University of California (San Diego) Medical Center Program

Overview of the Residency Program

The University of California, San Diego Medical Center offers a 4-year fully accredited residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The program aims to train future leaders in the specialty through a comprehensive educational structure that combines clinical experience, academic stimulation, and patient care quality. It features a unique combination of training sites, including UC San Diego and Kaiser Permanente San Diego, allowing residents to care for a diverse population of women, representative of California’s rich ethnic, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds 1.

With strong affiliations, including a longstanding partnership with Planned Parenthood San Diego, this program also provides a comprehensive experience in various subspecialties including gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Each resident is expected to participate in a faculty-mentored research project or quality improvement project throughout their training 1.

Curriculum

The residency curriculum is designed to cover all essential areas of obstetrics and gynecology, ensuring balanced exposure across all subspecialties. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, and residents are trained in both inpatient and outpatient settings 1. Specific subspecialty training includes:

• Gynecologic Oncology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
• Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
• Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
• Family Planning

Rotations and Call Schedules

Residents rotate through various responsibilities that span obstetrics and gynecology practices. Each year involves different rotations tailored to the resident’s educational and professional development needs. Key rotations include:

• UC San Diego Night Float
• Obstetrics
• Inpatient Gynecologic Oncology
• Gynecology / Midwifery

The call schedule is designed to provide residents with extensive clinical exposure while also ensuring appropriate time off. There are nightly and weekend coverage rotations to solidify training in both surgeries and patient care 8.

Conferences and Didactic Teaching

The program emphasizes continuous learning through structured didactic teaching sessions and conferences. Regular teaching opportunities include:

• Grand Rounds
• Case Conferences and Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) reviews
• Simulation Training
• Journal Club Discussions

These sessions are designed to enhance residents’ medical knowledge and clinical skills. The faculty’s commitment to teaching ensures that residents receive guidance not only during rounds but also through structured educational opportunities 3.

Elective Rotations

Residents are encouraged to pursue electives tailored to their interests, which can include global health initiatives, research opportunities, or additional clinical experiences. During their third year, residents have a 4-week elective slot which can be geared toward domestic or international clinical exposure 5.

Research Opportunities

The program supports academic inquiry, requiring residents to engage in research efforts. Residents may pursue projects aligned with faculty expertise, contributing to ongoing studies in woman’s health and innovative care approaches 1.

Family Planning Experience

A critical component of the training involves family planning, given the program’s designation as one of the first Ryan Residency Training Programs. Residents learn the fundamentals of family planning, exposure to current research, and hands-on experience through rotations at Planned Parenthood, focusing on complex contraception counseling and techniques 6.

Salary and Benefits

The residency program provides competitive salaries and a benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, paid vacation, and education stipends towards residents’ professional development. Salaries for the academic year 2024-2025 are structured as follows:

• Resident Physician I: $86,819
• Resident Physician II: $89,311
• Resident Physician III: $92,363
• Resident Physician IV: $95,549

Residents are paid on the 1st of each month and are covered under the San Diego Housestaff Association 9.

Visa Support

The UC San Diego Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program provides visa support for international medical graduates. Primarily, the program sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas, ensuring that eligible candidates can participate in residency training without immigration barriers 1.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The program is highly competitive, accepting only six residents per cohort out of approximately 60 interviewed candidates. Applicants must have passed the USMLE examinations on their first attempt, with average scores for current residents being around 239 on Step I and 254 on Step II. The program is friendly towards both DO graduates and international medical graduates, with specific application requirements outlined in the application process, including letters of recommendation and a personal statement 2 4.

International candidates must be appropriately accredited and pass all necessary exams to practice within California, adding further specificity to the eligibility criteria 4.