Specialized Pathways
Med-Pediatrics residents have the opportunity to participate in any of the specialized pathways offered through both the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics programs. These pathways are designed to individualize the clinical and educational experience during the second through fourth years of residency by incorporating targeted elective rotations and focused didactic sessions.
In addition, a Med-Pediatrics–specific Primary Care Pathway is in development for residents intending to pursue careers in primary care.
Primary Care Pathway
Pathway Director: Stacy Charat, MD
About the Pathway: The Primary Care Pathway offers a structured, individualized educational experience for residents pursuing careers in primary care. The pathway complements our robust ambulatory medicine training with additional continuity clinic experiences, supplemental didactic and social justice curricula, and exposure to a range of ambulatory care clinics with high relevance to primary care practice.
Resident as Clinician Educator (RACE) Pathway
Pathway Co-Directors: Sean Kenmore, MD; Connie Chace, MD
About the Pathway: Resident as Clinician Educator (RACE) Pathway is an extremely popular training pathway that is offered through internal medicine and pediatric departments (Med Peds residents can participate in both!). This pathway is devoted to building clinical education skills through didactic workshops and teaching elective blocks that allow residents time to lead various teaching sessions for medical students and peers. Residents are paired 1:1 with faculty mentors who provide focused training in medical education and oversee a longitudinal scholarly project.
Hospital Medicine Pathway
Pathway Director: Ali Farkhondehpour, MD
About the Pathway: The Hospital Medicine Pathway provides specialized training to residents who are interested in becoming leaders in academic hospital medicine. Residents in the pathway receive specialized didactics, customized inpatient and procedural rotations, one-on-one mentorship, and opportunities to participate in a variety of quality improvement projects.
Global Medicine Pathway
Pathway Director: Annie Cowell, MD
About the Pathway: The Global Medicine Pathway leverages our interdepartmental and international relationships to provide residents with opportunities to learn about and provide care in underserved communities around the globe. This includes our multidisciplinary workshops, simulation sessions, international clinical rotation at Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique, underserved medicine rotations and clinical opportunities with communities in Tijuana.
Integrative Medicine Pathway
Pathway Co-Directors: EB Sladek, MD; Samantha Spilman, MD
About the Pathway: The Integrative Medicine Pathway focuses on exploring a holistic approach to patient care. In this pathway, residents explore the evidence surrounding various traditional healing techniques and how they blend into Western medicine. The pathway features quarterly, interactive didactics in which they learn general principles of integrative medicine as well as disease specific treatments. They also are assigned an integrative medicine faculty mentor and work one-on-one on a scholarly project. UC San Diego is the 5th internal medicine program nationwide to participate.
Social Justice and Advocacy Curriculum (SJAC) Pathway
Pathway Director: Megha Shankar, MD
About the Pathway:
The Social Justice and Advocacy Curriculum (SJAC) Pathway is an award-winning training program that provides residents with an avenue to tailor their education to a health equity lens. It is open to internal medicine and med/peds residents starting in their PGY2 year. Residents in the pathway participate in facilitated discussions, community engagement activities, health equity focused electives, and legislative advocacy opportunities. The SJAC Pathway is built to train residents to advocate for patients in the way that makes sense for their career goals, whether that is focusing on individual patient advocacy, community partnerships, legislative advocacy, and/or health equity research. Final year residents will complete a capstone project on a topic of their choice and are encouraged to present this as scholarly work.
Fellowship in Academic Subspecialties Track (FAST):
About the pathway: The FAST program is a new opportunity offered through the Pediatrics program. This track provides a comprehensive, tailored experience designed to prepare you for your desired fellowship. It includes a customized elective and fellowship curriculum, along with dedicated research opportunities and structured mentorship. Med Peds participants receive curated rotation schedules developed by experienced mentors in the field and are paired with faculty mentors aligned with their specific career interests. Upon completion, graduates are awarded a distinguished certificate, which can be included on their CV to strengthen fellowship applications.