Program Description and Objectives
The UCSD-SDSU General Preventive Medicine Residency Program is a fully accredited residency, co-sponsored by the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine (UCSD) and the San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health (SDSU).  Residents of the program are both UCSD housestaff and SDSU graduate students throughout their residency experience.

Preventive Medicine is a specialized field of medical practice composed of distinct disciplines which utilize skills focusing on defined populations in order to maintain health and well-being and prevent disease, disability and premature death.  Preventive Medicine is comprised of three specialty areas as follows:

Public Health (PH) and General Preventive Medicine (GPM)
Aerospace Medicine (AM)
Occupational Medicine (OM)

General Preventive Medicine is the sub-specialty of Preventive Medicine emphasized in our program.  We offer accredited training in two of three "years" required for board eligibility - the "academic year" and the "practicum year". Therefore, applicants must have completed by time of entry, at least one full-year of acceptable clinical training (internship). It is important to note that a Masters of Public Health or the equivalent is required for board certification in this specialty.

Governance and Administration  
The residency is governed by the Residency Advisory Committee (RAC) which includes representatives from the following institutions: University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; San Diego County Public Health Department; United States Navy; Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation; Kaiser Permanente Medical Center; Director of Community Clinics; and Solar Turbines. The residency core faculty and chief resident hold ex-officio positions.

The RAC supervises the activities of the program director and faculty.  The Committee meets two times a year and is responsible for evaluating residents for admission and graduation. They monitor residency progress, approve residency placement and affiliation agreements.  The RAC is apprised of budgetary and funding issues and provides advice and feedback from the community and their institutions.