Each recruiting season we receive approximately 900 applications to review for our offered positions, and each year we review every single one of them and grant interviews to approximately one-third of those individuals.  These individuals are carefully selected and each one is a physician we are genuinely interested in.  So, when you read the comments below, you'd understand why we go through the effort of carefully recruiting our housestaff and why recruiting a strong team is important to us.
“My decision to rank Olive View as number one was due to my experiences rotating at Olive-View in Internal Medicine as a 3rd year student and from my sub-I in IM during my fourth year. I was struck by the dedication and enthusiasm for teaching by the residents and attendings and the rich learning environment that the program fostered. I also became drawn to its county population for their dire need of healthcare and appreciation for the medical care received.I also sensed that senior residents were confident in formulating their own management plans, and prepared to work at the level of an attending by the close of their residency. I also appreciated the support that the faculty and attendings offer for residents in any fellowship endeavors they may wish to pursue. I purposefully rotated at all the UCLA affiliated IM programs either as a 3rd year, or a 4th year to develop an informed rank list. From my experiences I confidently chose Olive-View as my top choice for its unique combination of teaching, patient population, and resident-resident and resident-faculty camaraderie.”
“I really felt at home with the residents there on my second look and felt that this was the right program for me. In the end, it was the combination of being in SoCal, feeling like I could fit in, the chance to practice in a busy county hospital, the good teaching atmosphere, the chance to be in the UCLA system for fellowship opportunities, the reputability of the program, the chance to practice Spanish, that made me pick OVMC 1st.”
“The overall atmosphere at Olive View was impressive. I sensed a strong commitment to teaching and everyone I encountered seemed genuinely friendly. I simply had the "gut feeling" that Olive View was the place for me to optimize my training and become a great physician.”
“Olive View did a fantastic job during the interview day at showcasing the program in a positive and yet honest light.”
“I was very impressed with the organization of the day. The day flowed well with representatives of the program present every step of the way to direct the applicants. The job of describing the program by everyone was superb and I acquired a good feel for the program. In all, I was very impressed with my day there and think it was well time spent as I had all my questions answered sufficiently.”
“The interview day was perfect and the most organized anywhere in southern California!”
“It is really important to me to be able to serve the underserved.  secondly, The diversity and pathology that the patients present were also important factors in my decision.  thirdly, all your residents seemed very happy.”
“Mark is an amazing coordinator and saw that all details were taken care of and that all logistics were clear to interviewees. The morning orientation presentation provided very detailed info about the program and answered our previously unaddressed questions specifically about the program's curriculum. Everyone at Olive View showed wonderful hospitality and made us all feel that we were a part of the family for the day. The lunch provided a great opportunity to discuss further questions and program specifics in an open environment. Overall, a great experience and an amazing interview day.”
“The residents were very happy there and it seemed that throughout the whole interview process there was no "used-car salesman" approach that I felt from other programs.”
“The organization of the day was fantastic from start to finish.  I was impressed at how Mark knew each one of us by face when we walked in, and how accommodating he was regarding my luggage.  The orientation in the morning was extremely thorough -- all my questions (and ones that I hadn't yet thought of) were answered.  I felt like I got a good sense of what the program was like and if I would be a good fit.  The residents were warm, friendly, and helpful, and they all went out of their way to welcome us and answer questions during lunch.  My two interviewers were also great.  Overall, I thought both the program as well as interview day were wonderful.  Thanks!"
“I was extremely impressed by the interview day.  The presentation contained all the information that an applicant needs and wants to know, and answered just about all of my questions.  We were given plenty of time and opportunity to speak with current residents.  I was particularly impressed by the fact that we were given a list of residents from our institution enabling us to contact them for information.  All of the faculty, staff and residents were extremely friendly and helpful. Thank you so much for a great day!"
“I interviewed for the preliminary medicine program at Olive View.  The interview day was very informative and also did a great job of conveying the "vibe" of the program.  The presentation at the beginning of the day answered most of my questions about the program and emphasized how important residency training is to faculty at Olive View.  I was also impressed by the morning report and felt it was a valuable aspect of the interview day.  My interviewers made an effort to answer all of my questions and I was impressed that they took the time prior to the interview to review my application and personal statement.  All of the residents and faculty I met during the lunch hour were very friendly and welcoming, and seemed very happy with their experience at Olive View.  Overall, it was a very well-organized, informative and enjoyable interview day."
“This was the best interview day I have had. I thought the introduction and overview of the program was concise and to the point. Other interview programs fill up their lengthy presentation with the intricacies of their program which I find unnecessary. Your presentation allowed me to focus on the important things I am looking for in a program. I found that the housestaff and faculty were approachable and friendly. I felt very comfortable throughout the interview day. Thanks to everybody involved with the interview day.”
