Portrait of Alan Zhang
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Alan Zhang, MD

Orthopedic Surgery • 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 • 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

Locations

    Reviews

    Average rating

    4.9
    4.9 out of 5 Stars
    257 ratings
    About provider reviews

    Showing 1-6 of 31 reviews

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    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      January 22, 2026

      I cant thank Dr. Alan Zhang enough and the partners or staffed with him at UCSF are professionals and friendly. I felt at home while getting repaired and operated on. Its been a rough three years for me. The pain I was in made me almost "quit". I cant thank you enough for healing me and getting me back to normal. I have tears of joy literally.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      December 2, 2025

      Dr. Zhang is the BEST!

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      September 11, 2025

      Dr Zhang was great - very clear and thoughtful.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      August 12, 2025

      Dr. Zhang was a breath of fresh air following my previous experience at another academic facility. It was refreshing to actually undergo a comprehensive orthopedic exam of my knee and have my gait analyzed for the first time. Dr. Zhang was empathetic, highly knowledgeable and professional, and provided me the time to ask all of my questions without me feeling rushed or dismissed. Dr. Zhang also answered all of my questions comprehensively and patiently.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      June 6, 2025

      Dr. Zhang is the best surgeon I've had the pleasure of being cared for by in California. I wish every doctor/surgeon were this caring and kind.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      March 27, 2025

      Dr Zhang listened to my concerns and came up with a thoughtful care plan. His written visit summary was excellent. Clearly showing his care and attention listening to me.

    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.