The Pillars of Excellence: Navigating the Landscape of UCLA Internal Medicine
The field of internal medicine stands as a cornerstone of modern healthcare, dedicated to the comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a wide spectrum of diseases affecting adults. Within this critical domain, institutions renowned for their commitment to academic rigor, clinical innovation, and compassionate patient care rise to prominence. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Medicine, and specifically its internal medicine program, represents such an institution, fostering a vibrant community of physicians dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and serving diverse patient populations. This article delves into the multifaceted world of UCLA internal medicine doctors, exploring their diverse backgrounds, specialized interests, and the unique environment that shapes their training and practice.
A Tapestry of Talent: Diverse Journeys to UCLA
The physicians and trainees within UCLA's internal medicine program represent a rich tapestry of experiences and origins, a testament to the program's appeal and its commitment to inclusivity. From the sun-drenched landscapes of Southern California to the bustling metropolises of the East Coast and the international origins of its residents, UCLA attracts individuals driven by a shared passion for medicine and a desire for comprehensive training.
Michelle, a native of Southern California, completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA before pursuing medical school at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Her return to UCLA for residency was motivated by a desire to find an environment that would foster her growth as a physician and individual, emphasizing kindness, thoughtfulness, inquisitiveness, and a deep commitment to patients and colleagues. She found this ideal environment at UCLA, citing its academic rigor, supportive faculty, and the opportunity to care for a socially diverse and medically complex patient population. The exceptional caliber of residents and the genuinely supportive atmosphere were particularly resonant, proving true throughout her intern year.
Jarrod Moore, originally from North Carolina, pursued an MD/PhD at Boston University School of Medicine, where his research delved into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. His work bridged biochemical and molecular research with human tissue, providing him with hands-on experience as a physician-scientist. He was drawn to UCLA for its culture of teaching, collaboration, and well-being, aligning with his own values of scientific discovery and high-quality patient care. The adventure of relocating across the country with his fiancée, cat, and plants underscored his appreciation for both new experiences and the comforts of home.
Another LA native, a graduate of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, found a full-circle moment in training at UCLA. Childhood memories of attending tennis matches on the UCLA campus now translate into the surreal experience of training there as a physician. Having developed an interest in breast cancer research during her time at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she sought a program that would reflect her commitment to health equity while offering exceptional clinical training in a supportive environment. UCLA has exceeded her expectations, providing inspiration through its compassionate and driven community of residents and faculty. As a member of the Primary Care Track, she receives comprehensive training in both inpatient and ambulatory medicine, with continuity clinics at UCLA Santa Monica and UCLA Olive View offering exposure to both tertiary and county healthcare settings.
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Josh, raised in Pacifica, California, by an immigrant mother from the Philippines, was instilled with the importance of compassion and care. He pursued his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, majoring in biology and minoring in disability studies, where he developed a passion for caring for individuals with chronic illnesses and those from underserved communities. His move to Los Angeles for medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA refined his medical mission: to combine clinical excellence, research, and a nuanced understanding of social context. He chose Med-Peds for its unique ability to provide longitudinal, comprehensive care across the lifespan. His experiences in culturally diverse clinical settings, community outreach, and medical education solidified his desire to continue his training at UCLA, drawn by its strong foundation in leadership, skill development, and its supportive, down-to-earth culture.
Enat Arega, a fellow "nomad" with roots in Ethiopia, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Washington, completed medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Her undergraduate and graduate studies in Quantitative Epidemiology at Dartmouth College provided a strong foundation. She is thrilled to continue her training at UCLA's Internal Medicine Program, inspired by faculty and residents who lead with compassion, humility, and strive for clinical excellence. Her professional interests include cardio-oncology, medical education, community engagement, and clinical research.
Andrew, who grew up in a small rural community in central Illinois, pursued his undergraduate studies at Harvard University before spending time in New York City. Hoping to experience the West Coast, he was fortunate to be accepted into UCLA for medical school. For residency, he sought a strong academic program, a diverse patient population, and talented faculty, all within a supportive culture. He found UCLA to be a place where residents and attending physicians are passionate about learning and medicine, yet also relaxed, easy-going, and supportive. This rigorous, intrinsically motivated culture of learning makes him feel fortunate to have matched at UCLA, confident in receiving world-class training.
