SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OVERVIEW

Ralph V. Clayman, M.D., Dean

Irvine Hall
Admissions and Outreach: (949) 824-5388
http://www.som.uci.edu/

Faculty / M.D. Program / M.D. Curriculum / Postgraduate Educational Programs / Graduate Academic Programs /

The UCI School of Medicine became part of the University of California in 1965. Prior to this time it was known as the California College of Medicine which traces its roots to a private institution founded in 1896.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine is to promote biomedical sciences and medicine in Orange County, California, and beyond, through excellence in research, patient care, education, and community service. This mission is achieved through programs of excellence in the following:

Education: The School of Medicine is committed to provide educational programs of the highest quality to medical students, M.D./Ph.D. and M.D./M.B.A. students, residents, fellows, allied health, graduate academic students, practicing physicians and other health care professionals. Educational programs are offered along the continuum of medical education with programs in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. These programs emphasize the most current knowledge in the health sciences and reflect the changing practice of medicine. Further, the School of Medicine's educational programs are designed to stimulate life-long self-learning and critical inquiry and to exemplify those human values necessary to fulfill the professional commitments of a career in the health sciences.

Research: Excellence in research is an essential feature of the School of Medicine. Therefore, the School is committed to develop and maintain research programs in the health sciences which seek to advance basic scientific knowledge and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human illness.

Clinical Care: Recognizing its responsibility to meet the educational needs of students and the diverse needs of the patient community, the School of Medicine is committed to programs of clinical excellence across the spectrum of patient care disciplines.

Service to the Public: As a publicly assisted institution, the School of Medicine is committed to serve the community as a vital resource of expertise and knowledge. The School further serves the public through the training of health professionals whose backgrounds reflect California's ethnic and cultural diversity and whose professional careers address California's health care needs.

DEGREES

The School of Medicine also offers the Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D.), the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC), an M.D./M.B.A. program in cooperation with The Paul Merage School of Business, medical residency programs, and continuing medical education for physicians and other health care professionals.

Vision Statement

The University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine will achieve preeminence through the creation, application, and dissemination of new knowledge in the biomedical sciences and medicine. This will be accomplished through international leadership in biomedical research, development of new therapies, delivery of state-of-the-art medical care, and innovative biomedical education.

Health Sciences Complex

The Health Sciences Complex is a 121-acre site that houses UCI's medical school facilities. Twenty-nine acres have been developed to provide space for teaching, research, and patient care as well as offices for departmental administration.

The School's basic science instructional programs are located in modern, well-equipped, medical sciences buildings. These units provide space for first- and second-year classes, lecture halls (including the Dr. S. Jerome and Judith D. Tamkin Student Lecture Hall), offices and laboratories for various basic and clinical departments. Other buildings house the School's administration, laboratories, and study center (located in J. Edward Berk Hall).

The new Medical Education building symbolizes the University's ongoing commitment to high-quality medical education and innovation. The $40-million, 65,000-square-foot building serves as the hub for nearly all non-hospital related educational activities for UC Irvine medical students, and incorporates the latest technology to help prepare tomorrow's doctors for healthcare in the digital age. The School of Medicine Educational Affairs Office is located in the Medical Education building, as well as the innovative Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC), an acclaimed program to improve healthcare for the Latino community by training medical students to care for this underserved population in a linguistically competent, culturally sensitive way.

The Medical Education building's telemedicine center includes a 60-seat interactive televideo auditorium where students watch UC Irvine physicians provide expert care over the Internet to patients in rural or other remote locations. Located on the second floor, the Clinical Skills Center is a cutting-edge facility for teaching and assessment of clinical skills, communication, and professionalism. The Center includes 17 fully equipped patient exam rooms, a central control room for exam administration and recording of all activities, and a computer software system that focuses on the capture, debriefing, and assessment of medical training. The building also features an advanced simulation learning center. The Simulation Lab is a four-suite lab that utilizes high-fidelity human patient simulators with physiologically accurate responses to stimuli to enhance learning and assess competency. The lab is equipped with a fully operational anesthesia suite, a trauma suite, and a general ward environment. The Simulation Lab has two debriefing rooms for immediate feedback on performance as well as a large central control room for all simulation activities.

