Navigating the UCLA PM&R Residency Program: A Comprehensive Guide

The UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, along with the UCLA Medical Center and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, presents a comprehensive residency program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). This program is dedicated to fostering skilled physiatrists who are deeply committed to delivering high-quality healthcare, especially to veterans. It distinguishes itself through a blend of rigorous medical education, innovative patient care strategies, a strong emphasis on research, and a commitment to interdisciplinary teamwork.

Program Overview

The core mission of the PM&R residency program is to deliver state-of-the-art healthcare that maximizes life quality and functional independence. This objective is pursued through an inclusive clinical learning environment that integrates excellence in education, research, and patient care into evidence-based practices for rehabilitation management.

A Historical Perspective

The UCLA-VA Multi-campus PM&R Residency Program, an ACGME-accredited program based in Los Angeles, California, has a rich history dating back to 1955. The program has trained over 200 physiatrists thus far. As with other VA-affiliated programs, UCLA-VA Multicampus Program grew in part due to increasing federal funding for research and development in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation in the 1950s and 1960s. The Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (later Social and Rehabilitation Service) provided grants to support training programs for physiatrists and emerging PM&R departments. The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center opened in 1977 and the PM&R Department established an immediate presence, caring for patients who returned from the recent conflicts in Southeast Asia. The UCLA-VA Multicampus Program grew in size in the 1970s and 1980s with the addition of residents from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

Clinical Rotations and Training Sites

A cornerstone of the UCLA PM&R residency is the diverse array of clinical rotations offered across multiple outstanding sites. Residents gain exposure to a broad spectrum of experiences, enabling them to handle diverse patient populations and conditions effectively. These sites include:

West Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center: Offers both outpatient and inpatient services.
California Rehabilitation Institute: Specializes in inpatient rehabilitation.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: Provides comprehensive care in an inpatient and outpatient setting.
Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center: An inpatient site focused on rehabilitation.
Long Beach VA Healthcare System: Includes services for both outpatient and inpatient care.

Early exposure to procedures is a significant aspect of training, allowing residents to acquire hands-on skills from the onset.

Research Opportunities

Research is a key component of the residency program, fostering a scholarly environment where residents engage in scientific discovery and advanced practices in rehabilitation. Faculty members encourage participation in ongoing research projects, providing mentorship to residents interested in contributing to the field through evidence-based studies.

Community Engagement

The residency program emphasizes community involvement, enabling residents to serve as volunteer physicians at various local events. For example, through a partnership with the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation, residents act as team physicians at local high school football games. Additionally, opportunities to provide medical support at adaptive sports events for individuals with physical disabilities are available.

Resident Committees

The UCLA PM&R residency framework is supplemented by multiple resident committees aimed at enhancing the residency experience:

Wellness Committee: Focuses on resident well-being and organizes social events.
Mobile Clinic Committee: Coordinates volunteer efforts in providing health care to underserved populations.
JEDI Committee: Promotes diversity and equity within the program and the healthcare field.
Alumni Outreach Committee: Maintains connections with program alumni and provides networking opportunities.

Application Process and Requirements

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA Medical Center and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System participates in the National Residency Matching Program and ERAS application system. All application materials must be submitted through ERAS. The residency program is an advanced program (starts at PGY2) and requires the completion of a preliminary year.

Competitiveness and Special Application Requirements

This residency program is known for its competitiveness, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds, including MD and DO graduates as well as International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Specific application components include academic performance, clinical skills, letters of recommendation, and personal characteristics. A preliminary year of training is required prior to starting the residency (PGY2). Additionally, applicants are encouraged to note any academic criteria such as year of graduation and the limits on failed examinations.

Read also: UCLA Health Residency Requirements

Interview selection is based on academic performance, clinical skills, letters of recommendation, scholarly activity, and personal characteristics. Invitations will be sent no sooner than 10/13/25. Virtual interviews will be held between 10/28/25 to 1/27/26. Interview activities will be via virtual format over a 3 to 4-hour period Includes 1-hour overview with Program Director and either a morning or lunch-time virtual “meet and greet” session with current PM&R residents Two 20-minute interviews with faculty members (includes 1-on-1 with PD).

Medical Student Rotations

Medical students interested in rotating within the PM&R family should visit this link for more information on the application process. The electives below may be found within the Course List section under the Department of Medicine(ME) and Department of Neurology(NE) Clerkship electives. Specific details on the rotation may be found within the Course Description section.

Visa Sponsorship

The program supports applicants needing visa sponsorship. They typically sponsor J-1 visas for qualified international medical graduates, providing the necessary assistance and documentation to facilitate the application process. Only the clinical J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG is acceptable when applying to an ACGME accredited training program at UCLA. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses the readiness of IMGs to enter US residency or fellowship programs that are accredited by the ACGME.

