Family Medicine San Diego Medical Center

We are proud to provide an excellent, practical and flexible educational experience.

The mission of the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Family Medicine Residency program is to transform excellent medical students into highly competent and compassionate physician leaders in their communities.  Our experienced, diverse, and talented faculty is committed to the personal growth and professional development of each resident.  We strive to provide a perfect balance between formal teaching and hands-on experience.  Residents practice evidence-based medicine in a comprehensive, integrated system, using a state-of-the-art electronic medical record.  Graduates have the flexibility to practice in any setting and are prepared to provide care to diverse patient populations.  Our program aims to balance rigorous education, service, and reasonable quality of life, while living in “America’s Finest City.”

Our program offers a strong evidence-based educational experience that includes:

• Direct patient responsibility for a large diverse population 
• A highly structured educational curriculum with intense faculty involvement 
• Innovative teaching and educational exposure including the use of Telemedicine, a Kaiser-issued personal iPhone, ACLS Simulation Lab didactics and hand-held ultrasound units 
• A focus on preventive care, health promotion and disease prevention 
• A strong commitment to community service 
• The nation’s largest electronic health record system, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect™ 
• Team-based care 
• Patient-Centered Medical Home (level 3)
• OB Centering program (group appointments)
• Opportunities to earn Letters of Distinction in Global Health, Wilderness Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Research and Behavioral Health

Kaiser Permanente in San Diego currently has one of the largest Family Medicine Departments in the world with over 200 Family Physicians on staff. The commitment to Primary Care is supported by our structure and strong presence in the medical center.

Our faculty has a wealth of teaching experience with many holding faculty appointments at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Bernard Tyson Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine.  The faculty members have been chosen for their clinical expertise, approachability, and genuine interest in teaching.

Although we are proud of our managed care roots, we feel our residents must be trained to function well in any practice setting. Kaiser Permanente residency graduates have chosen highly diverse careers and are sought after for their expertise in all aspects of Family Medicine.

Strong Academic Experience

Kaiser Permanente is at the forefront of providing quality care and top research.  The organization emphasizes and supports the importance of Primary Care.  Residents graduate experts in ambulatory care.  We support academic experience by hosting medical student rotations through our department.  Our faculty is enthusiastic, experienced, and committed to Kaiser Permanente, Family Medicine, and resident education. There are over 1000 staff physicians at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego including board-certified specialists, who help provide lectures, consultations and one-on-one elective experiences that prepare residents for any anticipated practice setting.  Residents also have free access to numerous evidence-based web sites.

High Volume of Experience and Responsibility

Kaiser Permanente is a growing, stable, well-resourced organization providing complete medical care for a large patient base, over 600,000 Health Plan members in San Diego County. This volume allows the residents to have a wealth of clinical experiences including caring for incredibly challenging sick patients.  It also provides an exceptional experience in Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstetrics. Residents are given an opportunity to manage patients independently with adequate support, if needed, as part of our unopposed program.

Community Service

Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit organization and has an affiliation with several community health centers including La Maestra, Vista Community Clinic, TrueCare, and Neighborhood Healthcare in San Diego County. These relationships allow our residents to practice in a variety of settings with unique patient populations. Our Family Medicine Department does a number of community service projects each year including performing free sports physicals at local high schools, shoe and backpack drives and other health promotion activities such as the annual Kaiser Permanente San Diego Half Marathon/5K.  We have a strong relationship with the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego and the local Health Department for other excellent community experiences.  Our residency is also proud to sponsor the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Summer Urban Fellowship that attracts high school, college and medical students from under-represented groups that are interested in the sciences and mentors them during the 4-week program.  We also partner with the UC San Diego’s Flying Samaritans to provide free medical care to families in Ensenada, Mexico. We have also held health fairs for migrant farm workers in North County San Diego.  Both experiences are excellent for volunteering and practicing medical Spanish. 

Commitment to Diversity

We are honored to be named the 2014 recipients of the Kaiser Permanente RJ Erickson National Diversity and Inclusion Award, which recognizes groups that have established and emphasized a commitment to diversity and inclusion.  We are humbled to be recognized with this award and it is a testament to the values we place on recognizing the unique qualities and contributions from all people.

Kaiser Permanente’s strong commitment to clinical excellence, a global perspective on diversity, and a culture of inclusive leadership continues to inspire our workforce.  Our diverse employees and physicians are transforming care delivery to meet the growing community demand for health improvement services that are accessible, affordable, equitable, and culturally and linguistically personalized.

Our Residency program seeks applicants who are committed to similar values.

Global Health

Our residency program has a strong commitment to volunteerism, humanitarian aid, and global health experiences.  There are frequent opportunities to do medical electives abroad throughout the year.  Some of our trips in the past year have included trips to Thailand, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Peru, Fiji, and Mexico. Residents often find these trips both challenging and rewarding when applying their medical skills in low resource communities.   A number of these medical trips have involved partnering with local health officials, other teaching institutions, and nonprofit organizations.  Our medical teams involve multi-disciplinary teams.  Our residency also offers a Global Health Track where residents can participate in journal club, educate fellow residents on their experiences abroad, and have an opportunity to earn a Letter of Distinction in Global Health.

Systems Based Practice, Leadership and Professionalism

Family Physicians are leaders in the community. Time is dedicated to residents for exploring their leadership potential; learning how health care systems are structured; and participating in practice improvement projects. Residents are expected to be an important part of their health care team in the Family Medicine Center. Residents meet monthly with the program director to provide feedback on the residency program. Residents participate in medical center and departmental committees.  Residents also participate in advocacy efforts at the state and national level.

Excellent Resources and Opportunities

At the end of training, residents are prepared to practice Family Medicine in a variety of different settings.
Many of the Southern California residents chose to remain with Kaiser Permanente after completing training.  Kaiser Permanente promotes work-life balance, excellent patient care and the sense of community among physicians and staff. 

Many other residents who have completed Kaiser Permanente residencies have completed fellowships or have become physicians and leaders of other medical groups including community clinics, county health departments and academic medical centers.