COVID-19 Trainee Support at UCLA

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for trainees in science and medicine across the nation, and particularly for those with child-care responsibilities. Research and clinical trainees at UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine are no exception.

Working remotely has disproportionately affected women, their work, and has strained their lives at home. An online survey of 800 trainees, initiated by UCLA's Keeping Trainees in Science and Medicine Task Force found that UCLA Health workers were experiencing hardship in the following areas:

Many of the 472 women respondents (59% of those surveyed) reported depression and other behavioral health concerns, and anxiety about exposing their families to the virus. Twenty-seven percent of the research trainees claimed to have experienced delays in or loss of research funding, and 29% reported a significant negative impact on their research productivity.

These issues present a serious challenge for academic medical institutions and for the future of their biomedical and health system workforces. To address these challenges, UCLA has launched a new initiative, Keeping Trainees in Science and Medicine.