Combined Internal Medicine – UCSF Preventive Medicine Residency Track (MPH)

Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Internal Medicine Residency Program
UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health

Highlights

  • A partnership between the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.
  • A four-year program, with the PGY-3 year dedicated to earning a Master of Public Health degree from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Tuition expenses are covered while the resident receives a full PGY-3 salary.
  • IM/PM residents serve as chief residents during their PGY-4 year.
  • One of only six combined IM/PM programs in the country and the only one in the western United States.
  • Graduates are eligible for dual certification in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine, and pursue a wide range of career paths, including clinical practice (general internal medicine or fellowship training), public health, health policy, clinical research, academic medicine, and private industry.

Components

  • The First and Second Years: TThe first two years are very similar to the categorical internal medicine track. Five months of the first two years incorporate aspects of population health. Each PGY-2 resident participates in a Training In Clinical Research training course at UCSF and designs a research project to be completed at UC Berkeley as part of their MPH degree requirements. Other required rotations include infectious diseases, occupational medicine, and an introduction to quality improvement. Residents are also encouraged to complete the Residency Elective in Health Policy. Preventive medicine elective options include rotations in local public health departments, community clinics, and research.
  • The Third Year: During this academic year, residents pursue a Master of Public Health degree from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. One can select from four areas of study – epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and interdisciplinary. Residents also intern weekly at state or local health departments for hands-on experience. Residents maintain clinical skills through weekly continuity clinic and two months of inpatient rotations, and also have the option to moonlight.
  • The Fourth Year: During this practicum year, residents are exposed to a variety of experiences through rotations at UCSF-affiliated research institutes and state/local health departments. They complete the remaining requirements for board certification in internal medicine and preventive medicine, including 3 months of inpatient rotations and 2-3 months of electives. Fourth-year residents also serve as IM/PM chief residents and lead the Quality Improvement curriculum for the residency program, mentor IM/PM residents, and work on program improvement. They may also engage in clinical outcomes and translational research at the KP Division of Research.
  • IM/PM residents participate in a monthly Preventive Medicine Journal Club with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) residents. They also participate in the Preventive Medicine Residency Seminar on topics not covered in-depth elsewhere in the curriculum; these conference calls are twice per month and are led by UCSF and CDPH faculty. Journal Club is required for third- and fourth-year residents. Residency Seminar is required for fourth-year residents; other residents are encouraged to attend when available.
  • IM/PM residents have access to all UCSF programs and resources. Specifically, they are encouraged to individualize their residency experience with the UCSF Pathways to Discovery. The available tracks are Global Health, Health Professions Education, Health Equities, Health Systems and Leadership, and Clinical Research.

Skills Acquired

In addition to clinical skills acquired during their internal medicine training, IM/PM residents will learn how to:

  • Critically analyze and interpret study design and data in peer reviewed medical journals.
  • Independently conduct and lead clinical research, including selection of appropriate study design, data collection and analysis.
  • Investigate a disease outbreak.
  • Implement innovative programs to reduce the exposure to risk factors for an illness or condition in a population.
  • Conduct policy analysis to assess its impact on the health of a population.
  • Design and operate a surveillance system to monitor health status of a community.
  • Select appropriate, evidence-based, clinical preventive services for individuals and populations.
  • Critically assess and respond to individual and population risks for common occupational and environmental disorders.
  • Plan and manage emergency preparedness programs.
  • Identify and characterize community health problems.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate public health programs, laws and regulations to protect health and ensure the safety of populations.

Is the IM/PM program a good fit for me?

The IM/PM program attracts a diverse cohort of residents with common interests in both patient care and population-level research on patterns of disease. Residents in this program are expected to attain equal proficiency in both clinical internal medicine and preventive medicine. This program is ideal for residents who desire a career that combines the practice of clinical medicine and public health with emphasis on the management of disease prevention and health promotion in populations.

Examples of IM/PM residents’ interests, research and career goals include:

  • Global burden of disease, medical relief and health care in developing countries.
  • Designing, leading and analyzing clinical research using applied training in epidemiology and biostatistics.
  • Improving access to health care for underserved populations and addressing population-level determinants of health disparities.
  • Improving health care quality and delivery.
  • Health care reform and designing equitable health policy.
  • Control and prevention of infectious disease, including investigation of epidemics and outbreaks.
  • Health literacy, medical journalism and mass communication of medical information in public health.
  • Resident safety and medical education.
  • Preventive health screening and prevention of chronic disease.
  • Providing clinical care in ambulatory or academic settings.
  • Application of preventive health principles in medical practice (as primary care physicians, fellows, and/or specialists).
  • Environmental and occupational medicine, toxicology.