A first-generation Nigerian American, born and raised in the Inland Empire, pursued a Doctorate in Public Health with a focus on health policy and leadership from Loma Linda University before completing medical education at the University of California, Riverside. Her passions lie at the intersection of medicine and public health, driving her interest in the combined Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine program at UCLA. Her aim as a physician is to leverage public health expertise to deliver preventive and holistic care, improve health equity, and build healthy communities. UCLA was chosen for its diverse training opportunities, exceptional mentors, and an environment of excellence. She is particularly interested in collaborating with the UCLA Health Sickle Cell Disease Program to address healthcare disparities.
Qicong, born and raised in Hangzhou, China, moved to the US at 16, completing high school in Virginia and undergraduate studies at Northwestern University. She then moved to Baltimore for medical school at Johns Hopkins, where she met her partner, Emma. Drawn to the West Coast, they sought a program with robust training and a supportive culture. UCLA emerged as the clear choice, promising to prepare her for a career as a clinically competent internal medicine physician through exposure to diverse patient populations across its training sites. With plans to pursue a fellowship in cardiology, the ample scholarly opportunities and strong mentorship at UCLA provide confidence in her preparation.
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Emma, who grew up in New Jersey, spent 10 years in Baltimore attending Johns Hopkins for both undergraduate and medical school, where she met her partner, Qicong. Curious about life on the West Coast, they found UCLA to be a place where they could build a new community. As a couple in the match, finding a program that excelled in multiple areas of clinical and academic medicine was crucial for both their individual career goals. UCLA's supportive and encouraging culture, combined with its vibrant city location, has exceeded their expectations for a balance of work and life quality. Within the hospital, Emma is practicing her teaching skills and exploring electives to define her future specialization.
A medical professional with a unique background, having completed undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne in Australia and even attending UCLA as an exchange student, eventually met his wife, an LA native. After pursuing graduate studies in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Cancer Prevention and Control at the University of Notre Dame and Yale, and completing fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he decided to pursue medical school. Having lived in the Midwest, New York, and San Francisco, he and his wife are now happy to have returned to LA for his residency training at UCLA. He highlights the incredibly supportive faculty and fellow residents, the strong sense of community and collegiality, and the privilege of learning from faculty who are leaders in their fields and committed to mentoring junior investigators.
An LA native, who attended Johns Hopkins University for undergraduate studies, returned home for medical school at the UCLA/Charles R. Drew Medical Education Program with the goal of serving his community. He found the UCLA Internal Medicine residents to be welcoming and integral to the team during his medical student years. The program's emphasis on community building during interview season solidified his choice for residency. As a UCLA trainee, he benefits from unlimited professional, academic, and life mentors, a crucial aspect of his journey as a first-generation college graduate and the first doctor in his family. He plans to pursue a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology, with a particular interest in Breast Cancer.
Jester Galiza, hailing from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, brings a global perspective, expressing greetings in Aloha and Mabuhay. His presence signifies the broad reach and appeal of UCLA's internal medicine program.
The Power of Collaboration and Mentorship
A recurring theme among UCLA internal medicine doctors is the profound emphasis on collaboration and mentorship. This supportive environment is not merely an ancillary benefit but a foundational element of the program, designed to nurture growth and foster a deep sense of community.
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Michelle explicitly states how genuinely supportive the residents are toward one another, feeling incredibly grateful to be surrounded by smart, compassionate, and collaborative colleagues. This sentiment is echoed by Jarrod Moore, who was drawn to UCLA for its culture of teaching, collaboration, and well-being, and is thrilled to be training in an environment where he can learn from supportive mentors and colleagues who share a passion for excellence.
The LA native from Stony Brook emphasizes being continually inspired by the compassionate, driven community of residents and faculty. Andrew highlights the presence of residents and attending physicians who are passionate about learning and "being nerds about medicine," while also being relaxed, easy-going, and supportive. This intrinsic motivation and collaborative spirit are central to his positive experience.
Enat Arega expresses being honored to be surrounded by faculty and residents who lead with compassion and humility, strive for clinical excellence, and are leaders in medical education and research. She feels lucky to continue to train under their mentorship and leadership and looks forward to growing as a physician with her co-residents, aiming to help recreate the supportive environment she experienced as a medical student.
The couple, Qicong and Emma, sought a program that was well-rounded and excelled in multiple areas of clinical and academic medicine, and they found that UCLA's wonderfully supportive and encouraging culture, along with its location, has exceeded their expectations for the perfect balance of quality of work and of life. The medical professional with the Australian background notes that so many of the UCLA faculty are leaders in their respective fields and remain committed to helping junior investigators, making it a privilege to train and learn from them.
