Portrait of Alan Zhang
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Alan Zhang, MD

Orthopedic Surgery (Adult Reconstruction) • Sports MedicineMedical Director, Orthopedic Institute
Sports Medicine Mission Bay
415-353-2808
Portrait of Alan Zhang
Portrait of Alan Zhang
ucsf logo

Alan Zhang, MD

Orthopedic Surgery (Adult Reconstruction) • Sports MedicineMedical Director, Orthopedic Institute
Sports Medicine Mission Bay
415-353-2808

On this page

About me

Dr. Alan Zhang is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery of the hip, knee and shoulder. His areas of focus include tears of the hip and shoulder labrum (cartilage in the socket that stabilizes the joint), femoroacetabular impingement (a painful condition of the hip joint) and athletic injuries of the hip. He also specializes in tears of the knee's anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, as well as rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations and biceps tears.

Zhang is the medical director for the UCSF Orthopedic Institute. He also directs the Hip Preservation Center and the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship.

In his research, Zhang uses innovative imaging techniques to detect early signs of cartilage injury in the hip, with the goal of finding hip preservation methods that protect cartilage and maintain function. He also uses large national databases to analyze trends in orthopedic surgery and works to integrate measurements of patient-centered care into current treatments. He has published numerous award-winning research articles on the hip, knee and shoulder, and is often invited to lecture internationally.

After earning his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Zhang completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in sports medicine at UCSF.

Zhang is a member of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America and Orthopaedic Research Society.

Zhang is team physician for the University of San Francisco's NCAA Division I teams and local area high schools.

Education & training

Board certification

  • Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellowship

  • Sports Medicine, UCSF Medical Center House Staff

Residency

  • Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA Medical Center

Internship

  • Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA Medical Center

Degree

  • MD, University of California San Diego School of Medicine

Academic title

  • Professor-in-Residence

Locations

    Reviews

    Average rating

    4.8
    4.8 out of 5 Stars
    227 ratings
    About provider reviews

    Showing 1-6 of 43 reviews

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    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      July 28, 2026

      Dr Zhang was great - he listened and was thorough in his exam and taking my history. He explained his thoughts and showed me the imaging. I sought out a second opinion at UCSF because a previous doctor had spent less than 5 minutes with me. It was a wonderful change to feel heard and have a chance to ask questions. Dr. Zhang was honest about uncertainties and explained different possibilities. One of the best experiences I've had with a doctor.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      July 9, 2026

      Dr. Zhang is always great!

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      July 1, 2026

      Excellence, expertise, professionalism

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      May 26, 2026

      Dr. Zhang was familiar with my case even though he was meeting me for the first time to provide a second opinion. I appreciated his candor and positivity. I am moving my care to him and this practice based on our meeting

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      May 10, 2026

      Dr. Alan Zhang has always been kind, patient, and caring. This is my 3rd surgery with him, so I have relatively extensive experience on which to base my opinion.

    • 4.2 out of 5 Stars
      May 3, 2026

      We are repeat clients of Dr Zhang and trust him completely.

    Please check with your health insurance plan regarding coverage for this type of care. Not all providers at UCSF Health are covered by every insurance plan.

    For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here.

    The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.