Craniofacial Fellowship Program

Program Description

The Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers a comprehensive, one-year craniofacial fellowship registered with SFMatch.org. As one of the largest craniofacial centers in the nation, our fellows gain comprehensive experience in the full scope of craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery.

With the incorporation of oral and maxillofacial surgery within our division, this is one of the only fellowships in the country that provides comprehensive orthognathic training. This clinically rigorous fellowship is designed for individuals pursuing a career in academic craniofacial surgery. Fellows benefit from mentorship and operative experience with the following faculty:

• Mark Urata, MD, DDS
• Jeffrey Hammoudeh, MD, DDS
• Jessica A. Lee, MD
• William Magee, III, MD, DDS

The fellow may choose to focus on his or her particular areas of interest across a wide range of surgical procedures, including:

• ALT flap for soft tissue coverage
• Alveolar bone grafting
• Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy
• Box osteotomies
• Cleft lip nasal revision
• Cleft lip repair
• Cleft rhinoplasty
• Closed reduction cranio-maxillo mandibular fixation
• Dacryocystorhinostomy
• Excision of lesions
• Extraction of teeth
• Eyelid ptosis reconstruction
• Fat injection for soft tissue defects
• Free gracilis transfer for facial reanimation
• Lateral canthopexy
• LeFort I single and multi-segment advancement/distraction
• LeFort III advancement/distraction
• Mandibular distraction
• Medial canthopexy
• Medpor ear reconstruction
• Monobloc advancement/distraction
• Mustarde cheek advancement
• Neonatal mandibular distraction
• Open reduction craniomaxillofacial trauma
• Orthognathic splint fabrication
• Otoplasty
• Palatoplasty
• Placement of dental implants
• Surgical rapid palatal expansion
• Tissue expansion

Applications

The Craniofacial Fellowship position is offered annually, running from August 1 through July 31 of the following year. The application deadline is October 31 each year.

Please submit the following documents::

• A copy of the Certificate of Registration showing your match number from SFMatch.org
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• One-page personal statement describing your career goals following fellowship
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from the Chairperson of your Plastic Surgery Residency

Interviews are typically held over two days (Thursday and Friday).

Our requirements for application include:

• Registered with Craniofacial Fellowship Match at SFMatch.org
• Completion of an ACGME accredited residency in plastic surgery
• Eligible for medical licensure in the state of California

Contact Information

Flora Corazon Arbas
Administrative Coordinator
Phone: (323) 361-8493
Email farbas@chla.usc.edu

Mark M. Urata, MD, DDS
Program Director

Mailing Address:
Craniofacial Fellowship
C/O Flora Corazon Arbas
Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery
4650 Sunset Blvd., MS#96
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Current and Past Fellows

• Alyssa Valenti, 2025, current
• Pasha Shakoori, 2025, current
• Naikhoba Munagi, 2024
• Erik Nagengast, 2024
• Artur Fahradyan, 2023
• Kevin Chen, 2022
• Eric Wolfswinkel, 2021
• Waleed Gibreel, 2020
• Ravi Garg, 2019
• Ibrahim Khansa, 2018
• Colin Brady, 2017
• Leo Urbinelli, 2016
• Thomas Imahiyerobo, 2015
• Lori Howell, 2014
• Jason Toranto, 2013
• Salim Mancho, 2012
• Stacey Francis, 2011
• Eric Cole, 2011
• Murtaza Rizvi, 2010
• Michael Lypka, 2010
• Joyce Chen, 2009
• William Magee, 2008
• Jeffrey Hammoudeh, 2007
• Cory Goldberg, 2007
• Jeffrey LaGrasso, 2006
• Shao Jiang, 2005
• Michael Cartens, 2004
• Raymond Harshbarger, 2003
• Laura McMillan, 2002
• Michael Morissey, 2001
• Steven Bresnick, 1997
• Peter Nguyen, 1995
• George Hoerr, 1994
• Scott McDonald, 1993
• Joseph Mlakar, 1992
• Laura Semba, 1991
• Jann Johnson, 1990
• Susan Downey 1989