“I am at the end of my interview trail and can now comment on my interview day.  What stands out is the constant attempts to answer any and all questions.  The power point introduction was very informative and the fact that you included a link to it in the follow up email to help us make our decisions is great.  The lunch was the highlight of the day.  Most of the interns/residents were there and easily approachable to answer questions.  Although I have had several rotations at Olive View and therefore knew the program well, it was great to get more questions answered and to have the interns bring up a few aspects of the program I hadn't thought about.  I really can't think of how you could improve the interview day.  The strengths are definitely the constant information that was provided that day, with many attempts to answer questions."
“This was my top choice for my prelim year because I heard good things from friends who had graduated or are still in the program. Also, the combination of knowledgeable and respected UCLA faculty with a county hospital serving a poor and needy population was extremely important to me.”
“The UCLA-SFVP website is extremely informative and well planned out. I was able to glean most of the program's facts from the website before even visiting the program. This way, I got to spend my interview day trying to get a feel for the place rather than scrambling for information (match lists, resident profiles, facility info, etc.). Reading the website allowed me to make an intelligent choice about applying and coming to visit.”
“I really enjoyed visiting Olive View Hospital today for an interview in the catagorical medicine program. The faculty and housestaff were friendly and willing to answer questions. Overall it was a great day, thank you for inviting me to visit the program.”
“I wanted to thank everyone (housestaff, attendings, and Mark) for honestly making my interview day at Olive View my best one to date! I felt very welcome and throughout the day had all my questions & concerns answered in a proper manner. It was also great to have the chairman not only introduce himself to the applicants and then leave like most programs; but the fact that he stayed the entire day and spoke with each applicant in a sincere manner made me understand why everyone had told me how ‘special and warm’ the program at Olive View really is.  I especially loved the lunch session (kosher food!) where I had the chance to talk to one of the chief residents, an attending, and numerous house staff officers for about an hr. Overall, it was a great day,  and I left the day feeling comfortable ranking the program very very high in my match list."
“Excellent interview day. Very helpful to have the "program overview" portion before the interviews so that the basic structure of the program is clear and questions to interviewers and housestaff can be much more specific. Also, outstanding job of making many residents available during lunch and in the afternoon -- possibly the most valuable assessment tool is speaking with all kinds of housestaff (interns, residents, prelims, etc...), and they all did a good job switching their seats at lunch and trying to meet people.”
“This is the most informative and visually appealing website for a residency that I have seen. Every piece of information presented is up-to-date and relevant. It sends a very professional message to applicants who may not have had direct contact with the program as a clinical clerk.”
“I had a wonderful time at Olive View. The facilities, faculty, residents, and teaching conferences exceeded all my expectations. After my visit, I feel that Olive View is one of my top choices in residency. I encourage everyone to come visit to see for him/herself.”
“The interview day at Olive View was excellent. I was most impressed by the enthusiasm of the house staff and faculty. There is clearly a true dedication to teaching and learning. In addition, there seems to be a family-like, supportive atmosphere. All the residents I talked to seemed to be very happy at Olive View (even the post-call residents seemed happy). Also, the range of pathology seen at Olive View is very impressive. Overall, I was very impressed with the program.”
“All in all, it was a wonderful interview day.  I got a good sense of the program through orientation, interviews, morning report, lunch, and tours.  I could see the emphasis on teaching in morning report.  I could see the friendliness of the institution throughout the day. It was one of the more informative and organized interviews days I have been on. And, Mark, thank you for the vegetarian-friendly plate at lunch - much appreciated and very tasty!
“Interview day at Olive View was very well organized, informative, and fun! I really felt as if I got a good sense of the residency program from the combination of the welcome lecture, morning report, tour, and interaction with the residents. I appreciate that all the information presented in the morning was later emailed the applicants. The residents were very friendly and really took the time to socialize with us and answer all our questions. Very helpful! Thanks for a great day! ”
“I had a very pleasant experience during my interview day. I felt warmly welcomed by both faculty and residents, and I appreciated that the day was very well organized. Before the day began, I had several questions about the program. But after the comprehensive presentations by Dr. Wali, Dr. Rotblatt, and Dr. Cope, I did not have much else to ask! It was clear to me during my short time there that feedback is an important part of the Olive View program, with a constant push for improvement. I absolutely loved the program and am now placing it at the top of my rank list!”
“The day was very well structured and organized. I appreciate the fact that there was not a lot of downtime so that you feel like you are wasting the day away. I think the honesty of the chair and Dr. Rotblatt about the strengths AND the weaknesses was refreshing. The lunch gave us a good chance to interact with other residents. Dr. Wasson did a good job of identifying people that would be good to talk to me. I also like the fact that we got out early so that I could drive back to Orange County before rush hour hit.”
