego has a robust public transportation system—offering bus and trolley lines and well-marked bike lanes—you will find it helpful to have a car as your primary source of transportation while in the program.
Learn more about San Diego's transportation systems, including parking requirements and resources.
Training Facilities
Encouraging convenience, all of our training facilities are located within an easy commute of each other—averaging less than 20 minutes.