In addition, the 40,000-square-foot Plumwood House is devoted to basic research in the fields of neurological disorders, diagnostic systems and reagents, and industrial bioreactors. In this facility, faculty from the Department of Biological Chemistry share laboratory space with corporate researchers.

Outpatient services are available on campus through the Louis A. and Helen C. Gottschalk Medical Plaza and the Beckman Laser Institute. The Plaza capitalizes upon the broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic programs of the School as well as the extensive clinical expertise of the faculty. The facility offers primary care and specialty services. Special programs in diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases also are offered. The Plaza also houses UC Irvine Corporate Health Services and the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, which offers the latest in diagnostic health care for eye diseases, including computerized refraction analysis, glaucoma diagnosis, and ultrasound analysis of eye disorders.

Housing one of the world's leading programs in medical laser technology, the Beckman Laser Institute offers state-of-the-art treatment for cancer and dermatological conditions. The Institute specializes in the development and application of laser and other optical technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

UCI's Biomedical Research Center (BRC) is a landmark public-private collaboration between UCI and businesses involved in biomedical, biotechnological, and healthcare services. The Center enables UCI researchers and participating companies to work alongside one another, combining basic science, clinical study, and product development to find new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The William J. Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility, the first of several BRC buildings, is the home of a core group of prominent scientists investigating the causes and cures for neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and spinal cord injury. The second building is the Robert R. Sprague Family Foundation Hall, where scientists work to reveal the role of genetics in cancer treatment and prevention. The third building, the Dottie and George Hewitt Research Hall, is home to a state-of-the-art General Clinical Research Center and internationally recognized investigators studying infectious diseases, molecular medicine, immunology, and complementary and alternative medicine. The Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center is the fourth building in UCI's Biomedical Research Center. Opened in 2010, this state-of-the art research and clinical building fosters a multi-pronged approach to neurodegenerative repair and basic stem cell biology by supporting basic research, regenerative medicine, and drug-development programs.

CHAO FAMILY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated facility in Orange County and one of only 40 such centers in the country. Overall, more than 100 faculty members at the Cancer Center are involved in several major research programs, encompassing everything from basic research that looks at how cancer cells grow to bone marrow transplantation. Located at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, the 56,000-square-foot facility provides an ideal setting for the practice of all the basic and clinical subspecialties involved in adult and pediatric oncology, including the application of the latest techniques for diagnosis and management of patients with cancer.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE HEALTHCARE

UC Irvine Healthcare, the clinical entity of UC Irvine, is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare to Orange County and surrounding communities through UC Irvine Medical Center, the county's only university hospital in Orange County.

UC Irvine Medical Center, located in the City of Orange, is a 422-bed, comprehensive medical care center. It is the principal clinical facility of the School of Medicine operated by the University. The medical faculty of the School of Medicine together with the medical resident-physician staff, provide the professional care. A full scope of acute- and general-care services are offered at UC Irvine Medical Center including cancer, cardiology, digestive disease, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, neonatology, psychiatry, family medicine, pathology, radiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, ophthalmology, neurology, anesthesiology, orthopaedics, geriatrics, oncology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and urology.

UC Irvine Medical Center also has cardiac, neonatal, burn, medical, surgery, and neurosciences intensive care units, and more than 90 specialty outpatient services. It is Orange County's only Level I trauma center—the most comprehensive designation for the treatment of life-threatening injuries. The UC Irvine Douglas Hospital opened at UC Irvine Medical Center in March 2009. The seven-story hospital has 236 beds, 19 operating rooms, and interventional procedure rooms. Private patient rooms offer patients optimal comfort and healing and accommodate family members who wish to stay overnight. More information about UC Irvine Healthcare is available online at http://www.ucihealth.com.