“I thought the day was organized very well and the presentations were informative. The one thing that stuck in my mind were the residents. They were all happy to be there and thought they were getting excellent training. Overall, excellent program! I hope to train there.”
“I really enjoyed meeting with a resident one-on-one- it was a nice, relaxed way to get to know the program. Overall, a well-organized and fulfilling day! I will be sure to rank UCLA SFVP high!”
“Very relaxed interviewing day. Very informative AM session. Lunch was a great way to interact with the Residents. I appreciated  the thought that went into selecting my interviewers (a prelim intern of my same specialty and a former attending from Med wards)”
“After interviewing at a few local Southern California programs, I realized that UCLA-Olive View was really in a league of its own. The Interns report-which really showed me how well the Interns were being taught, along with the presentation, interviews, tour and lunch were well orchestrated and the ample number of residents and faculty that were available for lunch and interviews says a lot about how resident-friendly and pleasant the environment at UCLA-Olive View is for both training residents and working faculty, not to mention the fact that the residents had only great things to say about the program-thus, I came out realizing the residents have excellent training AND had lives outside of medicine, which equals happy residents.”
“Before coming out to Olive View, I knew I was interested in the program, based upon what I had read about it on your website and what I had heard about it from people who had interviewed in the area previously.  But nothing could really prepare me for how well-organized, collegial, and academic you folks were in person.  So far, out of all the LA programs that I've seen (and I've seen all but one that interest me at this point), Olive View is at the top of my list.  I'm just hoping that my wife can get a job in the area to seal the deal!  Keep doing what your doing.  (I particularly liked Mark's innovation of having applicants sit on the inside and residents on the outside of a C-shaped table at the lunch.)”
“Very well organized/professional interview day. It's really nice to see the collegial atmosphere fostered at UCLA-SFVP. Hard work is hard work. And work is at every institution. But very few have I seen encourage a resident 'family' environment.”

“The orientation was very informative.  Although I liked Olive View even before I got to the interview, the orientation on the interview day made me like the program even better!  Faculty did a wonderful job presenting the strengths of Olive View in a very attractive way.  Interview itself was wonderful.  Questions asked seemed well thought of and not just random.  Questions led me to say everything I wanted to say.  Interviewer was also patient in getting to know me during the interview.  The overall experience I had was great,  no other program has been like it! Thanks!”
“This is a great program.  From all of the preliminary programs I have interviewed at, this program finds the perfect balance between inpatient and outpatient experience.  Furthermore, based on the resident's report, the teaching is excellent. I'd also like to comment on the interview day experience.  The day was well organized and extremely informative.  The people were very friendly and the whole day was pleasurable.  I felt extremely comfortable from the beginning of the session until the end of the day.  All my questions were answered and left with a positive feeling."
“One of the best organized interviews I have ever had the pleasure of attending. The staff was extremely helpful and cordial. An A+ job.”
 “The structure and function of your interview day was superb.  You successfully conveyed the details and the overall feeling of your program and allowed the applicants to elicit desired information easily.  I especially liked the setup of lunch with the residents, very engaging."
“I had a great time. You are one of the best hosts in town! The program speaks for itself, but the kindness and respect that we each received as applicants is worthy of praise.”
“This website is one of the most informative, professional, and well put together sites I've seen in academic medicine. It has been very helpful to read comments from previous applicants as well as housestaff.  The quantity and diversity of these comments is helpful.  I also appreciated information about schedules and rotations that are available on the website.  This helps provide a feel for what daily life at your program is all about.  The site itself is also attractive and easy to navigate.”
 “The interview day was such a wonderful experience. The day was organized perfectly . It is always nice to get the interviews over with in the morning instead of waiting until the afternoon. I was also so impressed by the strong faculty presence at the orientation and throughout the day. Everyone made such a genuine effort to meet each candidate. It was obvious that everyone in the program from the program directors to the interns and residents are very involved in the success of the program. I was also really impressed by the morning report. It was well run with such a congenial atmosphere. In terms of the interviews, it was nice to talk one-on-one with a current intern. The person I spoke with really gave me the chance to ask her specific questions about the program whcih allowed me to gauge how well I would fit in at OVMC. The lunch time session was also well attended. This is the first interview I've been on where they were responsible for giving the tour. Again, another example of the universal interest in ensuring a successful future for the OV medicine program. Truly, I was so impressed by the staff, faculty and residents at OVMC. Thank you for a wonderful day. ”
“Now that I have interviewed at all of the LA-area internal medicine preliminary programs, I feel confident in saying that yours is by far the best!  The emphasis on education and resident well-being is obviously attractive, but in addition the breadth of experience offered is unparalleled.  By combining experience in outpatient medicine, in multiple subspecialties, and with county hospital patients, you are providing an ideal environment for building a solid foundation in contemporary Medicine, which is especially valuable for prelims.”
