Residents are most able to individualize their programs to match their professional interests during the practicum. With the assistance of residency advisors and appropriate preceptors, each Resident develops a training program with programmatic objectives and learning activities designed to attain these objectives. The UCLA system offers rich opportunities for residents to become involved in research, education, and service activities. In addition to the academic departments of the School of Public Health, independent Centers may serve as practicum sites. Other UCLA affiliated sites offer the resident a full range of practicum experiences.
Some Residents take the academic and practicum phases concurrently over a period of two years.
This allows more flexibility in academic coursework and makes it possible for the Resident to be involved with longer term projects such as demonstrations or research programs. The Residency accepts up to four first year residents each year. Currently, only two of these are funded by the UCLA Medical Center at the PGY-2 level. These two positions include health insurance coverage. Additional funding sources through fellowship applications may be available for those with specific research interests.