Department of Pediatrics > Residency > Interview Process

Interview Process

During interview season, the UC Irvine Department of Pediatrics Residency Selection Committee reviews your file. We do not have set criteria for selection of candidates. Rather, we perform a holistic review of each application individually, recognizing that each applicant has unique strengths.

If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by our residency office to arrange an interview date. Offers for interviews are sent by email starting in late October. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we do not send immediate rejection letters.

Our interview season typically runs from early November through mid-January.

If you have any questions about the application process, feel free to contact our residency office at pedsresidency@uci.edu or 714-456-5631.

MEET AND GREETS »

Our residents host informal evening meet-and-greets throughout the interview season. We welcome prospective candidates who are invited for interviews to join us at one of our get-togethers, which will be hosted virtually.

Interviewees will be provided information on these get-togethers beforehand.

FLIGHTS / HOTELS »

FLIGHTS

You can fly into any of the following three airports:

John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA) - about 11 miles from CHOC
Long Beach Airport (LGB) - about 20 miles from CHOC
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - about 41 miles from CHOC

John Wayne Airport is nearest to CHOC, which is where your interview day will begin and end. We recommend that you give yourself plenty of time for car travel and to navigate airport parking lots, anticipating traffic during peak hours.

HOTELS

Special arrangements for discount lodging has been made at the following hotels:

ALO Hotel by Ayres
- Complimentary buffet breakfast, parking, internet access, and coffee service
- Complimentary shuttle service within 5 mile radius, including CHOC hospital, which must be booked in advance
- Preferred discount Super Shuttle rates from John Wayne Airport and LAX
- See flyer from interview invitation for further details
Ayres Hotel in Orange
- Complimentary buffet breakfast, parking, and internet access.
- Complimentary shuttle service to CHOC hospital, which must be booked a day in advance
- See flyer from interview invitation for further details

Please ask for the CHOC Hospital preferred discount rate.

LOCAL EATS / ATTRACTIONS »

There are many places to explore in the surrounding area while you're in town. Here's a list of local eats and attractions recommended by our residents:

FOURTH STREET MARKET | Santa Ana, CA
- Modern place featuring various upscale food stalls, plus a patio with picnic & Ping-Pong tables
ANAHEIM PACKING DISTRICT | Anaheim, CA
- Upscale food court with local vendors & bars in a renovated, historic 1919 citrus-packing house
ORANGE CIRCLE | Orange, CA
- Shopping and food plaza with fun collection of brunch, dinner and bar options
BRODARD'S | Garden Grove, CA
- Modern Vietnamese cuisine with Asian-fusion touches & specialty cocktails served in a sleek space. Must eats: nem nuong
BANH MI CHE CALI BAKERY | Westminster, CA
- So cheap. So delicious
MO RAN GAK RESTAURANT | Garden Grove, CA
- Call ahead of time, but so worth it for traditional Korean barbecued meats served at tables with built-in grills
ANEPALCO | Orange, CA
- New modern Mexican restaurant with craft cocktails, Mexican wines and exquisite cuisine
BLUE BOWL | Orange, CA
- Acai bowls with fresh fruits and wholesome ingredients to revitalize you on a hot California day
MEAD'S GREEN DOOR | Orange, CA
- Vibrant veggie cafe & coffeehouse prepping breakfast, sweets & sandwiches in a bright, arty space
DOWNTOWN DISNEY | Anaheim, CA
- Shops and dining right next door to Disneyland. Get your Disney fix without worrying about admission pricing

WHY I CHOSE UC IRVINE/CHOC »

The interview process can be confusing with multiple factors to consider while developing a rank list. Here are some reasons why our residents chose UC Irvine/CHOC as their training institution, highlighting the unique nature of our program.

	PRIYA CHELLIAH Hometown: Dallas, TX Undergraduate Studies: UT Dallas Medical School: UT Southwestern Hobbies: Hiking, collecting too many houseplants, hanging out with my (son) dog, dinosaur nugget connoisseur, and trap beats aficionado. Why I Chose UC Irvine/CHOC: I got great vibes on interview day. I learn by doing so I knew a high volume center was the right choice for me. And I get to be 20 minutes from the beach!
	LUIS DELGADO Hometown: Corona, CA Undergraduate Studies: University of California, Riverside Medical School: University of California, Riverside Hobbies: Rock and metal enthusiast, soccer, foodie, PC gamer, reading science fiction, building LEGOs Why I Chose UC Irvine/CHOC: I wanted to attend a program with a high inpatient census and acuity, as well as be able to work highly experienced specialists. I’m originally from the Inland Empire, and wanted to go to a program that was close to family.
	BRENNA MOORE Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA Undergraduate Studies: Brigham Young University Medical School: George Washington University Hobbies: Cross-stitching and thrifting Why I Chose UC Irvine/CHOC: CHOC has the close-knit feel of a smaller program, but the learning opportunities of a large academic center. It’s the best of both worlds!
	SEAN NAFICY Hometown: San Diego, CA Undergraduate Studies: Emory-UCSD Medical School: CUSM (California University of Science and Medicine) Hobbies: Honestly I have way too many: soccer, playing guitar/piano, volleyball, rock climbing, skiing, diving, surfing, video games, hiking, pickle ball, baking. Still probably not as many as Rei tho lol Why I Chose UC Irvine/CHOC: CHOC became my clear number 1 choice after I did a Sub-I here. While I was super overwhelmed by my first inpatient pediatric experience, every attending and resident I worked with was wonderful and made me feel at home. Not to mention the hospital is cute as hell and literally has dog employees roaming the halls. Side note, ordering video games for your patient is the best feeling in the world.