University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Clinical Learning Sites

three students in conversation

With an unparalleled diversity of clinical sites serving a variety of patient populations, UCSF offers medical students the opportunity to learn and train throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area, and beyond.

UCSF has four primary teaching campuses (UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center).

Medical students will also train at multiple community sites throughout the diverse nine-county San Francisco Bay Area that is spread across approximately 7,000 square miles. Additionally, students may have opportunities to rotate to the regional campus at UCSF Fresno in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

UCSF’s array of clinical learning sites provides incredible opportunities for medical students to familiarize themselves with different health care systems and serve diverse communities and patients.

UCSF medical students have found it is essential to have a vehicle to travel efficiently to these dispersed clinical sites starting in their second year. 

Learn more below about additional resources available to UCSF medical students to support your travel to these clinical learning sites.

Connect to UCSF Campuses throughout San Francisco

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I need to be at my clinical site early in the morning/or need to leave late in the evening, will the UCSF shuttle get me there on time?
    • Consult the UCSF shuttle schedule to be sure the UCSF shuttle will meet your needs since the majority of shuttles run between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. UCSF medical students have found it is essential to have a vehicle to travel efficiently to clinical sites starting in their second year.
  • Does the UCSF shuttle have stops at every clinical site?
    • Not all clinical sites (even those within San Francisco) are accessible by UCSF shuttle. Consult the UCSF shuttle map to be sure the UCSF shuttle will meet your needs.
  • Is public transportation a viable alternative to a car for getting to my clinical sites?
    • There are some clinical locations within the Bay Area and in the Central Valley that are served by very limited public transportation. Public transportation may not be a practical option since travel times could be excessive (2+ hours each way) and transit may not operate during the hours you need. UCSF medical students have found it is essential to have a vehicle to travel efficiently to clinical sites starting in their second year.
  • Are there financial resources to help medical students with commuting costs?
    • Medical students who need additional financial support to cover transportation costs are only able to borrow loans. Current UCSF medical students who have questions about travel expenses can contact Andrew Wong, Loan Resource Advisor/Financial Aid Advisor, Student Financial Services.
    • The School of Medicine has developed the F2 Clerkship Travel Stipend Program as a small way to offset the additional costs of F2 student commutes to more distant clerkship sites. Starting in January, second year students can apply for a small stipend to offset travel costs accrued during your Foundations 2 year. The stipend amount is based on distance traveled. The annual maximum stipend a student can receive for their F2 travel is $450.

      Current UCSF medical students can find additional information about the requirements of the F2 Travel Stipend in the F2 Clerkship Travel Stipend Overview on the CLE. Current students who have questions about the F2 Travel Stipend can contact Valerie Jones, Operations and Student Visitor Program Manager. Students participating in the SJV PRIME - LIFE Clerkship Program, your stipend will come through UCSF Fresno. Please contact Trina Hughes for more information.

Current UCSF Medical Students can find additional information on clinical sites in the F2 CLE.