Licensure Policy

Residents will be required to sign a statement at the time of appointment, acknowledging that they understand and will comply with the UCLA GME Medical Licensure Policy (Revised February 2022). Residents and fellows will be notified when they commence training that their appointment will be contingent upon compliance with California physician licensure requirements. Residents and fellows who fail to meet California physician licensure requirements by the start date of their training program will not be appointed.

Program Letter of Agreement (PLA)

A Program Letter of Agreement (PLA) is required for all rotations, regardless of length of time. Before submitting a new PLA, the approval request below must be submitted to Marie Hugley. After the program director has signed, submit to Marie Hugley in the GME Office to obtain the other UCLA signatures.

Read also: UCLA Orthopedic Surgery Program

DEA Registration Fee Exemption

Physicians practicing in a federal or state facility that are required to obtain an individual DEA registration are exempt from paying the DEA registration fee (Section 1301.21 of Title 21, Exemption from fees).

Testimonials and Resident Experiences

Residents often report a team-oriented culture and camaraderie among peers and faculty, highlighting the collaborative nature of the program which fosters personal and professional growth.

Examples of Graduates

The program has a long history and has seen many graduates. Examples include:E Bernotus MD, A Fakheri MD (now A. Coppelson, MD), C Gordon MD, G Hunter DO, E Minkoff DO, B Mevorak MD, P E Shirazy MD, G. A Basu MD, T Cha MD, T Flanagan MD, E Kim DO, O Mandal MD, G Ozoa DO, M. Silva MD, K. E Y Chang MD, B Charchian MD MS, J Chen MD MHS, H Dedes MD, G. K. Diaz MD, E. Hong DO, J. Kajbaf DO, J. Lou MD, K. Makovsky MD, A. Phillips, MD, K. Shah DO, T. D. Blumeyer MD, C Brophy MD, P. Cronn MD, C. Ho MD, R. Moheimani MD, N. Patel DO, A. Saarla MD, J. M. Brown MD, J. Droessler MD, D. Hemmati MD, A. Parsi DO, M. Phuphanich MD, K. Sinha MD, M. Shan MD, H. R. Alano MD MPH, D. Bui DO, M. Chung MD, J. Luo MD, D. Schulze DO MS, L. Smith MD, R. Smith MD, E. Weiner MD, G. J. Bjella MD MS, M. Davis DO MS, M. Hadaegh DO, C. Lee MD, A. Lin MD, M. Mekany MD, T. Nguyen MD MBA, G. M. Byl DO MBA, H. Grewal DO, M. Hernandez Jr MD, M. Jin MD, B. Kalasho DO, J. Takahashi MD, A. Taylor MD, D. C. Allred DO, A. Casco-Zuleta MD, C. Cho DO, K. Clark MD, K. Kinder MD, S. Olson MD, S. Patel MD MPH, A. Pham DO, J. D. Quynh G. A. M. Neal K. Allen S. D. D. E. Q. G. D. E. S. R. Esquires, MD; S. J. B. Boston, MD; D. Marcus, MD; A. Q. J. Gorze, MD; A. Jones, MD; H. Kim, MD; M. A. Chen, MD MS; C. Lin, MD; S. M. Patel, MD; N. D. Alves, MD; A. Gordon, MD; J. Jung, MD; A. J. P. Behr, MD; C. Janssen, MD; A. Mukai, MD; K. S. Bassi, MD; A. S. Chen, MD; G. Ozoa, DO; S. B. Charchian, MD; B. Gerstman, MD; A. Kim, DO; J. E. Ben-Ozer, MD; W. Kim, MD; J. Lee, MD; N. J. Berk, MD; S. Dechter, DO; C. Fisher, MD; P. M. Miedema, MD; M. Poliak-Tunis, MD; D. Rivera-Buscaglia, MD; B. J. Lee, DO; N. Muraoka, DO; S. L. O'Brien, MD; J. B. Joves, MD; E. Leung, MD; E. Pang, DO; A. P. Le, DO; R. Sood, DO; C. Vora, DO; H. D. Pavli DO, L. Le DO, D. Nguyen MD, G. I. Dworkin MD,U. Nanda DO, M.O'Conner MD, S.

Additional Training Opportunities

The Family Medicine Residency program hosts a fully-accredited fourth-year position in Sports Medicine, leading to a Certificate of Added Qualification established in 2001. There are two positions available, and the program accepts applicants from the fields of family medicine, internal medicine emergency medicine, pediatrics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The fellows participate in the Team to Win program which is a community outreach program for high school athletes (24 high schools in the South Bay Area) who cannot afford sports medicine and injury care. This unique program encompasses a full range of athletes at all levels and individuals with chronic medical conditions participating in exercise programs. Events covered include the Special Olympics, CIF State Football Championships, Redondo Beach 5K/10K runs, USTA Tourney, Carlsbad Half Ironman, and the Dew Action Tour. The Harbor-UCLA/Team to Win Sports Medicine Fellowship participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). The deadline for application materials is October 1.

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