Pediatrics

Visiting Elective Scholarship Program

Program Description

The Visiting Elective Scholarship Program (VESP), supported by the UCLA Department of Pediatrics, was established to encourage fourth year medical students who are underrepresented in medicine, are committed to working with underserved populations, or are interested in working with issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply for a clinical elective at DGSOM at UCLA.

Similar programs currently exist at UCSF, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, University of Washington and Harvard.

The scholarship program will provide the following support to three senior medical students:

  • Financial support (via reimbursement) for travel, housing and living expenses, up to $2,000 for each recipient.
  • A faculty mentor will be assigned to each scholarship awardee, with the expectation that the mentor and awardee will meet at least once during the course of the elective period to discuss residency training and other career opportunities at UCLA.
  • The program will host a networking event for scholarship recipients to meet residents and faculty from the UCLA Department of Pediatrics.
  • Additional meetings with UCLA faculty will be arranged at the request of the student. For example, students interested in Ph.D. training may wish to meet with Division Chairs in relevant areas of research.

Eligibility and Application Process

Applications for VESP will be accepted from visiting fourth year medical students applying for senior pediatric electives. The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA uses the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO), to receive applications from US medical and osteopathic students. For more information on our Visiting Student requirements, please click here.

Medical students meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

  • Senior students from traditionally underrepresented groups in medicine
  • Students in good academic standing at accredited U.S. medical schools
  • Students who have successfully completed core clerkships in pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry and OB/GYN

Application requirements for the scholarship include the following materials:

  • Completed VESP application form
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member (pediatric preferred, but other specialties welcome!)
    • If a student has waived their right to see the letter, they can be sent directly to the Pediatrics Medical Student Coordinator at [email protected] 
  • Personal statement/letter of interest
    • Prompt: Please describe your interest and experience in working with diverse communities and your interest in the UCLA Pediatric Residency Program.
  • An official and current academic transcript (from at least February 2023)
  • Current CV

Scholarship awardees will be selected by members of the UCLA Department of Pediatrics' Pediatric Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion committee. 

Program Timeline

  • UCLA Pediatrics Elective Scholarship Application Deadline: Friday, July 7
  • Pediatrics Elective Enrollment: May 2023 - October 2023
  • UCLA Pediatrics Residency Interviews: November 2023 - January 2024
  • Begin Residency: June 2024


Applications are closed for the 2023-2024 season! Thank you to all who applied!

Additional notes about the UCLA Pediatric Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The mission of the UCLA Pediatric Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee is to promote a culture of inclusion and appreciation for diversity across multiple areas, including race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and gender, in order to enhance patient care, teaching, and research within the Department of Pediatrics. Current objectives of the committee include:

  • Promotion of recruitment, retention, professional excellence and overall well-being among underrepresented residents, fellows, and faculty.
  • Enhancement of departmental cultural awareness and sensitivity to enrich the services we provide to the diverse communities represented by our patients.

Contact: [email protected]