The LA native from the UCLA/Drew program highlights the unlimited professional, academic, and life mentors who are always open to helping him accomplish his goals and answer questions, underscoring the critical role of mentorship in his journey as a first-generation doctor.
Academic Rigor and Diverse Patient Care
UCLA's internal medicine program is distinguished by its commitment to academic rigor, providing trainees with exposure to a wide array of clinical challenges and opportunities for scholarly pursuits. This is intrinsically linked to the program's dedication to serving a diverse patient population, which offers invaluable learning experiences.
Michelle was drawn to UCLA for its academic rigor and its socially diverse and medically complex patient population. This combination provides an ideal environment for continuing her training. The first-generation Nigerian American, interested in the combined Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine program, chose UCLA for its diverse training opportunities and access to exceptional mentors within an environment of excellence.
The Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at UCLA boasts over 200 faculty members, including a significant number of ambulatory and hospitalist clinician-educators. This division is home to vibrant research programs spanning domains such as access to care, health disparities, quality of care, HIV prevention and treatment, diabetes prevention and treatment, health care policy, mental health, adolescent health, health economics, and patient-reported outcomes. The inclusion of economists, a social psychologist, and faculty with both MD and PhD degrees underscores the interdisciplinary approach to research and education. Furthermore, the division houses over 100 faculty members, including 20 clinicians with advanced degrees and training in health services research, who work closely with general internal medicine clinicians throughout UCLA and across the broader healthcare system. The legacy of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, now transitioned into the National Clinician Scholars Program, further emphasizes UCLA's commitment to training clinicians as change agents driving policy-relevant research and partnerships to improve health and healthcare globally.
This extensive network of faculty, research programs, and specialized training opportunities ensures that UCLA internal medicine doctors are equipped with a comprehensive understanding of complex medical issues and are prepared to address the evolving landscape of healthcare.
Specialized Interests and Future Aspirations
Within the broad field of internal medicine, UCLA residents and faculty demonstrate a diverse range of specialized interests and future aspirations, reflecting the dynamic nature of medical practice and research.
Jarrod Moore's research focus on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy exemplifies a deep dive into a specific complex disease. Enat Arega's professional interests include cardio-oncology, medical education, community engagement, and clinical research, showcasing a multi-faceted approach to her career. The LA native from the UCLA/Drew program plans to pursue a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology, with a particular interest in Breast Cancer, aligning with the program's strengths in this area. Qicong plans to pursue a fellowship in cardiology, confident in the program's ability to prepare her for this advanced training. The first-generation Nigerian American aims to leverage her public health expertise to deliver preventive and holistic care, improve health equity, and build healthy communities, demonstrating a commitment to broader societal impact. The medical professional with the Australian background, having transitioned from clinical psychology to medicine with a focus on Hematology/Oncology, brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to patient care and research.
These diverse interests highlight the program's ability to support individual career trajectories, whether they lie in cutting-edge research, specialized clinical practice, medical education, or public health advocacy.
Life Beyond the Hospital Walls
The pursuit of excellence in medicine is a demanding endeavor, and UCLA recognizes the importance of work-life balance. The physicians and residents at UCLA find fulfillment not only within the hospital but also in their lives outside of medicine, often drawing inspiration and rejuvenation from the vibrant environment of Los Angeles.
Michelle enjoys cooking with friends, spending time with family, visiting local farmers’ markets, and relaxing at happy hour with her co-residents, embodying a desire for connection and leisure. Jarrod Moore, an avid sports enthusiast, enjoys the year-round sunshine in Los Angeles, allowing him to stay active and explore new hobbies like beach volleyball, while also cultivating a variety of plants, including tropical fruit trees. Josh and his wife find joy in taking their dogs on hikes around Laurel Canyon, appreciating the city's natural beauty. Qicong and Emma have been enjoying the beautiful nature in and near LA, as well as the city's amazing food options, embracing the exploration of their new surroundings. Emma also enjoys the city's incredible EDM scene and exploring Sawtelle. The LA native from the UCLA/Drew program, while focused on his career, also finds joy in the vibrant community he serves. The first-generation Nigerian American finds joy in singing with her church choir, cherishing moments with loved ones, and exploring new restaurants, demonstrating a commitment to personal passions and community engagement.
The proximity to the beach, often cited as a significant perk, provides a readily accessible avenue for relaxation and recreation, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable approach to a demanding profession. This balance is crucial for fostering well-being and preventing burnout, ultimately enabling physicians to provide the best possible care to their patients.
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