Alexandra K. Schwartz, MD

Alexandra Schwartz, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. She specializes in orthopedic trauma and surgery to treat fractured or broken bones, including clavicle, pelvic, foot, ankle, arm, elbow, knee, and shoulder injuries. Dr. Schwartz also cares for patients with complications from these injuries, such as infections and poor-healing or non-healing bones. As an orthopedic traumatologist, she has expertise working in emergency settings and with people whose injuries were caused by accidents or violence.

As a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Schwartz instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine, including directing the department's residency program and the Division of Orthopedic Trauma's fellowship program. Her research focuses on clavicle fractures, pelvic fractures, ankle fractures, compartment syndrome, and cartilage injury after knee fractures. She has co-authored many peer-reviewed articles, and her work has been published in journals including The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Dr. Schwartz frequently speaks about best practices for treating fractures at regional and national conferences. She has won several School of Medicine awards for her teaching ability, and has repeatedly been named a "Top Doctor" in San Diego Magazine's "Physicians of Exceptional Excellence" annual survey performed in collaboration with the San Diego County Medical Society.

Cancer in Dr. Schwartz's family motivated her at an early age to become a physician. She believes that honest communication and empathetic understanding are vital to a physician/patient relationship. She sees the most rewarding part of being an orthopedic trauma surgeon as watching patients regain their strength, saying, "Our ultimate goal is to improve the patient's quality of life and restore their function. Orthopedic trauma is often taken for granted as 'just a fracture.' However, fractures that are not treated properly can lead to disabling and chronic conditions."

Dr. Schwartz completed a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (University of Washington School of Medicine) and an orthopedic residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. She earned her medical degree at UCLA School of Medicine. She is board certified in orthopedic surgery. She speaks fluent German and medical Spanish.

Outside of work, Dr. Schwartz enjoys yoga, outdoor activities with her dog, and cooking.

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For more information, see Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.