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Harbor-UCLA Med Ctr-CA

Harbor-UCLA

Torrance, CA

NRMP
1067080A0
ACGME
0800512137

Sentiment score: 3.2 / 10

Harbor-UCLA is a competitive dermatology program affiliated with UCLA but independently operated by Los Angeles County. Applicants express significant concerns about the program's accreditation status (accredited with warning), potential closure or downsizing, and uncertainty about its future stability, though some acknowledge it as a viable option for matching in California. The program has strong alumni in academic dermatology and Mohs surgery, but many applicants rank it low on their lists or express hesitation about committing to it due to institutional concerns.

Match terms
harbor uclaharbor-uclalac harborlac/uclalos angeles county-harbortorrance derm
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Has anyone gotten an interview from ucla AND harbor-ucla or do people typically get one or the other?

#14782025–2026 DermFeb 21

this is possible, yes. especially if you did aways at both.

Feb 21
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Oh absolutely, people get both! it’s not a ‘one or the other’ Hunger Games situation. UCLA and Harbor-UCLA aren’t fighting over a single soul in some dramatic showdown. Honestly, it’s more like them high-fiving each other in secret, like, ‘Yup, we both want them.’ So yes, you can totally end up with both interviews and feel like you’ve hacked the derm system

Feb 21
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lol this sounds accurate; add in USC to that too. I have no idea what Kaiser LA is doing over there though

Feb 21
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lol this sounds accurate; add in USC to that too. I have no idea what Kaiser LA is doing over there though

Mar 7
0
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Does anyone have information on the Harbor-UCLA away rotation? Coming from out of state and not sure what to expect.

#4142025–2026 DermFeb 21
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ISO: switching Harbor UCLA rotation from September to November, December, or January. Please let me know if interested.

#2782025–2026 DermFeb 21
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does anyone have tea (good or bad) on USC, UCLA, Kaiser-LA, Harbor-UCLA? thank you <3

#17832024-2025 DermMar 16
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does anyone know if LSU IM prelim is still accepting applications? says on the website NOLA site accepts until Nov 30 and baton rouge until Dec 31. anyone know if harbor UCLA is still accepting? says Oct 15 on website

#7462024-2025 DermMar 16
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Does harbor UCLA have 1 or 2 spots this year? < Is harbor UCLA easier to match than other california derm programs?

#5742024-2025 DermMar 16
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does anyone know who matched to Harbor UCLA? < yes

#602024-2025 DermMar 16
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how far down your list are you still okay with falling to? < very last and i'd still be thrilled honestly < my last is harbor ucla. i feel like that program may not exist by the time we start lol < but hey if u matched even if your program closes you'll be a derm!!! < true true. may even get to transfer to a better program lol

#40032021-2022 DermMar 21
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You would need to make a compelling case that you'll be an investigative dermatologist doing 80/20 (research/clinical). 1st author basic science pubs help. The alumns are top-notcth : Dr. Roger Lo (Current director), Dr. Jenny Kim (Mohs Fellowship Director), Dr. Rajan Kalkarni (2 PI at OHSU), Dr. Delphine Lee (Chair at Harbor-UCLA) and more. < thank you. is there a way to look up the current STAR residents? Is STAR only for UCLA David Geffen?< STAR is only for UCLA David Geffen < https://www.uclahealth.org/dermatology/our-expert-team (search STAR) < thank you! < out of curiosity, what's the difference in overall culture and mission for UCLA David Geffen v. Harbor-UCLA? < Harbor UCLA is LA County and you mostly see county patients (underserved). There 5 residents total. Lots of autonomy. UCLA is typical academic program (5 residents/yr), collegial residents, great faculty who love teaching. UCLA has sites in very affluent areas (Santa Monica and Westwood) but you also get training at Olive-View county, Venice Family Clinic (underserved, underinsured, and unsheltered), and at West LA VA (in Brentwood). You'll see everything under the sun. Schedule is really chill. The faculty are well connected. The graduates do very well (no problems getting into competitive fellowships). Some graduates stay on as faculty; even though, UCLA pays VERY well for the region (https://ucannualwage.ucop.edu/wage/), many of those faculty get poached.The residents are unionized so you get great benefits including 12k housing stipend. < But what about recent alumn? Seems like there are no records of any recent alumns. Where did they go??? < Fellowships and private practice.

#39512021-2022 DermMar 21
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are people ranking harbor ucla? i kinda don't wanna rank them but i wonder if i'll regret it < for these questions, you're literally deciding if you'd rather train at X program or not match, it's a pretty simple you just have to decide

#37402021-2022 DermMar 21
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What program is at the bottom of your list? < Case Western is dead last #14 for me < Cook County is my last <UAMS < BU < UTHSC lol < Einstein < Harbor UCLA < Iowa < Colorado < UNM but lol i have a lot of these programs on my program list 🤡 < what is UTHSC (Tennessee) ?

#36432021-2022 DermMar 21
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Is Harbor-UCLA accredited with warning? Their website said they are accredited.

#36182021-2022 DermMar 21
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was talking to a mentor about the whole harbor ucla debacle "you applied there??? wow people really are applying booooarrrdddlllyyyy huh?" 🥲 < lmao they are so out of touch < Was your mentor surprised that you applied to Harbor-UCLA's derm program? < lol yes < LOL! I mean it's Derm. I understand not applying to places like Harvard Derm or NYU Derm if you're scrimping or being judicious on ERAS fees, but Harbor-UCLA you apply to, as you want to apply as broadly as you can. < that is how i saw it too but she thought that was a bit too broad LOL < Great exposure and lots of autonomy < Isn't that what all Derm programs say to sell their program? < But it's actually true. LA county is the most diverse in the country. Harbor-UCLA is where people who are underserved and underinsured go for care, especially if they are in the South Bay/ Long Beach area or west of the 405. Lots of SOC. Tons of excisions and biopsies. < Their graduates seem to for the most part go into private practice w/o subspecializing further: https://www.harbor-ucla.org/dermatology/recent-alumni-list/ < A rationale is that after you had an extensive training during residency, you do not need to pursue fellowship < You do if you want to do Mohs or Dermpath < that's complete bullshit. if the program is really that great you don't need a fellowship

#32432021-2022 DermMar 21
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ignorant east coaster here but whats the difference between UCLA and Harbor UCLA? // Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is affiliated with UCLA but operates independently from the David Geffen School of Medicine. The County of Los Angeles owns and operates Harbor-UCLA, and most residents and faculty are employees of the county. < Which is better? < Definitely UCLA that is with the UCLA med school. With Harbor-UCLA, it's a "Derm is Derm" program if you match there as well getting to stay in California. < ouch 😂😂😅

#32302021-2022 DermMar 21
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why do both ucla and harbor ucla have warnings.... < are the 2 programs related?< One is county, the other is not (UCLA). < is UCLA also losing a spot? looks like only 3 on NRMP? < where is this on nrmp website? < program directory << They have 3 regular and 2 (2) spots . Screen cap to the right<is that always how it works?

#32132021-2022 DermMar 21