Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana

Dr. Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating trauma and performing shoulder and elbow surgery. She cares for patients with conditions including acute fractures of the upper and lower extremities; post-traumatic conditions of the shoulder and elbow; shoulder or elbow arthritis; rotator cuff tears; and shoulder or elbow instability. She has special interests in performing tendon transfers for irreparable rotator cuff tears (tears for which surgical tendon-to-bone repair isn't possible) and shoulder and elbow arthroplasty. She also treats problems of the shoulder and elbow that can follow an injury, such as contractures (deformities from tightening of joints or tissues) and nonunion or malunion of fractures (when broken bones don't heal or heal in abnormal positions).

In her practice, Tangtiphaiboontana strives to educate her patients about their conditions and help them choose treatments through shared decision-making. As a surgeon, she aims to improve function and help patients return to their pre-injury lifestyles and activities. In addition to caring for patients at UCSF, she provides care at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

In research, Tangtiphaiboontana studies how to better care for and prevent shoulder and elbow injuries. After earning a bachelor's degree in biological sciences at Stanford University, Tangtiphaiboontana earned her medical degree and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at UCSF. She completed a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at UW Medicine's Harborview Medical Center and a fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.