The UCI Internal Medicine Residency program is based in Orange, California, in Orange County, the third most populous county in California. The surrounding area includes beautiful coastal cities, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

Orange County is well known for its tourist attractions, including Disneyland, theaters, shopping venues and 42 miles of beaches. The county is also home to professional sports teams, including the Anaheim Ducks (NHL) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB). There are also numerous hiking and biking trails in the county, and we are a short drive from the mountains and ski resorts.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, the average weather forecast is generally around 70 degrees, with sunny skies about 70% of the year.

Many of our residents choose to live in either the City of Orange, Long Beach or in several surrounding cities. Numerous affordable housing options exist depending on location, apartment amenities and proximity to our medical centers. Apartments are available within walking distance to UCI Medical Center, or you can choose to live in Downtown Long Beach or the adjacent neighborhood of Belmont Shore for a more urban lifestyle. 

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Live, Work, Play: Thriving in Orange County

UCI is located in idyllic Orange County approximately one hour north of San Diego and one hour south of Los Angeles, providing a lovely setting for academic training with a variety of experiences available to residents and their families.

 

The primary UCI clinical sites are Gottschalk Medical Plaza on the UCI undergraduate campus in Irvine, UCI Medical Center in Orange, and VA Long Beach, offering a variety of locations for residents to live and explore. 

 

Residents find that having a car is essential. Parking passes are available for purchase at the Gottschalk Medical Plaza and UCI Medical Center, but parking at VA Long Beach is free. Virtually all of the major interstates in Orange County provide carpool/clean emission vehicle lanes to skip the traffic, and many residents capitalize on this perk while spending time together on the road.

UCI student photo shoot at Huntington Beach

Housing

Based on the variety of clinical sites and personal preference, our residents live anywhere from Los Angeles to South Orange County, with the majority living in Irvine, Newport Beach and Long Beach. UCI residents enjoy a generous housing stipend regardless of distance from clinical training sites.

High-rise buildings in Irvine, CA

Things to Do

Families Thrive in Orange County

The area boasts some of the state's highest neighborhood safety ratings and school test scores. Orange County's dynamic job market also offers many opportunities for spouses and partners. 

Disneyland Resort

Choosing a residency program is a big decision, and where you live plays a big part. Luckily, UCI residents enjoy the best of both worlds: a supportive environment and a vibrant community like Orange County. Here are a few resources to help you explore:

Wellness Resource Guide

The School of Medicine prioritizes the wellbeing of its residents. Psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing are all critical components of a competent, caring and resilient healthcare provider. We offer a variety of tools and resources to help care for our community and promote a supportive culture.   

Explore our wellness resource guide
a photo of a black book that says Wellness Resource Guide on the cover. There is also eye glasses and a cup of coffee on a wooden table.