Program Structure

The residency is designed as a two-year training experience consisting of an academic phase and practicum phase with ongoing core residency training activities. The program does not provide an initial clinical training year. Consequently, the program requires that entering residents have completed at least one year in an ACGME accredited clinical residency program and be licensed to practice medicine in the State of California. The program will consider for entrance into the residency, physicians who have completed the required clinical training and who have obtained a Master of Public Health degree or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution. These residents may be admitted directly into the practicum phase. The academic and practicum phases are functionally integrated because residents participate in occupational medicine clinical and core residency training activities, while taking courses during the academic phase. The program provides a range of academic and practicum training opportunities so residents can tailor their training to address their individual educational objectives, while ensuring that each resident receives solid training in the core areas of preventive medicine and occupational medicine.

The residency begins in August with a seven-week orientation and intensive introduction to the field of occupational health. Residents in the academic phase take courses for their MS degree programs during the fall, winter, and spring terms, which last from late September to June. The residents then do a practicum phase field site rotation during the summer period from June until late-September. Most residents then take one to two additional courses during the fall term of the second year, while completing their research project in fulfillment of the master's thesis. The rest of the residency is devoted to practicum training experiences. Residents finish the program at the end of July so they can qualify to take the occupational medicine board certification examination that same year.