Fellowship Program

The Align Fellowship in Comprehensive Gender-Affirming Surgery is a one-year advanced training program designed to prepare plastic surgeons for independent practice across the full spectrum of gender-affirming surgical care.

Based primarily in San Francisco, the fellowship offers integrated experience in facial, chest, body, and genital surgery within a multidisciplinary, community-integrated environment. The fellowship begins July 1, 2027.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Over one year, the Align fellowship combines broad operative exposure with longitudinal perioperative management, structured academic development, and close collaboration within a multidisciplinary surgical team. Fellows gain progressive responsibility while developing the surgical judgment and clinical confidence required for independent practice in gender-affirming surgery.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Align fellowship is to train surgeons who are technically exceptional, ethically grounded, and culturally fluent in the delivery of comprehensive gender-affirming surgical care.

The program is designed to develop surgeons who can navigate complex clinical decisions, contribute meaningfully within multidisciplinary teams, and provide high-quality care with professionalism and integrity.

FACULTY & MENTORSHIP

The Align fellowship is led by surgeons with extensive experience across the full spectrum of gender-affirming surgery. Fellows train closely with faculty who are actively engaged in clinical practice, research, and national leadership in the field.

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

• John Henry Pang, MD, FACS — Fellowship Director 
• Thomas Satterwhite, MD — Associate Fellowship Director 

CORE FACULTY

• Dev Gurjala, MD 
• Breanna Jedrejewski, MD 
• Michael Safir, MD (Los Angeles) 
• Paul Mittermiller, MD (Los Angeles) 

OPERATIVE EXPERIENCE

The Align fellowship provides broad operative training across the major domains of gender-affirming surgery, including both primary and revision procedures.

FACIAL SURGERY

• Forehead contouring
• Brow lift 
• Hairline advancement
• Rhinoplasty
• Jawline and mandibular contouring
• Tracheal shave   
• Lip lift
• Facial fat transfer
• Facial implants   
• Revision facial surgery

CHEST SURGERY

• Masculinizing top surgery across multiple techniques, including double incision, periareolar, and keyhole approaches   
• Feminizing breast augmentation using fat grafting and implant-based approaches   
• Revision chest surgery   
• Implant exchange and capsular management   

BODY CONTOURING

• Body masculinization
• Body feminization
• Liposuction   
• Fat grafting   
• Panniculectomy and abdominoplasty   
• Brachioplasty   
• Thigh lift   
• Rib remodeling   

GENITAL SURGERY

• Vaginoplasty, including full-depth, vulvoplasty, and other patient-tailored approaches   
• Robotic peritoneal vaginoplasty   
• Metoidioplasty 
• Phalloplasty, including pedicled and free flap techniques   
• Scrotoplasty 
• Urethral reconstruction components   
• Revision genital surgery   

CLINICAL OPERATIONS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The fellowship is designed to prepare surgeons not only for technical practice, but also for the realities of integrated clinical leadership. Align operates within a dedicated PA-supported surgical model, and the fellow functions as an active member of that team throughout the year. This structure provides meaningful exposure to workflow coordination, cross-service communication, and the operational dynamics of a complex surgical practice.

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED SURGICAL TRAINING (CIST)

Excellence in gender-affirming surgery requires more than technical skill. It also requires an understanding of the communities served and the broader context in which care is delivered. Align’s Community-Integrated Surgical Training (CIST) is a structured pillar of the fellowship that helps fellows develop culturally fluent, trust-centered approaches to patient care.

Through CIST, fellows gain deeper exposure to:

• Cultural humility   
• Social determinants of health   
• Multidisciplinary collaboration   
• Community-informed consultation   

Structured components of this training may include participation in Align-sponsored outreach and educational events, Pride Month initiatives, multidisciplinary gender health meetings, and patient education forums.

RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP

Fellows are expected to participate actively in Align’s research efforts and contribute novel scholarly work during the fellowship year. Academic development is treated as an important part of training, alongside clinical and operative growth.

Each fellow is expected to:

• Participate in Align’s research group   
• Develop at least one original scholarly project   
• Submit at least one abstract to a national or international meeting   

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship or permanent U.S. resident status (visa sponsorship is not available through this fellowship opportunity) 
• Completion of a U.S.-based, ACGME-accredited plastic surgery residency 
• Board-eligible or board-certified status  
• Demonstrated commitment to gender-affirming surgical care   

APPLICATION PROCESS

Align welcomes applications from qualified plastic surgeons seeking advanced, comprehensive training in gender-affirming surgery.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

Applicants should submit the following:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)   
• Personal statement   
• Three letters of recommendation 
• Verification letter from residency program director confirming completion of residency   
• Case log summary

APPLY FOR THE FELLOWSHIP

The Align Fellowship in Comprehensive Gender-Affirming Surgery provides advanced training for surgeons preparing to build a thoughtful and skillful independent practice in gender-affirming surgery. With multidisciplinary faculty, broad operative exposure, structured academic development, and community-integrated training, the program supports professional growth over the course of a focused one-year fellowship.

To apply, please email all required application materials in a single PDF to [email protected].