Research

PM Bibliography

Faculty

Click image to read more about our faculty.

George Rutherford III, MD
Program Director

James Seward, MD, MPP, MMM
Associate Program Director

Rosalyn Plotzker, MD, MPH
Core Faculty

Jeanna Goo, MD

Jeanna Goo, MD
Core Faculty

Current Residents

Click image to read more about our current residents.

Asim Alam, MD, PhD*
Virginia Commonwealth University

Jessica Watson, MD, MPH*
University of South Florida

Mia Kanzawa, MD*
Stanford University 2019 MD/MS Bioinformatics

Naissem Andemel, MD*
George Washington University

Asmi Panigrahi, MD*
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

James Xu, MD*
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Ali Duffens, MD*
PGY-1

Carmen Javier, MD
PGY-1

What are alumni doing now?

  • Brandon Imp (2021): HIV Medicine Fellowship, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco
  • Cameron Stainken (2021): Health Officer, California Department of Public Health
  • Joceyln Tseng (2020): Primary Care, TeraPractice, Sutter Health
  • Caterina Liu (2020): COVID-19 Health Officer, California Department of Public Health
  • Ryan Guinness (2019): Primary Care, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco
  • Eric Tang (2018): Health Officer, California Department of Public Health
  • Derek Blechinger (2018): Primary Care, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco
  • Christina Armatas (2017): Health Officer, California Department of Public Health
  • Sohrab Sidhu (2017): Primary Care, Kaiser Permanente, Antioch
  • Brian Cogburn (2016): Primary Care, One Medical, San Francisco
  • Monica Kaitz (2015): Occupation Medicine, Concentra
  • Rosemary Ku (2014): Chief Medical Officer, UnitedAg
  • Latifat Apatira (2014): Occupational Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco
  • Benedict Ancock (2013): Cardiology, Marin General Hospital
  • Janani Krishnaswami (2012): Program Director, Preventive Medicine Residency Program, University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
  • Jeanna Goo (2012): Core faculty and Hospitalist, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Internal Medicine Residency Program

How to Apply

The IM/PM residency program accepts two residents per year.

Interested students are invited to apply to the combined IM/PM program as a separate and unique program through the ERAS application website. Applicants will find the combined IM/PM program by selecting “Internal Medicine/Preventive Medicine” (as opposed to “Internal Medicine”) from the drop-down list of Specialties at the NRMP website. The specific ACGME ID number for the combined program is 751-05-44-011.

Applicants may apply to either or both the categorical Internal Medicine and the combined IM/PM programs offered at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. Please note that the interview process is the same for either track; there is no separate interview for the IM/PM program. As with the categorial track, we will be conducting only online interviews and virtual visits in the upcoming interview season; there will be no in-person interviews or visits. We plan to host virtual visit events dedicated to IM/PM track applicants, though interested applicants may participate in other virtual visits.

Further details about specific program requirements are available at the American Board of Internal Medicine web site and The American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Training at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco in the combined IM/PM program was the ideal balance of learning clinical internal medicine in a modern, integrated healthcare system while also experiencing the dynamic world of public health in the populous SF Bay Area. The field of preventive medicine is broad, incorporating concepts of clinical disease prevention and public health. Learning to practice internal medicine in a patient-centered medical home with a technology-forward values taught me how to use the power of population health management for a preventive approach to health. The coursework of the MPH was complemented by project engagement in both the local and state health departments which allowed me to actively utilize my learning. Upon completing my combined training, I was well-prepared to sit for both the Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine board exams. The best part of this residency was the encouragement and support by the program leaders to explore my interests and allow for flexibility in crafting rotations and experiences that would prepare me best for a career of my choosing. It’s exciting that all of our program graduates find unique ways to employ their combined training in their career paths. My training eventually led me to a position as a public health medical officer for the California Department of Public Health, where I work in occupational health and continue to practice some clinical internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente.
~Christina Armatas, MD, MPH, Class of 2017

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