Clinical Fellowship in Endocrine Surgery

Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Training

UCLA Endocrine Surgery is currently offering one position per year for this 75% clinical, 25% research training experience.

Current general surgery chief residents interested in the  position may apply at this time through the:
AAES fellowship match program >

Case Volume: The current annual case volume is approximately 800 per year.  The fellow is expected to be involved in about half of these cases.

Sample Fellowship Case Log:

  • Thyroid: 125
  • Parathyroid: 125
  • Neck dissection: 20
  • Adrenal: 40
  • Pancreas/other: 5

Institution: UCLA

  • Duration: 1 year. Full benefits and health coverage will be provided to the fellow and all dependents during this period.
  • Salary: $85,000
  • Fellowship Director: Masha Livhits, MD
  • Fellowship Coordinator: Yazmin Lona
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: 10833 Le Conte Ave, 72-250 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095
  • Phone: 310-206-0585Fax: (310) 206-5535

Objectives: To train the next generation of academic endocrine surgeons, who will lead and advance the field as technically outstanding clinical surgeons, skilled scientific investigators, and stewards of high-quality health care delivery.

UCLA Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Training

Qualifications and Application Process: Positions will be filled through the AAES match program and are available to chief residents in general surgery who will become board-eligible upon completion of residency training.  Strong scientific writing skills are essential to success during the fellowship.  Though not a requirement, priority will be given to applicants with a track record of peer-reviewed publication and/or to those who hold an advanced degree in clinical research, public health, or biostatistics. Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample in addition to the materials required for the AAES match.  Select applicants will be invited for an in-person interview at UCLA during the months of July and August.

Weekly Schedule: This is a 75% clinical, 25% research fellowship. The fellow will operate two full days per week and attend clinic one-half day per week.  The remaining time will be devoted to research, educational conferences, and career development.

Ceremonial transfer of the UCLA Endocrine Surgery surfboard
Ceremonial transfer of the UCLA Endocrine Surgery surfboard from Oliver Fackelmayer (2020 fellow) to Vivek Sant (2021 fellow).

Case Volume: The current annual case volume is approximately 800 per year. The fellow is expected to be involved in about half of these cases.

Program Highlights: UCLA Endocrine Surgery is the leading center for the treatment of endocrine diseases in the Southern California region.  The population of our immediate service area is 15 million, and that of our extended service area is 30 million (roughly 1 in 10 Americans).  As a referral center for complex and/or reoperative cases, advanced endocrine malignancies, and familial endocrine syndromes, we manage patients from across the United States and abroad – see distance surgery program.  The fellow will be exposed to a high volume of cases spanning the entire spectrum of complexity.

Our active, extramurally-funded research program regularly produces high-impact original research publications that influence the practice of endocrine surgery. Supported by strong mentoring, full-time statistical expertise, and outstanding medical students, the diligent fellow can expect to publish in journals such as The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and MetabolismThe Annals of SurgeryJAMA-SurgeryThyroid, and SurgeryJump to publications (past & present trainees).

PubMed Publications: PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, includes over 14 million citations for biomedical articles back to the 1950's. These citations are from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources.
View PubMed Publications

We invite qualified applicants to join our Endocrine Surgery family here in beautiful West Los Angeles, where we will foster your development into an expert endocrine surgeon in an environment that is rigorous, intellectually robust, fast-paced, nurturing, and fun.


The UCLA Endocrine Surgery research group presented 2 original research podium presentations at the 2019 American Association of Endocrine Surgeons annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA. From left: Kyle Zanocco (2015 Fellow), Lauren Orr (2018 Fellow), Lina Hu, Catherine Zhu, Adi Shirali, Joana Ochoa (2019 Fellow).
The UCLA Endocrine Surgery research group presented 2 original research podium presentations at the 2019 American Association of Endocrine Surgeons annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA. From left: Kyle Zanocco (2015 Fellow), Lauren Orr (2018 Fellow), Lina Hu
From left: Kyle Zanocco (2015 Fellow), Masha Livhits (2014 Fellow), Lauren Orr (2018 Fellow), Yasmine Assadipour (2017 Fellow) and Dr. Michael Yeh.
From left: Kyle Zanocco (2015 Fellow), Masha Livhits (2014 Fellow), Lauren Orr (2018 Fellow), Yasmine Assadipour (2017 Fellow) and Dr. Michael Yeh.

Fellows Hall of Fame

Masha Livhits, MD

Masha Livhits, MD

2014-15 Fellow

Assistant Professor of Surgery

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Los Angeles, CA

[email protected]

Kyle A. Zanocco, MD

Kyle A. Zanocco, MD

2015-16 Fellow

Assistant Professor of Surgery

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Los Angeles, CA

[email protected]

Feibi Zheng, MD

Feibi Zheng, MD

2016-17 Fellow

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Baylor College of Medicine

[email protected]

Yasmine Assadipour, MD

Yasmine Assadipour, MD

2017-18 Fellow

Endocrine Surgeon

INOVA Health System

[email protected]

Lauren Orr, MD

Lauren Orr, MD

2018-19 Fellow

Endocrine and general surgeon

The Oregon Clinic

[email protected]

Joana Ochoa, MD

Joana Ochoa, MD

2019-20 Fellow

Assistant Professor of Surgery

University of Florida Jacksonville

[email protected]

Oliver Fackelmayer, MD

Oliver Fackelmayer, MD

2020-21 Fellow

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Endocrine Surgery

University of Kentucky Healthcare

[email protected]