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UC San Francisco-CA

UCSF

San Francisco, CA

NRMP
1062080R0 / 1062080A0
ACGME
0800521019

Applicant sentiment — from 150 anonymous posts, 2016–2027

5.5 / 10

What anonymous posters said

Anonymous posters frequently discussed the interview process, including timing of invite calls, rejections, and Step 2 score requirements before rank lists. Several commenters described the program as highly regarded for clinical training and subspecialty exposure, though opinions on workload and culture varied, with some calling it demanding and others disputing negative characterizations. Multiple posts noted few internal candidates remain for residency and suggested California ties may be helpful in admissions.

AI-generated summary of opinions expressed in anonymous, unverified posts. It describes what posters wrote, not verified facts about this program. Based on these 150 posts · Updated Aug 2026 · Contest or respond to this entry · Takedown & right of reply

Match terms
san franciscosan francisco dermuc san franciscoucsf

Fame & Shame

2026-2027 Derm

3 entries

❌1. Elitist (to no one's surprise), and many faculty give preferential treatment to rotating medical students from more prestigious schools. As much as they emphasize being socially attuned and progressive, at the end of the day, they're just another ivory tower institution masquerading as a social justice warrior.

❌1. You don't actually HAVE to be a former pediatrician to apply for this and be considered. Wish I knew this earlier, I would have applied.

❌2. Interviewer made disparaging comments about where I went to school

2025–2026 Derm

4 entries

❌1. You don't actually HAVE to be a former pediatrician to apply for this and be considered. Wish I knew this earlier, I would have applied.

❌1. Elitist (to no one's surprise), and many faculty give preferential treatment to rotating medical students from more prestigious schools. As much as they emphasize being socially attuned and progressive, at the end of the day, they're just another ivory tower institution masquerading as a social justice warrior.

❌2. Interviewer made disparaging comments about where I went to school

💬1. It does say on their website "preferred but not required;" I wonder if they've taken applicants w/o previous peds residency. > guess we will find out soon > this is the first year of the track and it seemed like everybody was an MS4 during the interview +1

Page 1 of 31

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Can't add onto the post next to reply #1 below so here it is: AI replacing rads is so overblown. By the time it does, derm will be gone too lmao.

#8322026-2027 DermOct 17

lmao agree for some parts but derm i think will shift to more complex stuff and ppl might be doing more procedures

Oct 17
0

people that think that combination of LLMs and computer vision will replace dermatologists anytime soon don't understand machine learning or dermatology or both

Oct 17
0

same can be said for rads... but look at the cope LOL I don't understand why derm applicants are so sure rads is going away but if that happens, derm won't

Oct 17
0

Welp, time to invent more procedures in derm

Oct 17
0

real talk: how does one go about inventing new procedures

Oct 17
0

derm and rads are not even comparable. derm can move into the cash pay market. rads just gets paid whatever the government decides they should be paid by setting RVUs per scan

Oct 17
0

sure, but cash pay aspects of derm is facing pricing depression from NP/PAs/other derms in desirable areas. It's not completely immune either, I live in SF and I can say firsthand that derm is one of the specialties people are using AI to see if they can monetize off of due to its nature of being low acuity, high pay. Along with rads, of course. And rads does the biopsies, it's not like they're completely procedureless. I'm not sure why I'm defending rads right now lol >> cash pay clinics still need a doc to own the practice in most states. so you make money off the midlevels they arent direct competition

Oct 17
0

As much as I hate to say this, they are. NPs can open their own clinics in most states (desirable states to live in). Cash cow procedures (botox, filler, etc.) can be done by midlevels these days

Oct 17
0

same can be said for rads... but look at the cope LOL I don't understand why derm applicants are so sure rads is going away but if that happens, derm won't >> people actually trust their local derm, know them by name nobody knows what a radiologist is most people dont even know they are doctors lol

Oct 17
0

wut does that have to do with AI replacement... fam what most patients care about is fast prescriptions and low costs, and the ability to be triaged to see a provider quickly, no matter who it is. Would they prefer an MD? definitely but I don't think most people really care

Oct 18
0

Please find me the NP in San Francisco/the Bay Area that is even remotely competing with or has a practice marketed as a Dermatology practice? This is a laughably bad take. <- oh wow so I guess nothing will change over the next 20+ years of our careers. if ppl dont think this is coming they are living in lala land

Oct 18
0

realistically the bigger issue is FM/IM trained docs offering "derm procedures". nothing legally to prevent someone from doing this

Oct 18
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lol FM/IM docs wanting to offer derm procedures..yeah i don't think that's something most would be interested in adding to their workflow

Oct 18
0

hims.com

Oct 18
0

Can't add onto the post next to reply #1 below so here it is: AI replacing rads is so overblown. By the time it does, derm will be gone too lmao.

