FAQs

What are some strengths of our program?

Strengths of the program include hands-on clinical training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), clinical nutrition, integrative oncology, inpatient integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and other broader integrative medicine modalities. Graduates are certified to provide acupuncture in their medical practice. During the second year, we support fellows to cultivate individual interests and projects, and provide additional time to explore affiliated integrative clinic experiences. Our clinic is one of the largest integrative medicine clinical programs in the US, offering an excellent environment for training as an expert in integrative care. We are nested in the larger UCLA community and the Integrative Medicine Collaborative.

What makes this fellowship unique? 

• Our extensive clinical training in TCM and acupuncture. Our fellows have weekly didactics on the foundations of TCM theory as well as the clinical practice of TCM. Didactics are taught by TCM experts and professors.
• There is extensive academic training and experience. Educational components include leading UCLA undergraduate and medical student courses, regular academic case conferences, research meetings in collaboration with the UCLA Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research and noon conferences and lectures featuring experts found locally, nationally and internationally. Fellows are expected to publish, participate and/or present in national integrative medicine conferences, teach undergraduate students, medical students, and resident rotators, as well as participate in other creative or scholarly activities under the title of Clinical Instructor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. At the end of the fellowship, fellows are certified by the fellowship team and eligible to sit for the ABoIM and ABMA examinations.
• Fellows are typically retained to fit the demand of our ever-growing number of CEWM centers across the greater Los Angeles area.

What do our fellows do after graduation?

In the past, most of our fellows have been retained in faculty positions within the Center at its various branches and clinics. Other fellow graduates have gone on to lead integrative medicine centers, palliative care centers, and open private East-West clinics. Some fellows who have stayed primarily do East-West consults while others also include primary care for a portion of their FTE. There is also an opportunity to become a part of the inpatient East-West team.

Is the fellowship ACGME certified?

Our fellowship is not ACGME-certified, which is also the case for all other fellowships in integrative medicine. 

Who is eligible to apply?

Any MD or DO who has completed a US ACGME-accredited residency program in internal medicine, family medicine, or medicine-pediatrics may apply.

When should applicants apply?

Applicants usually apply during the summer one year before the anticipated start time. Applications open July 1 and are due by November 1 Interviews are conducted during November/December. If you have missed the deadline and are still interested, please contact our Center to discuss your situation. 

Applicants are welcome to apply a year in advance if they have a strong interest and wish to secure a fellowship position earlier. We also encourage potential applicants to do at least a 2-week elective rotation with us (ideally before application season begins), so that they can become more familiar with our program and meet all our faculty.

What are salary and benefits?

The salary is at the junior faculty level, with a UCLA faculty appointment. There are no nights or weekend calls, although fellows will be responsible for handling pages and calls (which are extremely rare). Major holidays are observed according to the UCLA academic calendar. You are eligible for all benefits that come with being a UCLA faculty member including but not limited to health insurance and retirement savings. 

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any additional questions about the fellowship.