“This was my 5th prelim interview to date and was by far the most enjoyable and informative.  I really appreciated the residency directors taking the time to explain the program in detail.  I also was very impressed by the number of residents who showed up to talk with us, the candidates, during lunch.  This is obviously a well-organized program in which the residents and faculty are happy to be involved.”
“I was thoroughly impressed by how well the interview day was organized and tailored to answer our questions and make us feel comfortable.  This is undoubtedly a reflection on how well the Program treats its residents.  Being able to finish in time was also much appreciated.”
“I really enjoyed the interview day.  The morning report and noon conference were both excellent; I was particularly impressed by the quality of the resident's presentation, especially as compared with morning reports I've attended at other institutions.  Great breakfast and great lunch too!  Finally, everyone I met, whether attending or resident, really went out of their way to share their feelings on the program (all were very positive and enthusiastic).  It is a very telling endorsement, I think, to hear so many unsolicited positive remarks.”
“From what I have seen on the interview day, I believe you have structured a residency that is very well in tune with the needs of the residents and provides the experience and teaching that is needed for a successful career in medicine.  It is also clear that this is an ongoing process that will continue to change as the needs of the residents and of the hospital changes.  You've done a wonderful job.”
"Your program provided one of the most organized and comprehensive orientation that I've experienced on the interviewing circuit. Having the program director and both associate directors present was very impressive in giving the program a sense of unity and interest in the applicants. I felt well informed not only about the curriculum itself but also the personality of the program and its faculty and residents. I also sensed a strong loyalty to the program from faculty who previously were residents in the program and from several current senior residents. This was particularly interesting because it was unique to the San Fernando Valley Program. I did not see this elsewhere during my interviewing tour. This implies a genuinely good training program to impart that level of loyalty."
"Good format for morning conferences and lectures by the residents. I also found the presentation about the various training sites comprehensive. I did not feel like I had to ask more questions to clarify issues. I found the interview very appropriate. In fact, I was asked "harder" questions here, than anywhere else. Lunch was good and the conversation with two prelim interns was very informative. I did enjoy the enthusiasm of our tour guide (chief resident). Overall, I found the experience to be one of the better interviews. It shows that time was put into the process."
"Thank you for a very well organized, enjoyable interview day. I was impressed with how friendly, happy everyone seemed, with the good faculty-resident rapport, and with the general organization of the program. I would feel lucky to be among your residents.  I was very happy with how information about the program was presented. Most of my questions were answered by the presentation. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I appreciated that both the strengths and the weaknesses about the program were provided. My interviewer was kind and warm, he made me feel very relaxed, at home. I was very impressed about the program in general."
"I was extremely impressed by your program. I find the balance between teaching and patient care at your program to be very appealing - reasonable amount of calls and faculty who truly seem enthusiastic about teaching. I don't think I have ever seen happier residents. I was also impressed by your geriatrics program."
"This is the best organized and most informative interview I have been on to date. If you think their website is exceptional, you'll find your interview day equally well thought-out and enjoyable. The staff and residents were very friendly and receptive to questions, and I appreciated getting out to miss the LA traffic. I have interviewed at many programs in the LA area, and Olive View by far tops the list. Thanks for everything Mark”
"The presentation was wonderful and the best out of all the interviews that I have been on so far. It was very organized, complete, and informative; the presenters were very prepared and open to any questions. I was impressed with the fact that so many graduates of the program decide to remain on staff or even return after many years. i enjoyed the luncheon at the Olive View Hospital since it allowed me ample time to question the residents at the site. The residents were all happy with the program and I got the feeling that there was good camaraderie among the ranks. Thank you very much for the tour. I hope to be able to work with the staff next year."
"I have interviewed at many different programs prior to coming to this interview and I must say that this interview was perhaps one of the most pleasant experiences I have had. First and foremost the high level of professionalism and organization should be highly praised. It went a long way in selling the program and served as a reflection of the administration as a whole. Also the pleasant staff, the interviewers and the presence of all of the program leaders during the orientation again reflected highly on the program's commitment to the resident's, flexibility, atmosphere, and professionalism. I have nothing but positive things to say about my interview day."
"Your program is by far the most student friendly one in the circuit!"
The comments above are a fraction (yet fair representation) of what our previous applicants have said to us.  As you see, there is nothing hidden about the process.  Our objective is to recruit the class we feel would best fit our current housestaff, faculty, and staff.  Our desire is to make this 'program' one of the best professional experiences of your career and possibly one of the best experiences of your life.  As times change, so do we, and we hope in the process we improve ourselves for the better and make the world's of those we serve (patients) a better place.  Join us.

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