Oct 18
0

I just asked chat and they spit out a total list of midlevels, I'm not sure why you think otherwise?

Oct 18
0

It is... off the top of my head i met an FM resident who planned on doing a fellowship in something with lasers or aesthetics related and doing "derm" without havign to do the derm residency. She only told me this because I was so stressed about not matching <- there are loads of FM docs in the "cosmetic derm" market now, these jokers want to take care of so-called cosmetic issues and turf "pathalogic conditions" to derm, not supporting it just reporting whats out there

Oct 18
0

if you look at some of LA's most famous "dermatologists" (like those that show up in Kardashians/all celebs go to), most of them are not even board certified derms. It seriously blew my mind. One didn't even do residency. Like Dr. Barbara Sturm was an ortho surgeon or something like that. All goes to say, the public (aside from those who are educated about medicine) do not look too closely, as long as they see that MD title they don't care

Oct 18
0

people with money in Cali will pay anything for medical care. costs $150k+ per year to retain peter attia as your PCP and his client list is completely full. not sure what he offers beyond telling people to eat vegetables and exercise

Oct 18
0

websites like hims.com and nollahealth.com already exist to remove the expensive provider barrier patients have to get fast cheap prescriptions my friend. Medicine is over. *sarcasm*

Oct 18
0

I just asked chat and they spit out a total list of midlevels, I'm not sure why you think otherwise? -> I trained in SF and I know the dermatology market in the city. Everyone is booked out for 6 months to a year. There are no NPs infringing on derm. New grads are being offered 700k+/year jobs in private practice in Walnut Creek. Again, if you are a dermatologist you will *never* be competing with a mid-level.

Oct 18
0

is this for gen derm?

Oct 19
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no Mohs, obviously lol

Oct 19
0

Interesting time to be in med school for sure

Oct 19
0

you can make this in gen derm these days, I've seen job offers for 800k M-Th

Oct 19
0

Wow where? Montana lol << derm is a dead end if all you want is $$$ tbh, cosmetic plastic surgeons can do 3 million in profit per year (have a family member in this business)

Oct 19
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I'll be elated with my 350-400K working 4 days a week, if I wanted to make a million i would've gunned for plastics bro

Oct 19
0

lol he just puts men on T nowdays I have a friend who knows him

Oct 19
0

you shouldn't accept anything less than 450k bro dermatologists are in high demand, keep the market appropriate to that

Oct 19
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Dermatologists are definitely in demand and salaries reflect that. But I think people need to understand the advertised salaries are not what you will be earning. All depends on. your contract obviously but most are eat what you kill. And you will not be making 450K in san francisco unless you are working 5 days a week.

Oct 19
0
0

anyone have any insight on the nambudiri lab? was thinking of applying there

#8212026-2027 DermOct 15

i heard he's really nice mentor - imo it's so competitive though doing a RY at Harvard or any of the large groups with multiple RY students. Unless you're coming from T5 I would try to establish another primary research mentor outside of T5 and the large groups. (this is general advice from observing how outside RY students fare within these places)

Oct 15
1

do his mentees match well?

Oct 15
0

no

Oct 15
0

There are people like this in many big name institutions. You just need to do your due diligence. Ruby Ghadially @UCSF generally takes 1-2 people a year and everyone that she has mentored matches well.

Oct 15
0

Nambudiri is excellent, srsly stop getting advice from this spreadsheet...

Oct 16
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this is the person from C - I didn't say no lol. so yeah anyway uhm nambudiri is awesome, I second the commenter in G!

Oct 16
0

PI is excellent but the internet is free... go look at his stuedents outcomes

Oct 16
0

this isn't directed at Nambu just generally.. i will say please do not base your decision to do RY with mentor solely on student outcomes. Please talk to prior RY students and if you're not put in contact with someone it's prob because the mentor is scared that prior mentee is gonna say something bad about them. working with some people ain't worth the 5-10 years off your life secondary to chronic stress

Oct 18
0
0

anybody get a supplemental from the UCSF peds track?

