Residency Program

The UCSF OEM residency provides academic instruction, clinical and non-clinical experiences, and research opportunities. Our graduates are currently leaders in academia, government and non-governmental organizations, clinical practice, and corporate settings. Our educational program is individually tailored to meet the needs of each trainee. The UCSF OEM Program was founded in 1979 and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for up to ten trainees.

The UCSF OEM training program is housed within the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH), a multidisciplinary research and education partnership between UCSF, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis. COEH’s mission is to serve government, industry, schools, health professionals, and the public through programs and partnerships designed to deepen understanding of occupational and environmental hazards, and to prevent disease, fatalities, and injuries. Activities are grounded in multi-campus, interdisciplinary teaching programs in medicine, nursing, public health, industrial hygiene, and related fields that educate future leaders in occupational and environmental health, develop new knowledge, and bring the resources of the University of California to the public.

In addition to being funded through support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), we also have residents funded by the Health Resources and Services Agency (HRSA). We are the only HRSA supported OEM program in the country. Trainees with HRSA funding have the opportunity for additional clinical activities, public health field work, policy work, and other content relevant to low wage and vulnerable working populations as well as issues of environmental and social justice. Specific examples may include work with California State agencies, outreach through the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley, experience with the Natural Resources Defense Council, and clinical service in community clinics serving migrant and day laborers and other uninsured and low wage workers.

Schedule Overview

In the first year, our residents primarily complete coursework to earn a Master of Public Health degree from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

Residents entering the program who have completed a master's in public health or equivalent degree as well as a primary residency such as Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Preventive Medicine, may be considered for entry into the second year of the residency and eligible to complete ACGME approved OEM training in only one year.

A typical schedule is shown below.

First Year	Second Year
July - one rotation	July - one rotation
August – special curriculum including site visits and didactic training in industrial hygiene, training in clinical research course	August – special curriculum including site visits and didactic training in industrial hygiene, training in clinical research course
September through December – Berkeley Fall MPH courses	September to June – ten rotations
December & January – 3-week inter-semester vacation	Rotations: 4 months clinical, 2 months policy-focused, 2 months corporate/consulting/administrative, 2 months research
January through May – Berkeley Spring MPH courses	Depending on individual goals specific rotations can be tailored to focus on future career interests.
March/April - 1 week spring break vacation	4 weeks of vacation, no more than 1 week missed from a single rotation.
May/June - one 6-week rotation
Throughout the year: half-day of clinic per week, periodic bloodborne pathogen exposure hotline coverage (nights and weekends from home).	Throughout the year: half-day of clinic per week, periodic bloodborne pathogen exposure hotline coverage (nights and weekends from home)

For more details about the curriculum please see the curriculum tab in the menu to the right.