First- and Second-Year Electives

The list below documents electives that change from quarter to quarter. This is a partial listing; additional electives may be advertised on separate announcements or offered by other schools. For more information on elective coordination and advertising to other UCSF schools, please see this Elective Coordinators website.

Supervised Study and Laboratory Project Course Offerings: Please see the Registrar's Course Catalog.

Sign up for Electives via your online study list on Registrar's SAA Portal 

MD Competencies referenced in elective listings: 

  • Patient Care (PC)
  • Medical Knowledge (MK)
  • Practice-Based Learning & Improvement (PBLI)
  • Interpersonal & Communication Skills (ICS)
  • Professionalism (Prof)
  • Systems-Based Practice (SBP)
  • Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) - indicated using the IP codes below

Inter-Professional Level of Learning2 referenced in elective listings: Adapted by Dr. Susan Hyde from Reeves S, Lewin S, Espin S, Zwarenstein M (2010) Interprofessional Teamwork for Health and Social Care. Blackwell-Wiley, London.

  • Interprofessional Education (I): Members (or students) of two or more health and/or social care professions engage in learning with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the delivery of care.
  • Multiprofessional Education (M): Members (or students) of two or more professions learn alongside one another; in other words, parallel rather than interactive learning.
  • Uniprofessional Education (U): Education that is undertaken by individuals within the same profession.

Fall 2024 (Winter 2025 elective information will be available in December)

Course number: Emergency Medicine 170.13
Course title: Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Faculty: Sally Graglia
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Wednesdays 5:30-7:30pm in S-20/22; 9/18, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16. Friday, 11/15, 5:30-7:30pm, S-20/22 (Kanbar rooms in MedSci)
Student coordinators: Julia Wolf, Elaine Kim, Abigail Kim
MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Family & Community Medicine 170.01A (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Expanding Culture Humility in Healthcare
Faculty: Margo Vener
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: TBA
Student coordinators: Tou Bee Thao, Gobinder Pandher, Jeanine Esteban, Manreet Dosanjh, Alejandro Perez, &
Maram Kiran
MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC, ICS, PBLI, IPC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Family & Community Medicine 170.01B (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Community Organizing, Environmental Justice & the Bayview Neighborhood
Faculty: Margo Vener is faculty of record; Kim Rhoads is faculty advisor
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: TBA
Student coordinators: Daniel Zager, Sidney Ezenwugo, Mallory Shingle, Sophie Oubaha, Annemarie Charlesworth

MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC, ICS, PBLI, IPC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Family & Community Medicine 170.01C (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Health & Incarceration
Faculty: Margo Vener is faculty of record
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: TBA
Student coordinators: Palveen Sekhon, Psalm Pineo-Cavanaugh, Eva Kitlen

MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC, ICS, PBLI, IPC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Family & Community Medicine 170.02
Course title: Compassionate Care: The Art of Healing Communication
Faculty: Shieva Khayam-Bashi
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Tuesdays 12:10-1pm: Aug 20, Aug 27, Sep 17, Sep 24, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 15, Oct 22, Nov 5, Nov 12, Dec 10 – Location TBA
Student coordinators: TBA 

MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC, ICS, PBLI, IPC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Family & Community Medicine 184
Course title: Contemporary Issues in Latine Health
Faculty: Manuel Tapia
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Mondays 12:10-1pm; August 12-October 28; Room TBA
Student coordinators: Lizeth Estrada & Gerardo Gamino

MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC, ICS, PBLI, IPC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Global Health Sciences 170.51
Course title: Global Health Interest Group Elective

Faculty: Carmen Cobb-Walch
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Wednesdays, 12:10-1pm, Room S-157 (MedSci), 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20
Student coordinators: Diego Martinez Mendiola, Abigail Kim, Alessandra Veinbachs
MD Competencies: MK, SBP, PC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Medicine 170.01A (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Food as Medicine

Faculty: Cindy Lai is faculty of record; Diana Thiara is faculty advisor
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Wednesdays 12:10-1pm: Aug 21, Aug 28, Sep 18, Sep 25, Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 13, Dec 11; Oct 2 (which will be in the evening 5-8PM); CSB 1113-1114
Student coordinator: Rachel Huynh, Sharlene Shirali, Elaine Kim, Daniel Chan, Kaitlyn Hsu & Mariel Magdits
MD Competencies: MK, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: I

Course number: Medicine 170.01B (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Gut Instincts: A Journey through Gastroenterology

Faculty: Cindy Lai is faculty of record; Rishika Chugh & Michael Kattah are faculty advisors
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Wednesdays 12:10-1pm: 8/14, 8/21, 9/25, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/11, 12/18; CSB 1107-1108
Student coordinators: Nicole Garcia, Renee Landzberg, Anjeli Mase, Daniel Zager
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Medicine 170.01C (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Narrative Medicine Elective

Faculty: Cindy Lai is faculty of record; Ashley McMullen & David Elkin are faculty advisors
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Thursdays 12:10-1pm: 9/26, 10/3, 10/10 (CSB 1108), 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7 (CSB 1108), 11/14, 11/21, 12/5; Hybrid Zoom & in person, CSB 1107/1108
Student coordinators: Ruben Hernandez, Mallory Shingle, Toyosi Oluwole, & Matthew Yee
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.01D (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Health Policy & Medical Student Advocacy

Faculty: Cindy Lai is faculty of record; Beth Griffiths is faculty advisor
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Fridays 12:10-1pm; Room TBA
Dates: 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/20, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/4 (Monday), 11/8, 11/15
Student coordinators: Renee Landzberg, Palveen Sekhon & Sapna Ramappa
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.01F (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)
Course title: Oncology Interest Group Elective

