Information for Resident and Fellowship Program Applicants

We participate with many other programs in sending coordinated interview invitations to help residency and fellowship applicants organize their schedules and reduce the need for rescheduling. We release our interviews according to the published timeline.

Deadline to Submit Applications

Applicants must use the Electronic Residency Application Service^® (ERAS^®) to apply for our programs. This is a centralized online application service hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

ERAS® Application Deadline

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

Interview Dates

• Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
• Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026

Due to COVID-19, our expectations for applicants have shifted this year. In previous years, many applicants completed dermatology rotations at multiple external institutions, providing opportunities to work with a variety of attending dermatologists and to engage in research or publications. This year, however, these opportunities have been significantly limited by the pandemic.

External Dermatology Rotations

All external rotations at UC Davis Health have been cancelled for the year. In the interest of public health, we strongly discourage applicants from pursuing multiple outside rotations. Instead, we encourage you to use this time to gain experience in other areas of general medicine at your home institution. Once you begin dermatology residency, you will have ample opportunity to focus on dermatology. This is your final chance as a student to broaden your foundation in other areas of medicine.

Publications

We recognize that the absence of external rotations limits both the number and scope of publication opportunities available to students. Please be assured that this is thoughtfully taken into consideration during our application review process.

Letters of Recommendation

We understand that the restrictions on external rotations may also impact students’ ability to obtain letters of recommendation. While applicants have traditionally felt the need to secure multiple letters from dermatologists — especially from prominent faculty members or department chairs — this is not what we are looking for. The most valuable letters come from faculty who know you well and can speak in detail about your abilities, regardless of specialty. Strong recommendations from general medicine, surgery or other fields are equally meaningful. We have never required letters from specific individuals, and this year we anticipate that most applicants will have only one or two letters from dermatologists.

Meet and Greet Opportunities

We recognize that the absence of external rotations makes it challenging for prospective applicants to gain firsthand exposure to our program. To help address this, we offer virtual meet and greet opportunities with our faculty and current residents.

Virtual Interviews

All interviews are conducted online, including for local applicants. Interview dates are listed above and participation is by invitation only.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Selective Service requirement

In order to work at the VA, all male applicants are required to have registered for Selective Service. This must occur between the ages of 18 and 25. Since our program includes extensive rotations at the VA clinics, Selective Service registration is a requirement to be accepted into our program.  If you have not done so, please register before applying.  

Inclusive Excellence

UC Davis Health is deeply committed to recruiting and supporting the development of a physician workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our nation and world. We strive to cultivate clinicians who are fully prepared to care for all people, dedicated to reducing health disparities and driven by the pursuit of true health equity.

Visiting Elective Program Scholarship

Fourth-year medical students from other schools may choose to participate in an elective rotation at the UC Davis School of Medicine, especially if they are interested in matching into a UC Davis residency program. The Visiting Elective Program Scholarship provides support for fourth-year medical students who are underrepresented in medicine and/or from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It is designed for students whose personal journey to medicine reflects a dedication to health equity, whose experiences show meaningful engagement with underserved populations, and who are interested in practicing in Northern California, particularly in areas with physician shortages.