University of California San Diego Medical Center-San Diego State University Program

Preventative Medicine (Gen Prev Med, Occ Med, Aer Med, & Pub Hlth) Analyst Verified · Aug 31, 2026

University of California San Diego Medical Center-San Diego State University Program

University of California San Diego Medical Center-San Diego State University Program is a residency program specializing in Preventative Medicine (Gen Prev Med, Occ Med, Aer Med, & Pub Hlth), located in La Jolla, California, directed by Jill Waalen and coordinated by Amy Weisbaum. The program accepts applications through November 10, 2026. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at aweisbaum@ucsd.edu or (858) 822-4434. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

This is a university-affiliated General Preventive Medicine residency combining UC San Diego clinical/public health resources with San Diego State University's Graduate School of Public Health, requiring residents to earn an MPH while completing dual clinical-public health training. The program is built around named tracks (Lifestyle Medicine, Maternal Health) with structured, competency-based curricula—including Exercise is Medicine, RACE-MI motivational interviewing, and the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum leading to Diplomate eligibility—reflecting deep institutional investment in behavior-change and chronic disease prevention methodology rather than acute inpatient care. Clinical/public health placements span San Diego County Public Health, FQHCs, rural sites (Imperial County, Borrego Health, Inland Empire), and UC San Diego specialty clinics, giving residents exposure to underserved, rural, and maternal health disparity populations. Graduate outcomes show heavy representation in military/federal public health (Navy, Air Force, CDC/EIS), student health, occupational medicine, and academic/faculty public health roles, and the program explicitly serves as a de facto "fellowship" for physicians already boarded in family medicine, internal medicine, or other specialties seeking population health and MPH credentialing.

Who it fits

A physician already boarded or trained in a clinical specialty (e.g., family medicine, internal medicine, ophthalmology, occupational/military medicine) seeking to formally add population health, MPH credentialing, and lifestyle/behavioral medicine expertise to pivot toward public health leadership, occupational medicine, or underserved/rural population practice.

Research intensity

Moderate - research is available and encouraged through dual-institution mentorship and named tracks, but the program's core identity centers on applied public health practice and curriculum completion rather than investigator training.

Career orientation

Mixed - Community Practice, Academic Medicine, Other (public health/occupational/military service)

Important

The program states it is frequently used by physicians already boarded in another specialty (family medicine or internal medicine) as a "fellowship" to gain preventive medicine/population health skills and an MPH, and requires California licensure eligibility as a condition of program completion.

Choose Specialty / Choose Another Program

Preventative Medicine (Gen Prev Med, Occ Med, Aer Med, & Pub Hlth)

Deadline 11/10/2026

36 days left

Accreditation Status N/A

SCORE

USMLE STEP 1

USMLE STEP 2

SCORE NOTES

VISA POLICY

VISA

GRADUATION CUT OFF

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

ECFMG CERTIFICATE

PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Quas adipisci ab nemo molestias omnis perferendis harum, est quasi, debitis, ipsa sapiente id deleniti distinctio. Fugiat consequuntur porro culpa maxime voluptatibus.

CURRENT RESIDENTS