UCI FAMILY HEALTH CENTER-SANTA ANA

The UCI Family Health Center-Santa Ana is a state-of-the-art primary care facility, conveniently located near the Santa Ana Civic Center. The Center has two missions—healthcare delivery and medical education.

As a community clinic, the Family Health Center's multilingual physicians and staff are committed to providing quality health care to patients, including the medically underserved. It provides primary care services to people of all ages including family medicine, preventive care for children and adults, and specialty care in pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

As an integral part of the UCI School of Medicine, the Family Health Center provides educational and training opportunities for medical and nurse practitioner students, including the UCI Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training programs.

UCI FAMILY HEALTH CENTER-ANAHEIM

The UCI Family Health Center-Anaheim provides care for more than 20,000 outpatient visits annually and training programs for resident physicians in primary care, general internal medicine, and general and adolescent pediatrics. There are additional programs in gynecology, dermatology, general surgery, podiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, optometry, orthopedics, psychiatry, and multispecialty faculty practice. The Center provides training for medical students in their primary care, general pediatric, adolescent medicine, and geriatric medicine rotations and electives.

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Additional major teaching and research programs of the School of Medicine are conducted at the Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Other academic programs are conducted in affiliation with San Bernardino County Medical Center, Fairview Developmental Center (Costa Mesa), Kaiser Foundation Hospital (Anaheim, Bellflower, and Riverside), Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Metropolitan State Hospital (Norwalk), The City of Hope Medical Center (Duarte), Western Medical Center (Tustin/Santa Ana), the Kern Medical Center (Bakersfield), Clínica Sierra Vista (Lamont), Presbyterian (Newport Beach), Fountain Valley Hospital and Medical Center, and the Orange County Health Care Agency/Public Health Clinic.

School of Medicine Alumni Relations

The UCI School of Medicine is an outgrowth of what began in 1896 as the Pacific College of Osteopathy (PSO). Some years later it became the College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, which then evolved into the California College of Medicine in 1962 and subsequently joined the UC system in 1965. The Office of Alumni Relations provides programs and services for nearly 4,000 alumni of the School as well as for students. From financial support to Honor's Night awards, mentorship to reunions, the Office of Alumni Relations seeks to provide a cornerstone from which students and alumni can benefit from their relationships to one another and in so doing, strengthen the School of Medicine.

THE M.D. PROGRAM

Admissions

All inquiries regarding the UCI School of Medicine's admission programs and procedures should be directed to:

University of California, Irvine
School of Medicine
Office of Admissions and Outreach
Medical Education Building
Irvine, CA 92697-4089

(949) 824-5388 or (800) UCI-5388
http://www.meded.uci.edu/admissions/

The UCI School of Medicine is a member of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). All students who seek entrance to the UCI School of Medicine must complete the AMCAS application. AMCAS application information is available at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm. Applications must be submitted between June 1 and November 1 of the year preceding anticipated admission.

SELECTION FACTORS

The UCI School of Medicine seeks to admit students who are highly qualified to be trained in the practice of medicine and whose backgrounds, talents, and experiences contribute to a diverse student body. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews all applicants whose academic record and MCAT scores indicate that they will be able to handle the rigorous medical school curriculum. In addition to scholastic achievement, attributes deemed desirable in prospective students include leadership ability and participation in extracurricular activities such as clinical and/or medically related research experience, as well as community service. Careful consideration is given to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Information provided by the AMCAS application is used for preliminary screening. Based on decisions reached by the Admissions Committee, applicants may be sent a secondary application. Applicants receiving a secondary application are requested to submit additional materials which include a minimum of three letters of recommendation, supplemental information forms, and a nonrefundable application fee of $80. Upon further review by the Admissions Committee, approximately 500 of those applicants receiving a secondary application will be interviewed. Regional interviews are not available. Preference is given to California residents and applicants who are either United States citizens or permanent residents. The UCI School of Medicine does not accept transfer students.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Students can be considered for admission to the School of Medicine if they meet the following requirements:

