Thank a Resident & Fellow Day with Kevin Zhu, M.D.

Kevin Zhu, M.D. is a first-year resident with the UC San Diego Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Join us as he takes us through his experience with his co-residents and the department's faculty members.

What drew you to medicine?  

I’ve always had an affinity for biology in high school. Also, my cousin is an acupuncturist in China, and I looked up to him quite a bit. I think that’s what initially drew me to the field. I’m very happy with the decision I made. I really enjoy the ability to connect with someone at a vulnerable moment and then get to help them through a difficult time of their life.   

What is the toughest part of residency, and what keeps you going through it? 

I definitely think there are many skills that college and medical school do not prepare you for when you’re in this job. Resourcefulness, communication—these are both things you need in residency, but you also need to recognize that your skills haven’t been tested yet. Besides the hours, the hardest part of residency is the fact that I now have to use and continuously develop these skills. You have to adapt and grow, or you can’t do your job well. 

There have been moments of frustration when your skills feel inadequate, where you can’t reach your goals or communication is hard. Those moments can all add up and frustrate you. But I think there are also times when your skills do shine through, such as helping a patient access resources they need to move forward with surgery. Knowing that the outcome will benefit patients motivates me to continue developing those skills.  

What’s been the most rewarding part of being in the UC San Diego residency program?  

The culture of this residency program is probably the biggest positive for me. I like that the other, more senior residents take the time to teach me about orthopedic surgery. I also appreciate being able to laugh with my co-residents at situations that otherwise might be frustrating. We bring humor and community to this residency, and that’s the biggest highlight for me. 

What do you like most about your fellow residents and the culture at the UC San Diego Department of Orthopaedic Surgery? 

We have a very collaborative culture here. I think one of the biggest pros of this is that there’s no strict hierarchy. Everyone is approachable and here to help. You don’t feel an immense weight to perform outside of the main responsibility of helping patients. Your progress is self-driven, and you have others there to guide you and make sure you succeed. 

Do you have an idea of which specialty you’re leaning toward? 

I’ve always been interested in orthopedic oncology. It’s so interdisciplinary, and I love working with others. You have to get to know several different cancers, master anatomy, and meticulously plan out your approach and treatment plan. 

One of my mentors at the Cleveland Clinic during medical school was someone I really admired. I spoke with him a lot about his specialty, and I got to shadow his practice. Now, I am excited to train under our orthopedic oncologists at UCSD: Dr. Chiarappa, Dr. Flint, and our chair, Dr. Bukata.