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Frequently Asked Questions

01. What are shifts like?


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— Ronald Reagan Medical Center

  • Mix 8/9/12hr shifts
    • 12hr weekend shifts
  • Main ED:
    • Sr (R3/R4) + Jr (R2) + Interns
  • Fast Track:
    • R2/R3/R4
    • 8hr Fast Track Shifts
  • Scribes for seniors and in Fast Track Dictation Software Available

— Olive View Medical Center

  • Mix 8/9/12hr shifts
    • 12hr weekend shifts
    • 8hr weekday overnights
    • Combined Main/Fast Track ED
  • Most residents stay 30 minutes after shift to wrap up
  • Majority of shifts overlap to allow wrap up and chart completion

Trauma


— Ronald Reagan

  • Level I Trauma Center
  • EM senior is team leader
  • Procedures alternate by day of work between EM and Trauma
  • Airway always belongs to EM

— Olive View

  • Not designated Trauma Center
  • Still gets trauma walk-ins/drop-offs!
  • EM residents in charge of resuscitation

— Antelope Valley

  • Level II Trauma Center
  • EM resident is only trainee present and participates in all procedures

 

 

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02. What are some resident benefits?


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03. Where do residents live?


Residents live in a variety of places!

  • Westwood
  • Brentwood
  • Santa Monica
  • Venice
  • Culver City
  • West Hollywood
  • San Fernando Valley
  • East LA
  • On a boat!

 

UCLA housing also available!

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04. What do grads do?


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Alumni hold leadership positions in EM groups across the country and are part of academic faculty in a wide variety of institutions!

 

 

05. What are some electives residents do?


With 20 weeks of elective, residents have ample time and opportunity to get creative with their electives!

Unique electives recently done:

  • Medical writing for a TV news station
  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Tech & Entrepreneurship in Medicine Informatics

If the resident sets up an elective with educational value the leadership is willing to support it while still providing salary!

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06. How do residents receive mentorship?


  • Each class has an Assistant/Associate Program Director who is assigned to them for all 4 years and meets with each resident formally on a semi-annual basis to track progress and discuss goals
  • Residents are matched with personal faculty mentor to meet with regularly to discuss career or personal issues
  • Sibling families are made up of 4 residents (one per class) to provide peer mentorship and advice
  • The program hosts a Career Day each year for graduating R4s to give advice on how to prepare for the job search and life after residency. Many of our program's alumni from various practice types around the region attend and give their perspectives on the difference settings and locations in which EM is practiced.

 

07. What changes has the residency made recently?


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Teaching/supervising role expanded for longitudinal R4 experience

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Majority of shifts now 9hr with 8hr overnights, with 12hr shifts on weekends

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Quality improvement and Administrative as a longitudinal experience for R4 seniors

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Added SICU and Ortho/Sports Med experience to R2 year

 

 

 

08. What type of activities are residents involved in?


Committees

Residency committees are run entirely by the residents based on individual interests. Current committees include:

  • Recruitment
  • Social media
  • Wellness
  • Community outreach
  • Medical education
  • Hospital-wide committees that residents can get involved in include ethics and GME committees

 

Organized Medicine

Residents are involved in and members of ACEP, CalACEP, EMRA, AAEM/RSA, California Medical Association, AMA, and local advocacy groups such as SCOPHE.

 

Extracurricular Medicine Activities

Several of our residents have been involved in Event Medicine activities including Rock Medicine (music festival), AIDS Lifestyle support, and Painted Turtle Camp

 

09. How does the residency address diversity?


The UCLA Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA has an office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) with a robust amount of programming for students, trainees, faculty, and staff. Please refer to https://medschool.ucla.edu/diversityaffairs to see a full listing of information and events!

In 2019 the Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program chartered an EDI Committee. The mission of the EDI committee is to foster diversity and inclusion for the recruitment and retention of our residents, fellows, and faculty to reflect the rich diversity of Los Angeles and promote long term population health equity. Please refer to the subheading "Diversity" on our website for more information!

 

10. How does the residency address wellness?


Residency Wellness Committee plans and organizes near-monthly residency wide events that will now also include nursing/ancillary staff and scribes! Some previous activities include hiking, magic shows, and comedy shows.

The residency hosts 2 retreats each year and allow residents to request special days off in order to help them be present at important events in their lives outside of residency.

UCLA Behavioral Health Center is available for residents to seek help and support with 24/7 services provided including psychiatric consultation and short-term psychotherapy

UCLA Physician and Faculty Wellness Program provides lectures and workshops related to burnout, stress, health, and wellness as well as a drop-in center.

Residents are able to get discounted rates to join UCLA gyms and fitness centers.