#7642026-2027 DermOct 3

nope

Oct 3
0

I emailed about this, they said they might not be doing it this year.

Oct 3
0

bruh

Oct 3
0

tbh i think this is a good idea. or allow for certain applicants to get punted for review in the regular app pool if they get rejected by the peds track

Oct 4
0

That's the problem with these 'tracks,' in such a small field it can pigeonhole applicants who otherwise might have matched into a spot that is crowded where they don't match. Like the "community engagement" spots... like what if you care about community and would love to apply for that track but don't want to fight the 1 research fellow your institution knows is going to match that spot for it?

Oct 4
0

I think a few programs with the specialty tracks consider you for both. Maybe they all should?

Oct 5
0
1

Anyone else getting email from programs to pick only ONE track if they applied to multiple?

#7092026-2027 DermSep 24

Which programs are sending this?

Sep 24
0

washU and UCSF did

Sep 28
0

UT southwestern

Sep 29
1
0

I want to match UC San Diego so badly. I know beggars can't be choosers with derm being so competitive but it would be my dream. Shouting to the ether

#7012026-2027 DermSep 23

You should apply to all the UCs and pray. Look at the match lists from last year. There's someone from UCSF at every program basically. Here I am with my app like :((((((.

Sep 24
0

Yes I applied to them all! Staying hopeful.

Sep 24
0
0

Does UCSF consider gold vs. silvers in determining interviews? -> Can only speak to last year but no, there were alot of us who got interviews with only silvers

#7052026-2027 DermSep 24
0

what was the largest number of interviews you've heard of someone getting

#5472026-2027 DermSep 5

knew one with 18 and one with 16. one MD PhD with tons of highly cited articles, another MD with RY (that didn't need one) that had an entire prior career

Sep 5
0

Met a resident who had 18 (~2 cycles ago)

Sep 5
0

Met a resident who had 18 (~2 cycles ago)> heard of 26 without matching>also heard of 25

Sep 5
0

Someone I met at UCSF had 22. Super unique life story. Great guy.

Sep 9
0
0

Dude, I know that guy personally..... he was a collegiate athlete and is an *elite* runner. Running is literally his personality. The reason he is at UCSF isn't his running, he was a key part of the Rosenblum lab at UCSF and completed his PhD there. If you want to maximize your chance of being selected to UCSF's research track then do the MSTP there at the Rosenblum/Scharschmidt Lab. This is the absolute least kept "secret", look at their match for the past 10 years lol.

#5612026-2027 DermSep 8

he went to hopkins for his mstp lol

Sep 8
0

I ran a hot chocolate run once and didn't finish- does that mean I match?

Sep 8
0

UCSF has been all about it- I saw it in a few different emails with a whole article. doesn't give me much hope...

Sep 8
0

Dude, I know that guy personally..... he was a collegiate athlete and is an *elite* runner. Running is literally his personality. The reason he is at UCSF isn't his running, he was a key part of the Rosenblum lab at UCSF and completed his PhD there. If you want to maximize your chance of being selected to UCSF's research track then do the MSTP there at the Rosenblum/Scharschmidt Lab. This is the absolute least kept "secret", look at their match for the past 10 years lol.

Sep 8
0

he went to hopkins for his mstp lol. i dont think you know him as well as you do or youre mistaking him for someone else

Sep 8
0

he went to hopkins for his mstp lol -> got him mixed up with the 2 from 2 years ago. Still was a collegiate runner

Sep 9
2

he went to hopkins for his mstp lol. i dont think you know him as well as you do or youre mistaking him for someone else -> I know everyone in that program. Guess why, got him mixed up with the 2 from 2 years ago with regards to background. He is the runner I am thinking of, just mixed up their MSTPs. Both are tall lanky white guys lol.

Sep 9
2
0

As an undergrad with a 4.0 GPA at a T5, will it be easy for me to match at a T5 for derm?> I hope you got an Olympic medal lil bro

#4992026-2027 DermAug 19

bruh

Aug 19
0

Went to a top 3 med school, know many people that did not match derm that were strong applicants (260+, multiple research projects, good evals). Good luck.

Aug 21
0

Lol top 3 med school

Aug 21
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UCSF, it's usually in the top 3?

