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Combined Internal Medicine / Preventive Medicine / Masters of Public Health at UC Berkeley

Kaiser Permanente, Internal Medicine Residency Program, San Francisco
UCSF Division of Preventive Medicine & Public Health
University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health

  • We offer a unique four-year program in combined internal medicine and general preventive medicine in conjunction with the UCSF Division of Preventive Medicine & Public Health and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Satisfactory completion of the combined training program allows eligibility for dual certification in both internal medicine and public health/general preventive medicine.
  • This combined program is one of only five such programs in the country and the only one in the western half of the United States.
Preventive Medicine Residents
  • Graduates learn skills necessary to provide preventive, clinical and rehabilitative care in ambulatory and hospital settings; to apply the skills required to study the effects of the environment, including the occupational environment, on the health of individuals, families and communities; and to advance the health of the public by promoting health-enhancing behaviors.
  • The first two years of our program are spent as a categorical internal medicine resident at Kaiser San Francisco.
  • The third year is an academic year at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, culminating in a Masters of Public Health degree. In addition to receiving your full PGY-3 resident salary, you will be reimbursed for your in-state tuition fees.
  • The fourth year is a practicum year that exposes residents to a variety of experiences through different public health agencies and settings that help to develop the specific competencies and skills necessary for a career in public health and general preventive medicine.
  • Graduates of the combined program will be well prepared for careers in public health, preventive medicine and academic medicine. Prior graduates are working at the Centers for Disease Control, various state and federal public health agencies, and academic medical institutions.
  • We have openings for two residents per year in the combined program. It is a separate track from the categorical internal medicine track. The specific ACGME ID number for the combined program is 751-05-44-011
  • Further details about specific program requirements are available at the American Board of Internal Medicine web site and The American Board of Preventive Medicine.

        

IM/Preventative Medicine with MPH degree Program FAQ

How is the combined program different from the program in Oakland that also offers an  MPH?
In our combined program you will not only earn a MPH degree but also be trained and board eligible in both Preventive and Internal Medicine.

How is the combined program different from the categorical internal medicine program?
The combined program is 4 years long.  The first 2 years are essentially the same as a categorical medicine resident, the only difference being 3 months of electives that relate to preventive medicine. The third year is spent at Berkeley earning your MPH. The fourth year is split: 6 months are spent on preventive medicine practicums (e.g. rotating through the county department of public health, spending time at Kaiser’s regional offices) and the other 6 months are to complete internal medicine core requirements.

What career options are available to me when I graduate from the combined degree program?
The combined program allows a graduate to have a clinical career in internal medicine, a career in the public health sector (including the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the CDC), a career in research, and would also be excellent preparation for any clinical fellowship, in particular infectious diseases.

Is it true that I will be paid a full salary during my MPH year and my practicum 4th year? 
Yes!  You will receive the PGY-3 salary during your MPH year, and your full tuition for UC Berkeley will be paid as well. During your 4th year you will receive a PGY-4 salary.

When am I able to sit for my boards? 
You will have completed requirements for Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine at the end of your 4th year and be eligible to sit for both boards at that time.

Is there a separate application process for the combined IM/PM program? 
There is a separate ACGME ID number for this track (751-05-44-011). We also ask for a few additional pieces of information for this program, including your undergraduate GPA. When interviewing, let us know about your interest in the program so we can provide you with the additional information needed.

I already have an MPH, can I still be in the program?
No, if you already have an MPH you are not eligible for this combined IM/PM program.

If I am interested in the combined IM/PM program, do I need to apply to both the categorical residency and IM/PM program? 
We strongly encourage you to apply to both programs since we only have 2 spots in the combined program and it can be competitive to place into this program.

What if I match into the categorical program?  Can I switch into the combined IM/PM program after starting residency? 
There is no guarantee you can switch into the combined program from the categorical program. But if a spot becomes available, a current intern who has shown strong interest in preventive medicine and public health would be at the top of our list.

Who mentors the combined IM/PM residents? 
At Kaiser San Francisco, Dr. Clarissa Johnston is assigned to mentor the IM/PM residents. The core faculty members at the UCSF Division of Preventive Medicine and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Dr. George Rutherford and Dr. James Seward, are the mentors for the Preventive Medicine portion. 

What type of research opportunities are available to the combined IM/PM residents?
Kaiser’s Division of Research has been a national leader in medical epidemiology and is a major resource for research data and topics. While at UC Berkeley in the MPH program, you will be assigned a mentor and be required to complete a research project as part of your thesis.

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