The School of Medicine
The faculty of the School of Medicine is committed to nurturing
and reinforcing the attributes that are important in the making
of a doctordedication, compassion, and intellectual curiosity.
The goal of the medical school curriculum, clinical experience,
and faculty-student interactions is to develop well-trained, objective,
and conscientious physicians prepared for the changing conditions
of medical practice and continuing self-education. Students acquire
understanding of the basic medical sciences and clinical disciplines
and are encouraged to choose their own areas of interest for eventual
development into careers in the broadly diversified medical community.
Required course offerings are designed to provide students with
a broad background suitable for general practice, and all students
are trained in the delivery of primary care.
The School of Medicine accepted its charter class in 1968. The
founding faculty drew upon the strength of UCSDs existing
basic science departments rather than recreating such departments
for the new school. Today this unique relationship continues with
faculty from campus departments joining faculty from the School
of Medicines fourteen departments in teaching the core courses
in medicine. Both preclinical and clinical courses are taught
by UCSD faculty physicians who also have active patient caseloads.
Courses are continually evaluated and updated by interdisciplinary
course committees.
An honors, pass, fail grading system puts the emphasis on mastering
the knowledge students need to practice medicine. The honors grade
is not used in the first quarter of year one (only) to allow students
to make a smooth transition to medical school. The honors grade
is not used to rank the class numerically but to acknowledge students
who have demonstrated superior academic performance. Students
receive individual evaluations written by the faculty.
Students at the UCSD School of Medicine are encouraged to explore
a variety of clinical, laboratory, and community-based experiences.
UCSD facilities are the main sites for clinical education and
are licensed for 500 beds. The majority of UCSD inpatients are
admitted at UCSD Medical Center-Hillcrest, where a number of Regional
Care Centers are located, including San Diego and Imperial Counties
only Level I Trauma Center. The UCSD Ambulatory Care Center is
located across the street from the hospital tower.
In July 1993, a 120-bed general medical-surgical hospital, The
John M. and Sally B. Thornton Hospital, opened at UCSD Medical Center-La
Jolla which is located on the La Jolla campus. Adjacent to the Thornton
Hospital is the Perlman Ambulatory Care Center and the Shiley Eye
Center.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located adjacent to the
School of Medicine campus in La Jolla, also is an important training
site. The UCSD School of Medicines partnership with Childrens
Hospital and Health Center enables students to treat a significant
number of the regions pediatric patients.
Outpatient experiences include private medical practice, community
clinics, and home visitation programs. Students see patients in
many of San Diegos most modern hospitals and outpatient
facilities, as well as in some of the disadvantaged neighborhoods
of San Diego and Baja California, Mexico.
In all of their clinical experiences UCSD medical students have
an opportunity to see how physicians work as a team with physician
assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, laboratory technicians,
social workers, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists,
and other health care professionals to provide health care. In
many cases they also can see how the trend toward managed
care affects both patients and the practice of medicine.
There are many opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge
research in laboratories of UCSD School of Medicine researchers,
as well as in the laboratories of scientists from the general
UCSD campus, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, The Salk Institute,
Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, and some of the many private
biomedical research companies in the region.
The medical school curriculum provides flexibility so that the
individual needs and goals of each student can be met. The curriculum
is divided into two major components: the core curriculum and
the elective programs.
Elective opportunities constitute a substantial portion of classes
during the first two years and close to 50 percent during the
last two years. The core curriculum of the first two years is
designed to provide each entering student an essential understanding
of the fundamental disciplines underlying modern medicine. The
core curriculum of the last two years is composed of the major
clinical specialties taught in hospital settings, outpatient situations,
and relevant extended-care facilities.
A Medical Scientist Training Program provides the opportunity
for a limited number of students to earn both the M.D. and Ph.D.
degrees over a six- to seven-year period of study.
The School of Medicine cooperates with the San Diego State University
Graduate School of Public Health (SDSU-GSPH) in assisting interested
students who wish to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Health
(M.P.H.) while enrolled in medical school. Students can also receive
an M.P.H. at other schools of public health, although a formal
agreement exists only with the SDSU-GPSH.
The UCSD School of Medicine and the Department of Family and
Preventive Medicine jointly offer a Master of Advanced Studies
(MAS) in the Leadership of Healthcare Organizations. The degree
program permits a student to complete the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
curriculum and studies leading to a Masters Degree in the
Leadership of Healthcare Organizations in a total of five years.
Each student is expected to develop an individualized program
of independent study in conjunction with a faculty member and
to describe it in writing.
Freshman student enrollment is 122, and a total of 518 medical
students were enrolled in 20022003.
Selection Factors
Selection is based upon the nature and depth of scholarly and
extracurricular activities undertaken, academic record, performance
on the MCAT, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews.
The Admissions Committee gives serious consideration only to
those applicants with above average GPA values and MCAT scores.
The School of Medicine is seeking a student body with a broad
diversity of backgrounds and interests reflecting our diverse
population.
A complete catalog and information on the foregoing programs
are available on the schools Web page http://meded.ucsd.edu/Catalog/
or for purchase at the UCSD Bookstore. Send School of Medicine
catalog requests to: UCSD Bookstore 0008, University of California,
San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0008,
or for more information, call the UCSD Bookstore at (858) 534-7326.
For additional information about the UCSD School of Medicine
and its programs, write or call:
The Office of Admissions
School of Medicine, 0621
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California 92093-0621
(858) 534-3880
somadmissions@ucsd.edu
http://medicine.ucsd.edu
Programs for Prospective Medical Students
UCSD offers no special premedical major. An undergraduate student
considering medicine as a career may choose any major or concentration
area leading to the bachelors degree, provided that he or
she elects those additional courses which the medical school of
his or her choice may require for admission. Admission requirements
differ among medical schools, but most desire a solid foundation
in the natural sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, mathematicsand
a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, and communication
skills. A premedical/dental advisory program is available through
the campuswide Career Services Center.
Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Leadership of Healthcare
Organizations
The UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in the
School of Medicine offers a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in
the Leadership of Healthcare Organizations. The degree is designed
to meet the needs of health care professionals who have clinical
and executive or management responsibilities. All courses will
be held in the late afternoon, evenings, and weekends for the
convenience of working professionals. Extensions EdVantage
provides administrative support for the program. Further information
on the degree program may be obtained by contacting UCSD.
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