Faculty: Cindy Lai is faculty of record; Emily Bergsland is faculty advisor
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Tuesdays 12:10-1pm: 8/20; 8/27; 9/3, 9/10, 9/24; 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/12, 11/19.
Hybrid Zoom & in person, Room CSB 1113/1114 (9/24 is in CSB 1111)
Student coordinator: Alyssa Fuentes
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course Number: Medicine 170.07
Course Title: Communicating with the Latino Patient

Faculty: Leslie Seijo
# of units: 1.0
Dates: TBA
Day, Time, Room location: TBA
Student coordinators: Nicole Garcia, Benjamin Blue, Isaac Avila-Vargas, Sharlene Shirali
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course Number: Medicine 170.34A
Course Title: Disaggregating and Addressing AAPI Health Inequities

Faculty: Cindy Lai
# of units: 1.0
Dates: 8/16, 8/23, 9/13, 9/20, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15
Day, Time, Room location: Fridays, 12:10-1pm, Zoom
Student coordinator: Tiffany Hussman, Runa Cheng, Yimeng Li
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.49
Course title: Native Health Elective

Faculty: Tasce Bongiovanni
# of units: 1.0
Day, Time & Room Location: Thursdays, 12:10-1PM, Hybrid (Zoom and in-person)
Dates: 8/14/24-11/13/24
Student coordinators: Shivany Y. Condor Montes, Madison Thompson
MD Competencies*: MK, Prof, SBP
Interprofessional Level of Learning: I

Course number: Medicine 170.50
Course title: Cardiology Interest Group: Review and Explore

Faculty: Binh An Phan
# of units: 1.0
Day, Time & Room Location: Mondays, 12:10-1PM, Clinical Sciences 1113/4
Dates: 10/14, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2
Student name(s) and contact information (e-mail address): Isabelle Vu, Aditya Dwivedi, Shreyas Kiran
MD Competencies*: PC, MK, Prof, SBP
Interprofessional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.53
Course title: Innovating Healthcare: From Concept to Reality

Faculty: Liviu Klein
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: TBA
Student coordinator: Nathan Ramrakhiani
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.54
Course title: Queer Health Elective

Faculty: Sam Brondfield
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Thursdays: 12:10-1pm; Room TBA
Dates: 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5
Student coordinators: Nicholas White & Neal Mukherjee
MD Competencies: MK, PC, PBLI, SBP, Prof, ICS
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Medicine 170.55
Course title: Nephrology Interest Group (NephrIG) Elective

Faculty: Chi-Yuan Hsu
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Fridays, 12:10-1pm, CSB 1107/1108; Zoom option available for certain sessions.
Dates 9/20, 10/11, 10/18, 11/8, 11/15, 12/6, 12/13
Student coordinators: Debbie Adam & Daniel Chan
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Neurology 170.11
Course title: Exploring Pediatric Neurology

Faculty: Sharon Wietstock
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Thursdays (Oct 14 is a Monday); 12-1pm, August: CSB 1107/1108, September 19: CSB 1113/1114, October 10: CSB 1113/1114, October 14: CSB 1102/1103, November 7: CSB 1116/1117, November 14: CSB 1113/1114, December 12: MSB S-163
Dates August 15, 22, Sept 19, October 10, 14, November 7, 14, Dec 12
Student coordinators: Nicole Garcia, Julia Wolf, Runa Cheng, Bradley Oh
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Obstetrics & Gynecology 170.03
Course title: Family Planning & Reproductive Choices

Faculty: Naomi Stotland
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Thursdays, 12:10-1pm, Room TBA.
Dates: August 15, 22, 29; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 7, 14.
Student coordinators: Danielle Houston, Mahika Nayak & Sapna Ramappa
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: M

Course number: Ophthalmology 160.01
Course title: Introduction to Clinical Ophthalmology

Faculty: Neeti Parikh
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Tuesdays, 12:10-1pm, Room TBD (Starts 9/17)
Staff Coordinator: Shelle Libberton
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Otolaryngology 170.01
Course title: Introduction to Otolaryngology

Faculty: Patricia Loftus
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Mondays, 12:10-1pm, Room CS 11113-1114. Dates 8/19, 8/26, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/2, 11/4, 11/18
Student coordinators: Tiffany Husman, Leon Sarpong, Hudson Lin, Sophia Yin
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, PC
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Pediatrics 170.01A
Course title: Pediatric Interest Group Elective (Listed as Special Issues in Health Care)

Faculty: Erica Lawson is faculty of record; Michele Long is faculty advisor
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Mondays, 12:10-1pm, Room CSB 1102/1103; 8/26, 9/16, 9/30. 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 11/4, 12/2
Student Coordinators: Julia Wolf & Maram Kiran
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Psychiatry 170.01B
Course title: Explorations in Psychiatry

Faculty: Descartes Li
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Wednesdays, 12-1pm, CSB 1102/1103. Dates 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4.
Student Coordinators: Seth Zupanc, Amanda Leon, Shiv Gupta
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U

Course number: Radiology 170.04
Course title: Intro to Radiology

Faculty: Emma Webb
# of units: 1.0
Day, time, & Room Location: Tuesdays, 12:10-1pm, Room TBD
Staff Coordinator: Samira Zebarjadian
MD Competencies: MK, PBLI, ICS, SBP
Inter-Professional Level of Learning: U