University of California (San Francisco) Program

The UCSF Clinical Informatics Fellowship (CIF) is an innovative two-year program aimed at physicians who have successfully completed a residency accredited by ACGME/ABMS and have a strong interest in informatics. This program is designed to cultivate leaders in both their medical specialties and informatics, providing the necessary education and resources to excel in academia or industry.

Upon completion of the fellowship, graduates are eligible to take the Clinical Informatics exam by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, leading to board certification in Clinical Informatics 1.

Program Features

Curriculum

The curriculum is tailored to offer a flexible, self-directed learning environment. The first year comprises foundational knowledge and skills acquisition through structured coursework, while the second year emphasizes project completion and skill refinement. Fellows engage in a myriad of activities, including weekly didactics, journal clubs, and grand rounds, which help reinforce learning and provide networking opportunities. The curriculum allows for a maximum of 20% clinical time, enabling fellows to practice independently as approved attendings 4.
Fellows are encouraged to pursue projects aligned with their interests and career goals, facilitated by mentors with extensive backgrounds in clinical informatics 8.

Rotations and Experiences

Unlike traditional residency programs, UCSF does not impose set rotations. Instead, fellows complete program requirements at their discretion, fostering self-guidance and independence. First-year fellows are expected to engage in structured learning but are also encouraged to identify and initiate their projects based on personal interest, departmental needs, or faculty collaborations 7. During the second year, fellows focus on their projects, with many of the required first-year activities becoming optional 6.

Research Opportunities

Fellows have opportunities to engage in various research projects, tackling critical issues in healthcare informatics. Many past projects have included electronic consent deployment, workflow optimization in emergency departments, and leveraging artificial intelligence for clinical decision support 11. The research conducted during fellowship frequently results in publications, contributing to the growing body of literature in the field 11.

Training Sites

The fellowship involves diverse training sites, including UCSF Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. This wide array of settings provides fellows with exposure to various healthcare environments, from tertiary care centers to safety net systems, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of clinical informatics applications in differing populations 12.

Visa Support

The UCSF Clinical Informatics Fellowship does not sponsor H1-B visas for clinical fellowship training 5. Candidates should verify their eligibility for other visa types prior to application, particularly those on J1 visas, given the program's focus on U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

Admission to the program is competitive, requiring applicants to have completed an ACGME/ABMS residency 5. Candidates must submit a personal statement focused on clinical informatics, an up-to-date CV, and at least three letters of recommendation, which should include one from a current or former program director or an employer or mentor for those years in practice. Additionally, all prior post-graduate education must be undertaken in an ACGME-accredited program, which includes criteria applicable to international medical graduates 5.

Unique Aspects

The UCSF CIF is distinguished by its emphasis on entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. Fellows actively participate in entrepreneurship curriculums, networking events, and a range of incubator programs designed to bridge academics with industry innovation 13. This positioning allows fellows to forge connections within San Francisco's robust healthcare startup ecosystem, thereby enhancing their career trajectories in informatics.

Additionally, the program encourages fellows to engage in activities beyond their required coursework, granting them flexibility to explore their interests within the clinical informatics field 15. This enriches the fellows' experiences significantly, offering a well-rounded perspective on the intersections of healthcare, technology, and research.