James W. Davis, MD, FACS
Fourth Year Medical Students
Welcome to the UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery. Our Surgery Department hosts medical students from the UCSF main campus for their third year clerkships, as well as visiting students on acting internships from all over the country. Depending on their rotation, students will spend most, if not all, of their time at Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC), a 650-bed tertiary referral center located in downtown Fresno. In addition to having one of the busiest emergency departments in California, CRMC is a regional burn center, and the only level one trauma center between Los Angeles and Sacramento, serving the San Joaquin Valley region of California (an area of approximately 15,000 square miles containing about 4 million people).
During their 4-week rotation, acting interns will be expected to hit the ground running; performing in the role of a surgical intern on one of six fast paced rotations offered through the surgery department. During these rotations, students are expected to assume responsibilities for patients as an acting intern, under the supervision of the faculty and house staff. This will allow the student to gain hands-on experience working in a busy hybrid academic-community program.
Students will be expected to take overnight call, which is an excellent opportunity to participate in the initial evaluation and management of a wide range of acute surgical patients (including trauma, burns and emergency general surgery), as well as a chance to take part in operative and bedside procedures. This is also a great way to meet additional residents and faculty in our surgery program outside of your specific rotation. Students are also invited to our departmental didactic sessions, including Grand Rounds, Skills Labs, Morbidity and Mortality conference, as well as rotation specific conferences such as Critical Care Conference or Cancer Conference.
- SICU 140.14
- Burns 140.15
- Advanced General Surgery & Acute Care Surgery 140.19
- General Surgery Oncology 140.20
- Trauma 140.21
- Vascular 140.24
We are excited for you to rotate with us and learn about surgery in the unique environment of the San Joaquin Valley!
Prerequisites:
- Anticipated completion of the 3rd year of medical school by start of acting internship.
- Passing score on USMLE step 1
- For rotation dates from June to December (blocks 5 – 12), scheduling preference is given to students planning to apply for a General Surgery residency. Blocks 1-4 are open to all students.
- Prerequisites may be waived at site director discretion
How to Apply
Please upload your medical school transcript, USMLE transcript, curriculum vitae, a brief statement of interest, and preferred rotation dates in SmartSheet. Your statement of interest should be a brief (500 – 1000 words) essay that describes your interest in surgery, and how an acting internship at UCSF Fresno fits into those plans. Students may also take this opportunity to provide any further information that may be helpful as we consider your application.
UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery does participate in VSLO. However, please submit your application materials via Smartsheet first to receive approval. Once approved, you can then submit necessary administrative documents via VSLO. We will not review applications submitted only to VSLO without first obtaining approval by the site director. We will begin accepting applications on February 27, 2023, and begin offering rotation spots April 10, 2023.
Block Schedule is as follows:
- Block 5: May 8-June 2
- Block 6: June 5-June 30
- Block 7: July 3-July 28
- Block 8: July 31-August 25
- Block 9: August 28-September 22
- Block 10: September 25-October 20
- Block 11: October 23-November 17
- Block 12: November 27-December 22
Stipend Opportunity
UCSF Fresno Surgery Department also offers an Equity in Education Surgery Sub-Internship Grant to defray the costs of attending an acting internship with us.
Once a student is invited to apply though VSLO for an acting internship spot, they will be eligible to apply for stipend.
Please visit this website for more details. https://www.fresno.ucsf.edu/intentional-recruitment-coalition/uimsurgery/
In addition to both core and elective clerkships, UCSF Fresno offers special opportunities for UCSF medical students.
For more resources and information pertaining to medical students, you can go directly to the Medical Student Programs website: www.fresno.ucsf.edu/medical-student-programs
Clerkship Director
Dr. Lilienstein earned his medical degree at UC Davis School of Medicine. He then completed his general surgery residency at University of California, San Francisco, Fresno. His fellowship in Acute Care Surgery was completed at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Dr. Lilienstein is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program. He works with fellows, residents and medical students caring for patients in the Acute Care Surgery, Trauma ICU and Surgical ICU services, and in the general surgery clinic.
If you are interested in doing your clerkship with us, please contact:
Clerkship Coordinator
Sonya Garcia
Community Regional Medical Center
2823 Fresno St., Dept. of Surgery 1st Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Telephone: (559) 459-4090
FAX: (559) 459-3719
E-mail: fresno-surgeryclerkship@ucsf.edu
sonya.garcia@ucsf.edu
Check out the unique features in the Fresno area by clicking this link: https://www.fresno.ucsf.edu/surgery/unique-features/
Main Surgery
Trauma Surgery
Vascular Surgery