Aug 21
0

several students from UCSF did not match last year

Aug 21
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that is literally what I said (I posted the comment in box D)

Aug 21
0
0

Is ther a list of programs particulary interested in candidates with basic/translational research?

#4042026-2027 DermJul 6

stanford come to mind

Jul 7
0

penn

Jul 7
0

any program that has a special research resident spot or combined med-derm program. Would also look at programs that take a lot of Mh/PhDs

Jul 8
0

jhu as well

Jul 8
0

miami, utsw, ucsf, michigan

Jul 9
0

sinai?

Jul 10
0

yale

Jul 26
0
0

What non-ivory tower / community programs historically take T20 med students without RYs?

#3522026-2027 DermJun 14

what do you mean by non-ivory tower programs... it's derm.

Jun 14
0

not op, but I strongly dislike this sentiment that some people have. As much as derm is competitive, there ARE ivory programs and non-ivory programs. Harvard, Yale, Penn, UCSF. An example of a non-ivory program: MCW. There will always be stratifications even in the most competitive of things, and these stratifications are always worth keeping in mind when you can only apply to 28 programs

Jun 14
0

ivory tower is a meaningless label, the earlier you learn that the better off you'll be

Jun 14
0

ivory tower is a meaningless label, the earlier you learn that the better off you'll be>>> yeah a ton of harvard/penn/ucsf grades end up going into private practice...

Jun 14
0

umm, yes ivory tower doesn't mean better training, but it is considered prestigious and harder to match. OP isn't asking about ivory tower programs, they're asking about non-ivory programs, so your "the earlier you learn" comment comes off as not helpful and condescending

Jun 15
1

this whole let's not talk about the T10 things is weird and comes off as gatekeepy. These programs exist and people will still be applying to them. Besides, I agree with the previous commenter, OP is asking about non-ivory tower/community programs. No need to step up on y'all's soapbox

Jun 15
1

When I rotated at Orange Park they had MD residents from UMiami and UCLA. But I know at least the UMiami grad rotated there and they seem to highly prefer their rotators.

Jun 28
0
0

Does UCSF consider gold vs. silvers in determining interviews?

#6622026-2027 DermSep 21
0

What are the chillest programs in liberal cities? (bonus points if they have decent cosmetic training) I dont care about prestige/research but think i am a decently competitive applicant

#2662026-2027 DermMay 13

UCSF

May 13
0

Desireable location is literally impossible to define. Some people will call Texas desireable. Others New York. Only you can evaluate.

May 13
0

edited to clarify

May 13
0

from what ive heard cornell is chillest in nyc

May 13
0

Yale (small city but liberal)

May 13
0

UCSF> lmfao chill and ucsf do not go together

May 14
0

University of Minnesota :)

May 14
0

What about UCSD? Seems chill and San Diego is amazing

May 14
0

UCSD?

May 14
0

stanford not in a city, but close to SF and definitely chill

May 15
0

UT Austin! (Not a lot of cosmetic training tho)

May 18
0
0

In case you didn't already know how competitive this process is, UCSF derm posted earlier about a resident winning a dang marathon...

#5352026-2027 DermSep 1

I ran a hot chocolate run once and didn't finish- does that mean I match?

Sep 1
0

UCSF has been all about it- I saw it in a few different emails with a whole article. doesn't give me much hope...

Sep 1
0

Dude, I know that guy personally..... he was a collegiate athlete and is an *elite* runner. Running is literally his personality. The reason he is at UCSF isn't his running, he was a key part of the Rosenblum lab at UCSF and completed his PhD there. If you want to maximize your chance of being selected to UCSF's research track then do the MSTP there at the Rosenblum/Scharschmidt Lab. This is the absolute least kept "secret", look at their match for the past 10 years lol.

Sep 3
0
0

Are the T5 programs equal in impressiveness (UCSF = Penn = Harvard = NYU = Yale/Stanford) or is there an internal tier difference with one group being significantly better than the others?

#812026-2027 DermApr 4

The best one is the one you like the most (+/- the one in the city you like the most)

Apr 4
0

This obsession with T5s, jeez. If it makes you happy, great! At the end of the day you will be a dermatologis though. People from not T5s end up as faculty at T5s all the time, and many T5 residents end up going into private practice.

Apr 4
0

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