Allison E. Berndtson, MD, FACS

Allison Berndtson, MD, is a board-certified surgeon who cares for patients who have experienced traumatic injuries, such as a fall or motor vehicle collision, as well as those requiring elective or emergency surgery for general surgical issues, such as appendicitis, gallstones and hernias.

Dr. Berndtson's research interests include emergency reversal of oral anticoagulants, hemorrhage control after injury, prevention of post-traumatic venous thromboembolism, trauma education, and investigating the effects of gender on complications of trauma. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Journal of Burn Care & Research, and Burns. She is a reviewer for several peer-reviewed medical journals, including the American Journal of Surgery, Surgery, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery.

Dr. Berndtson is currently an instructor and course coordinator for the medical student trauma evaluation and management (TEAM) course at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and a designated instructor in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM), Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) and Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness (DMEP).

Having a particular interest in global health, Dr. Berndtson has provided education and clinical care in Ghana, Colombia, Haiti, and India, and was a founding member of the annual Abuja National Trauma Conference in Abuja, Nigeria. She has been invited to speak nationally and internationally on topics such as trauma systems development, resuscitative thoracotomy, trauma evaluation and management, and advances in major trauma care.

Dr. Berndtson completed fellowship training in surgical critical care at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and residency training in general surgery at UC Davis School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is board-certified in surgery and surgical critical care.

She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Association of Women Surgeons, Panamerican Trauma Society, and Surgical Infection Society.

Outside of work, Dr. Berndtson enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, snowboarding, hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Trauma Center and Surgical Services.