What makes this program unique?
The UCLA Program offers all the academic and scholarly benefits of a world-class university-owned and operated program but is unique in that it is a community-based program. Our residency is based at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center where we staff every unit of the hospital as well as provide all in-hospital emergency services, however, we spend our time at the county facilities in the San Fernando Valley.
Where are most of your rotations based?
During all three years, residents have unparalleled opportunities to work on required and elective rotations with clinicians and researchers at UCLA and their affiliated institutions:
1. Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center: A 281-bed acute-care medical center that has served the healthcare needs of West Los Angeles and Santa Monica since 1926. One of the two hospital campuses of UCLA Health System, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center features outstanding clinical programs that include its women's and children's services, emergency services, and orthopedics programs. Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center is also the inpatient home of the UCLA Geriatrics Program and home to the internationally known Rape Treatment Center.
- INPATIENT ROTATIONS: Family Medicine Inpatient Service, Internal Medicine Hospitalist Service, Surgery, and Pediatrics
- OUTPATIENT ROTATIONS: Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, Cardiology, and Geriatrics
2. Olive View-UCLA Medical Center: A public teaching hospital operated by Los Angeles County located 30 minutes north of UCLA. It is a 377-bed acute-care center that is the only county hospital serving the needs of low income and indigent patients as well as the surrounding middle class community in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys. The majority of services are run by UCLA residency programs. It is integrated into the ValleyCare health system, which is known for excellent teaching, and is appreciated for its efficient and collegial work environment.
- INPATIENT ROTATIONS: Medicine, ICU, Pediatrics, Nursery
- OUTPATIENT ROTATIONS: Emergency Medicine, Surgery, and Urgent Care
3. California Hospital: Affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine, this large private medical center is located in downtown Los Angeles. We work on the Labor & Delivery service alongside Family Medicine and OB/GYN attendings.
- INPATIENT ROTATION: Obstetrics
4. UCLA-Venice Family Clinics: Founded in 1970, the Clinic has grown into the largest free clinic in the nation, with many sites throughout the Westside. The Clinic provides comprehensive primary health care, specialty care, dental care, mental health services, health education, and child development services to more than 24,400 patients, including more than 6,000 children. Many of its directors and medical staff are Family Medicine department faculty or graduates of our program.
- OUTPATIENT ROTATIONS: Community Medicine
5. West Los Angeles Veteran's Administration Medical Center: The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is the largest, most complex healthcare system within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- OUTPATIENT ROTATIONS: Orthopedics, Dermatology, and Subspecialty clinics
6. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center: A 570-bed public, teaching hospital operated by Los Angeles County located 30 minutes south of UCLA. It is known for its pioneering work in clinical and basic science research.
- OUTPATIENT ROTATION: Gynecology
What is the average call schedule? (12-block schedule/year)
PGY-1: 6 of the 12 blocks are call months, average is q4; call shifts are, on average, 12 to 13-hour shifts.
PGY-2: 5.5 of the 12 blocks are call months, average is q4, with two blocks that are q7; call shifts are, on average, 12 to 13-hour shifts.
PGY-3: 2 of 12 blocks are a call month, this is q7.
There are NO 24-hour shifts during PGY-1 and PGY-2.
What are the different clinic experiences? Do you have "tracks" that residents choose their continuity clinics in?
We have two continuity clinics that residents participate in. ALL residents participate in BOTH clinics and split their time here relatively evenly! There are no tracks!
1. UCLA Family Health Center: Located in Santa Monica, UFHC patients are from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds ranging from university employees to low-income families. The patients vary across races and religions; most speak English but some speak Spanish only. The EMR we use here is Epic.
2. Mid-Valley Comprehensive Health Center: Mid-Valley is a county health department health center located in Van Nuys, about 12 miles north of UCLA. The patient population is extremely diverse, primarily Spanish-speaking from Central and South America, but also English speaking patients, and occasional patients from countries such as Russia, Korea, Philippines, the Middle East, and India. More than 50% of the patients are uninsured. The clinic is exceptional due to the high percentage of patients with core family medicine issues: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, obesity, and women's health. There is also a good share of healthy pediatric patients. We also serve as the only outpatient procedure clinic for the ValleyCare system, which provides ample opportunity for experience with office-based procedures. The EMR we use here is Orchid/Powerchart.
- PGY-1 average: 1 half day of continuity clinic per week
- PGY-2 average: 2-3 half days of continuity clinics per week
- PGY-3 average: 3-4 half days of continuity clinics per week
Are you an unopposed program at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center?
We are not quite opposed or unopposed; we are a hybrid, which we believe allows for a uniquely enriching experience. Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center serves as our home base, where we are completely unopposed on our inpatient service. We are the Code Blue and rapid response team for the entire hospital. At the same time, we believe in the merits of a diverse teaching environment, where, on certain rotations, we work closely with prominent UCLA faculty, private attendings, and residents of other specialties. We believe this contributes to improved patient care responsibilities and enriching educational opportunities.
What is the didactic curriculum?
Every Wednesday morning is devoted to didactics, including Grand Rounds, Journal Club, procedural workshops, and a variety of evidence-based clinically relevant presentations by specialists, family physicians, and residents. Continuity clinic is not scheduled during this time, and residents on outpatient rotations are excused from their respective rotations to attend these educational half-days.
How much OB is required?
Each resident does one month of OB at California Hospital during the PGY-1 year and another month during the PGY-2 year. Prenatal obstetrical care from intake through delivery is also provided to our own continuity care patients through Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. Our residents meet RRC requirements for deliveries. If more obstetrics experience is desired, elective time may be used for additional training. Numerous graduates continue caring for OB patients in their practice.
Are there any family medicine fellowships offered at UCLA?
- Sports Medicine
- Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar Program
- Geriatrics
- Addiction Medicine
- Palliative Care
- Primary Care and Health Services Research National Research Service Award (NRSA)
Are there any community-based projects?
- Some of our past and present projects include Salvation Army Homeless Shelters, Lennox Community Health Fair, UCLA Mobile Clinic, and the Homeless Healthcare Collaborative.
What EMR does your program use?
It depends on the rotation you are at! Any rotation at UCLA-SM and our continuity clinic in Santa Monica uses CareConnect, UCLA's version of EPIC. Rotations at UCLA-Olive View, our continuity clinic in Mid-Valley, and our OB rotation at CHMC use a Cerner-based EMR. The VA uses CPRS and Venice Family Clinic uses NextGen as their EMR. By the time you finish your residency at UCLA, you will be well equipped as an attending to tackle all kinds of systems!
What are the extra benefits of being a UCLA resident?
- Four weeks (two separate two-week blocks) paid vacation each academic year.
- Meal cards at all rotating hospitals except the VA, where we are eligible for Uber Eats instead.
- FREE, secure parking at all rotating hospitals except UCLA Ronald Reagan
- Book/educational fund each year
- Great and affordable graduate housing through UCLA
- AMAZING health insurance benefits. 100% free health care from UCLA (No premium, no co-pay) including prescription coverage; available for residents, their spouses, and children.
- Beaches, mountains, wine country, and deserts, Las Vegas, and Mexico, are all in a day’s drive! The beach is a five minute drive!
- You can enjoy the outdoors, as well as world-class dining and entertainment, year-round!