FAQs

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 (where residents respond to rapid responses, code blues, and code strokes). 

Through our curriculum, we are exposed to a very large variety of clinical settings, EMRs, and patient populations, preparing us for a multitude of attending jobs upon graduation! Our connection to various specialties as part of UCLA Health also invites a broad range of opportunities to explore your special interests.

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 300-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 also is the inpatient home of the U.S. News & World Report No. 1-ranked UCLA Geriatrics Program, and home to the internationally known Rape Treatment Center.
  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 in the ValleyCare health system, known for excellent teaching, and appreciated for its efficient and collegial work environment.
  3. California Hospital: Affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine, this large private medical center is located in downtown Los Angeles.  We work on a bustling Labor & Delivery service alongside Family Medicine and OB/GYN attendings.
  4. UCLA-Venice Family Clinic: 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.
  5. West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center: The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is the largest, most complex healthcare system within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  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.
  7. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: CHLA is a top-10 nationally ranked, freestanding acute care pediatric hospital in East Hollywood.

What is the average call schedule? (12-block schedule per year)

PGY-1: 6 of the 12 blocks are call months, average is q4; call shifts are no more than 16 hours.

PGY-2: 5.5 of the 12 blocks are call months, average is q4, with two blocks that are q7; call shifts are no more than 16 hours

PGY-3: 3 of 12 blocks is a call month, call shifts are no more than 16 hours.

We no longer require residents to work 24 hour shifts!

What are the different clinic experiences?

As a resident, you participate in BOTH continuity clinics!

  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. Our strengths include ample opportunity for obstetrical continuity of care, as well as a high volume of women’s health and pediatrics.
  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 Russia, Korea, 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.

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 only overnight housestaff in the hospital at UCLA-Santa Monica, and we are also 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 most residents are excused from their respective rotations to attend these educational half-days.

Additionally, each year, every resident has one rotation block for Behavioral Science, which includes a review of core clinical concepts via lectures, field trips to local healthcare-related resources (nursing homes, counseling centers, home visits), observed patient encounters, etc. These are non-call rotations devoted exclusively to education, and involve our staff psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, and nutritionist.

How much OB is required?

Each resident does one month of OB at California Hospital during the PGY-1 year and again 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 have no difficulty meeting (and exceeding) 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, and they report feeling well prepared.

Are there any family medicine fellowships offered at UCLA?

  • Sports Medicine
  • Clinical Scholars Program
  • East-West Medicine
  • Geriatrics
  • Addiction Medicine
  • Hospice & Palliative Care
  • Preventive Medicine
  • LGBTQ Healthcare

What are the extra benefits of being a UCLA resident?

  • Four weeks (two two-week blocks) paid vacation each academic year
  • Meal cards at all rotating hospitals
  • Free, secure parking at all rotating hospitals
  • 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!

What are your salaries and benefits?

Please see this page for the most current information on our benefits! We are a unionized residency under CIR!