Trainees in Track A would have, on the average, a requirement of one full day per week of clinical responsibility in their first year. This consists of attending one clinic per week at their base institution and participating in one other activity, for example, another clinic or prenatal diagnosis unit at one of the other institutions. Trainees have the opportunity to select as mentors any of the research training faculty. Individuals in Track A are expected to spend at least 3 years in the Program in order to obtain sufficient training to become independent investigators as well as to attain clinical competence in genetics. They have the opportunity to select a mentor among the laboratories of the research training faculty.
Progress is monitored by the faculty mentor to whom they report.
Fellows in Track B participate in all formal aspects of the Program. Time allotment in track B can be two years or longer. Individuals are based at one of the three hospitals but participate in clinical training activities at all three UCLA campuses. Clinical activities include attendance at Genetics Clinic and accompanying working conferences, patient consultation and rounds, prenatal diagnosis, counseling and exposure to appropriate clinical support technology such as cytogenetics, biochemical genetics, DNA diagnosis, and computer analysis. Ph.D.s are expected to spend a minimum of two years obtaining training to meet the American Board of Medical Genetics requirements for certification in Ph.D. or other Clinical Laboratory subspecialties.