Rheumatology

Training Sites

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Front of UCLA Ronald Reagan

Location: Westwood Village

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a major tertiary and quaternary care center and one of the nation’s leading transplant hospitals. With a Level 1 trauma center and 520 inpatient beds, it serves as a referral hub for patients with complex, multisystem diseases.

Rotation Overview

  • Inpatient Rheumatology Consult Service:
    • Fellows manage consults on high-acuity patients, including those with vasculitis, autoimmune disease, and post-transplant complications.
  • Clinics:
    • Weekly continuity clinic with supervised longitudinal patient care.
  • Call Schedule:
    • Fellows take call every other weekend, including coverage for the VA consult service.
  • Typical Rotation Length:
    • First Year: 2 blocks
    • Second Year: 1–2 blocks

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Sm Hospital Exterior

Location: Santa Monica

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is a 281-bed teaching community hospital that offers a diverse clinical experience. Fellows will see high-volume "bread and butter" rheumatology and more complex cases. Fellows rotate on a mixed inpatient and outpatient consult service, gaining exposure to a broad spectrum of rheumatologic conditions.

Rotation Overview

  • Consult Service:
    • Mixed inpatient/outpatient consults with opportunities for continuity and collaboration across specialties.
  • Clinics:
    • Morning clinic Monday–Thursday at Santa Monica
    • Friday Continuity Clinic
  • Call Schedule:
    • Every other weekend, covering consults at Santa Monica.
  • Typical Rotation Length:
    • First Year: 2 blocks
    • Second Year: 1 block

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

VA Greater Los Angeles

Location: West Los Angeles

The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is a 262-bed tertiary referral center with a fully integrated, HMO-like structure. All services are provided on site at low or no cost to patients. The veteran population offers a unique clinical experience, with a predominance of male patients and a high prevalence of spondyloarthropathies, microcrystalline arthropathies, and systemic vasculitis.

Rotation Overview

  • Consult Service:
    • Combined inpatient and outpatient consults with broad pathology and complex chronic disease management.
  • Clinics:
    • Morning clinic on Monday and Thursday; Friday continuity clinic.
  • Call Schedule:
    • 2 weekends per month, including coverage for Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
  • Typical Rotation Length:
    • First Year: 2 blocks
    • Second Year: 1 block

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Harbor UCLA Medical Center

Location: Torrance

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is a Los Angeles County public hospital serving a diverse and historically underserved population. Fellows encounter a high prevalence of infectious rheumatic diseases and autoimmune conditions that disproportionately affect individuals from minority and low socioeconomic backgrounds, often presenting with advanced or severe disease.

Rotation Overview

  • Consult Service:
    • Rich exposure to rheumatic diseases with complex presentations in a high-need population.
  • Clinics:
    • Morning clinics on Monday and Thursday, afternoon clinic on Tuesday, and Friday continuity clinic.
  • Typical Rotation Length:
    • First Year: 2 blocks
    • Second Year: 1 block

Continuity Clinics

Continuity Clinic

Locations: West Los Angeles

Fellows participate in continuity clinic throughout both years of training, allowing them to follow patients over time. Clinics are held at the UCLA Internal Medicine Suites (adjacent to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) and at the West Los Angeles VA Clinic.

Rotation Overview

  • Clinic Schedule:
    • UCLA Internal Medicine Suites: 3 Fridays per month
    • West Los Angeles VA Clinic: 1 Friday per month