The Emergency Medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is a three year, PGY1-3 program and has 14 residents per year.

The chief residency is a PGY-4 year and the chief resident is usually chosen from the graduating class.  The chief resident also has the option of completing certain fellowships during the fourth year if so desired.

PGY1

Internship starts during the last week of June. The purpose of the internship in Emergency Medicine is to provide broad-based training in areas pertinent to the practice of emergency medicine. Interns have a week off before starting their second year of residency.

PGY2

The second year begins with a 14 day orientation in preparation for residency. This includes the advanced cardiac life support course, pediatric advanced life support course, basic trauma life support course, physician base station course, disaster management preparedness, airway and procedure labs and several didactic sessions on emergency medicine administration and leadership. In the second year, residents shift the emphasis of their education from the inpatient setting to that of the emergency department. In addition to working in the county hospital environment, second year residents get their initial exposure to community emergency medicine while rotating at an affiliated community hospital. Residents spend this year developing a strong base of knowledge in emergency medicine. They also assume a teaching role while working with interns and medical students.

PGY3

Third year residents take a leadership role in managing the emergency department. In addition to providing patient care, third year residents are actively involved in teaching medical students, interns and junior residents. Rotations in the emergency departments of two community hospitals expose the residents to rapid patient turnover, managed care issues, cost effectiveness and working with primary care physicians. Residents have 5-6 weeks of elective time. Third year residents attend the American College of Emergency Physicians' Scientific Assembly.