Overview

Most categorical general surgery residents have their 2-3 years of research and professional development time funded by internal and external grants. However, if a resident is unable to acquire funding for their research endeavors, the UCLA Department of Surgery guarantees funding for the two research years.

One categorical resident per class receives the Gerald S. Levey Surgical Research Award, described in more detail below. Recently, at least one resident per class has received funding through the  UCLA H. and H. Lee Surgical Research Scholars Program(Link is external) (Link opens in new window), the  UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases NIH T32 Training Grant(Link opens in new window), or the National Clinical Scholars Program (NCSP) at UCLA(Link is external) (Link opens in new window). Additionally, roughly one resident per class has elected to take a third year of research time to receive a Ph.D. through the UCLA STAR program(Link is external) (Link opens in new window). Additional internal and external funding opportunities used by recent general surgery residents are listed below. 

Gerald S. Levey Surgical Research Award

Nikhil Chervu, MD recieving the Levey Award at the 2021 UCLA general surgery graduation
Nikhil Chervu, MD was the recipient of the Levey Award at the 2021 UCLA general surgery graduation

The process of applying for research year funding begins with an application for the Gerald S. Levey Surgical Research Award, named after Dr. Gerald Levey(Link is external) (Link opens in new window), who served as the vice chancellor of medical sciences and dean of DGSOM at UCLA from 1994-2010. Since most junior residents have limited experience applying for grant funding, the Levey Award application is a mechanism our program developed to formalize the process of junior residents working with a faculty research mentor to develop a research proposal and write an NIH-style grant application. Early during intern year, residents identify and begin working with a UCLA surgery faculty member to develop their grant application, which is due toward the end of intern year. The recipient of the Gerald S. Levey Surgical Research Award is announced at the  UCLA general surgery graduation in June. Those who are not selected to receive the award are able to repurpose their application to apply for other grants before their research years start.   

Recent Research Resident Funding

Chris Childers, MD PhD and family after graduating with his PhD through the STAR program

Current and recent general surgery research residents have received partial or full funding through the grants and training programs listed below (last updated October 2021).