Susan Bukata, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating diseases and injuries that affect bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. She is internationally recognized for her work on bone fragility disorders, which range from osteoporosis to rare genetic bone disease. Her National Institutes of Health-funded research focuses on fracture healing and developing ways to help patients heal faster, without additional surgical intervention.
Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Bukata served as orthopedic surgeon, professor and vice chair of orthopedics clinical operations, physician informaticist lead for musculoskeletal health providers and chief orthopedics liaison to community practice partners at UCLA Health.
She holds a patent on technology for protecting and repairing cartilage and musculoskeletal soft tissue. She has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Cancer, Spine, Science Translational Medicine and Tissue Engineering.
Dr. Bukata currently serves on the Orthopaedic Research Society Executive Board of Directors, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Written Examination Field Task Force, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Education Committee. She has been named a "Top Doctor" numerous times by Castle Connolly America, Los Angeles Magazine and Hollywood Reporter, and has been recognized with several Patients' Choice Awards.
She completed a fellowship in orthopedic oncology and metabolic bone disease at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Hospital for Special Surgery. She completed a residency and research fellowship in orthopedics at the University of Rochester. Dr. Bukata earned her medical degree at Columbia University.
In her free time, Dr. Bukata enjoys spending time with her family and embracing San Diego's active, outdoor lifestyle.