1.   A minimum of three years (90 semester units) of undergraduate course work is required, including a minimum of one full-time year at an accredited U.S. college or university. A baccalaureate degree is strongly recommended but not required. Candidates for admission may submit community college credit only to the extent granted on transfer to a four-year college or university. For purposes of evaluation, letter or numerical grades are preferred for course work, particularly for the required subjects listed below. Final enrollment into the first-year class at the School of Medicine is contingent upon evidence of satisfactory completion of all requirements with a grade of C or higher and of all courses listed as in progress at the time of application. Failure to meet the requirements or falsification of information are grounds for rejection or dismissal.

2.   Completion of the following college course requirements prior to matriculation:

 Applicants are strongly encouraged to have completed their basic science requirements at the time of application. No specific major is required, however, demonstrated ability in the sciences is of great importance. In addition, applicants are advised to take advantage of the intellectual maturation afforded by a well-rounded liberal arts education. English, the humanities, and the social and behavioral sciences are considered particularly important. The following courses are also recommended but not required: molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, vertebrate embryology, psychology, and Spanish.

3.   The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm, is required. The MCAT must be taken within three years of application, no later than September of the year prior to matriculation.

4.   A criminal background check is conducted on all accepted applicants.

5.   All students matriculating to the UCI School of Medicine must be able to meet the Technical Standards available for viewing at http://www.meded.uci.edu/admissions.

OUTREACH

Outreach efforts coordinated by this office are designed to introduce students to the medical profession during their high school and undergraduate education. An additional goal of this office is to build a pipeline of potential candidates for medical school and recruit students from socio-economically disadvantaged groups who have a desire to serve in the medically underserved communities in California. To reach these goals, programs are developed and implemented for students in high school, community colleges, and four-year undergraduate institutions. Examples of these activities include a Postbaccalaureate Program, Premedical Conferences, and Summer Outreach Programs. Outreach staff conduct academic advising related to the medical school admissions process and develop liaisons with UCI undergraduate academic programs and pre-health advisors.

Medical Student Advisor System

The School of Medicine provides a comprehensive academic advising and assistance program that spans the full duration of the students' educational program.

Academic Skills Assessment

All entering students undergo an academic skills assessment during the new student orientation. Students then meet individually with the associate dean for student affairs, the academic skills coordinator, and the School of Medicine psychologist to discuss study skills, early performance, and overall adjustment to medical school. Additional services are provided on an as-needed basis by the academic skills coordinator and the SOM psychologist.

Academic Advisors

Michael Prislin, M.D., Associate Dean Student Affairs   (949) 824-8358

Student academic performance during the first two years is monitored on a monthly basis by the Educational Support Committee. The committee develops specific action plans for each student experiencing academic difficulty. All students are also assigned a faculty advisor beginning early in their first year. This faculty advisor serves as the student's Clinical Foundations course small-group leader during years one and two. For years three and four, academic advisement occurs primarily via continuing interactions with the student's faculty advisor and the associate dean for student affairs. Also during years three and four, the Educational Support Committee consisting of the Clinical Clerkship Directors periodically reviews student performance. The faculty advisor provides semi-annual reviews and formative feedback regarding student performance as well as general counseling relating to emerging career preferences and year-four scheduling. Students also have access to a group of faculty from various departments who have agreed to provide specialty-specific academic advice in their disciplines. Several workshops are conducted during the second half of year three and early in year four to prepare students for the residency application process. All students also meet individually with the associate dean for student affairs to review their Medical Student Performance Evaluation (dean's letter) and discuss individual residency application strategies. Additional resources are involved on an as-needed basis by the associate dean for student affairs.

Peer Review and Peer Counseling Program

Michael Prislin, M.D., Associate Dean Student Affairs, Chair    (949) 824-8358

The School of Medicine has an informal peer review process, aimed at early detection and assistance for medical students who are experiencing difficulty such as professional conduct problems, suspected impairment, violation of the honor code, or violation of any University policy, regulation, or rule. The Peer Review Committee is comprised of two representatives from each class, the student body co-presidents, and two advisory faculty members. The committee operates within guidelines set jointly by the School of Medicine administration and the student body. Cases involving serious professional misconduct are referred to the Dean's Office. The Peer Review Committee conducts hearings and may impose sanctions or provide assistance to the student.

Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D.)

Alan Goldin, M.D., Ph.D., Chair   (949) 824-5264

Exceptionally well-qualified students interested in careers in academic medicine and with demonstrated research accomplishments may be considered for admission to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Students in this program pursue a combined curriculum for an M.D. degree from the School of Medicine and a Ph.D. degree from any of the graduate programs at UCI. The normative time for completion of the program is eight years, and students holding either degree are not eligible for MSTP. The maximum time for completion of the program is 10 years. Additional information is available from the MSTP Coordinator's Office, (949) 824-5264; mstp@uci.edu; http://www.mstp.uci.edu/.

Applicants must submit a supplementary application (available from the School of Medicine Office of Admissions) to the Medical Scientist Training Program when they are submitting their secondary application information to the School of Medicine. Students accepted into the program have the option of pursuing graduate study in any of the graduate programs at UCI. Although a specific graduate department need not be chosen at the time of admission, students are expected to have selected a field for their graduate studies. Financial support in the form of a fellowship, which includes a stipend as well as tuition and fees, is provided. Applicants not accepted into MSTP may be considered separately for admission to the School of Medicine.

M.D./M.B.A. Degree Program

Maria Chandler, M.D./M.B.A., Faculty Advisor   (949) 824-7133

The M.D./M.B.A. program requires five or six years for completion. It is aimed at individuals who are exceptional in ability and motivation and who seek a career as physicians with major responsibility for administration and management in health care organizations and institutions. Students in this program pursue a combined curriculum for an M.D. degree from the School of Medicine and an M.B.A. degree from The Paul Merage School of Business.

Students must be currently enrolled in the M.D. program in order to apply to the combined M.D./M.B.A. program. During their second or third year of medical school, interested students submit an application to The Paul Merage School of Business Admissions Committee, after review by the School of Medicine. Final acceptance to the program is granted by The Paul Merage School of Business, and M.B.A. course work begins following completion of the student's third year of medical school. Students should be aware that enrollment in the M.D. program does not guarantee acceptance into the M.B.A. program.

The MCAT, along with the completion of three years of medical school training in good standing and passage of USMLE Step 1, currently serve as a waiver for the GMAT entrance examination usually required for application to the M.B.A. program. The total number of units required to graduate from each program separately are satisfied in the M.D./M.B.A. program.

Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)

Charles Vega, M.D., Director   (949) 824-7136

A carefully selected group of students from diverse backgrounds and with superior academic credentials, proven commitment to service, and solid conversational Spanish will be considered for acceptance to the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) at the UCI School of Medicine. PRIME-LC responds to the increasing demand for physician-leaders who are culturally and linguistically competent to address the health care delivery, research, and policy needs of underserved Latino communities in California. The program spans all three components of medical training: undergraduate (medical school), graduate (residency program), and continuing medical education (post-residency). Students in PRIME-LC complete additional value- added curriculum in addition to their medical training in order to reach their goals of leading communities, and they also complete a Master's degree program of their choice. The first residency positions in any UC PRIME opened in the UCI Family Medicine program in 2010.

The PRIME-LC supplemental application is part of the UCI School of Medicine secondary application and must be completed to be considered for acceptance. Applicants selected for faculty and student interviews are required to undertake a third interview in Spanish to evaluate conversational skills and commitment to service. All interested applicants, including those who are not currently California residents, are encouraged to complete the PRIME-LC application. Financial support is available in the form of scholarships, loans, and loan repayment programs. Applicants not accepted into PRIME-LC may be considered separately for admission to the regular School of Medicine M.D. program. For more information contact (949) 824-7136; primelc@uci.edu; http://www.meded.uci.edu/PRIMELC.