UCI-CHOC Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Contact Us
Program Coordinator
Cesar Plascencia
[email protected]
Phone: 562-485-7490
Program Leadership
Yigit S. Guner, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP
Program Director, Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program
Peter T. Yu, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program
David Gibbs, MD, MHCM
Division Chief, Pediatric Surgery
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the University of California Irvine-CHOC Hospital (UCI-CHOC) Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program!
We’re proud to train the next generation of Pediatric Surgery leaders in a collaborative and supportive environment.
Please click below to learn more about our fellowship, our team, and training at UCI-CHOC.
Message From the Director
At the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program, we are committed to training well-rounded pediatric surgeons prepared for today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Our two-year, ACGME-accredited program is led by a diverse faculty of ten pediatric surgeons with expertise across clinical care, research and leadership.
Education is central to Rady Children’s Health’s mission. Each year, we train nearly 290 residents and fellows across 38 programs, as well as 190 medical students. Fellows gain hands-on experience in specialized areas including ECMO, colorectal surgery, fetal care, chest reconstruction and trauma.
We are proud to support the next generation of pediatric surgeons through strong mentorship and comprehensive training.
Yigit S Guner, MD
Program Overview
Our two-year fellowship offers a comprehensive, hands-on training experience designed to build advanced clinical and surgical expertise.
- Duration: 2 years
- Rotations: The fellowship will include four month-long elective rotations in the first year, including NICU, PICU, ENT and urology.
- Prerequisite training: Applicants should have completed requirements of the American Board of Surgery (five years in an approved general surgical residency program in the U.S. or Canada) by the time of the desired appointment, and at that time, they must be licensed to practice medicine in the state of California. ATLS certification is also required.
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County (formerly CHOC) is part of a pediatric health care system that includes two hospitals in Orange County, a hospital in San Diego, and a growing network of primary and specialty care centers spanning six counties. Uniting the trusted expertise of CHOC and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Rady Children’s Health builds on a combined legacy of more than a century of clinical excellence and is dedicated to advancing children’s health through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care.
Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange is an academic, community-based hospital that serves as the main training site for the fellowship. It has 386 beds, a Level I Trauma Center, Level 4 NICU and Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center. Rady Children’s Health delivers care through more than 825,000 healthcare visits annually.
For virtual tours of Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange: choc.org/about/virtual-tour
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and the UCI Medical Center (UCIMC)
UCI School of Medicine is ranked among the top 50 medical schools in the nation for research by U.S. News & World Report. UCI School of Medicine has 24 departments, ranging from basic science research to clinical, medical and surgical specialties, and research, clinical, and teaching. UCI School of Medicine is the sponsoring institution and serves as a primary site for basic science and translational bench research opportunities. The UCI Medical Center in Orange serves as the main clinical site for the UC Irvine School of Medicine, integrating teaching, research, and patient care.
UCI Medical Center is a 459-bed acute care hospital providing tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. It is the primary teaching location for the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Learn more about the surgery departments at Rady Children’s Health in Orange County and UCI School of Medicine.
- Year 1: 8 months of pediatric surgery, 1 month each of NICU, PICU, ENT, urology
- Year 2: 12 months of pediatric surgery
- Lectures: Comprehensive didactic lectures led by Pediatric Surgery faculty as well as other faculty members from other specialties such as pediatric oncology, neonatology and pediatric anesthesiology and visiting professors and guest lecturers.
First year
| Block | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 |
| Rotation | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | NICU | PICU | Urology | ENT |
| % Outpatient | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| % Research | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Second year
| Block | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 |
| Rotation | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS |
| % Outpatient | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 |
| % Research | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
The UCI-CHOC Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program is a part of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Our program accepts applications via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). If you are interested in applying for our fellowship program, you must apply through the ERAS application process.
Our program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP).
Important Dates
- PGY-6 salary: $101,151.33 per year including benefits
- PGY-7 salary: $104,164.11 per year including benefits
- Vacation: 4 weeks per year
- Professional development: APSA conference (Year 1), AAP conference (Year 2) and educational courses
- Education Stipend: $1,500
- Additional Benefits: Hospital-issued laptop, free parking, paid board and Psite exams, designated call rooms, mock orals and more. Our flexible benefits program starts on the first day of employment, which includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for you and your dependents.
Current Fellows
Gregory Klazura, MD
Class of 2027
Residency: Loyola University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Graduates
Amy Lawrence, MD
Class of 2025
Pediatric Surgeon, Rady Children’s Health
Yangyang Yu, MD
Class of 2023
Pediatric Surgeon, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Yigit S. Guner, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Pediatric Surgeon
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Peter T. Yu, MD
Associate Program Director
Pediatric Surgeon
Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery
David Gibbs, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Pediatric Surgery Division Chief
Pediatric Surgeon
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Maryam Gholizadeh, MD
Director of Surgical Oncology
Pediatric Surgeon
Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery
Mustafa Kabeer, MD
Associate Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgeon
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Saeed Awan, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Troy Reyna, MD
Chair, Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgeon
Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery
Hira Ahmad, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Amy Lawrence, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Surgery