UC-LEND is an interdisciplinary training program that focuses on developing skills in leadership, education, policy work, and advocacy in neurodiversity. Our trainees come from various disciplines, professional backgrounds, and work experience. We encourage all of those who are interested in neurodiversity to apply to our program, you do not need to have previous experience with this population to apply. Our trainees are highly motivated, involved, and seeking to further their training in their respective field.

Requirements Practitioner Track Graduate Student Long-Term Track Physician Track
Hours of Training 300+ 300+ 300+
Completion of three LEND courses X - completed asynchronously X - must be enrolled X - completed asynchronously
Weekly Clinical Seminar X - virtual
Weekly Research Seminar X - virtual
Capstone Group Project X X
Faculty Mentorship X X X
Monthly Check-ins X X
UC-LEND Clinic Observation X X X

Graduate Student Long Term Trainees (GS-LTT) are currently enrolled students at UCLA or UC Riverside who are looking to increase their knowledge on the public health approach to neurodevelopmental disabilities. GS-LTTs are required to enroll in a LEND curriculum course each quarter, complete both clinical and research training, and receive quarterly 1:1 mentorship from LEND faculty. The selection process for incoming long-term trainees is competitive. The applicant’s discipline, interest in the population being served, letters of recommendation, and interview will be taken into consideration. Completion of 300+ hours of training is required, which will occur as trainees complete the following program requirements: 

COURSEWORK (scheduled on Fridays from 9am-12pm)

Fall
HPM 243: Population Health Approach to Autism (4 units) 


Winter
HPM 449A: Child Health, Programs, and Policies (4 units) 


Spring
HPM 428: Leadership Seminar (2 units)


CLINICAL TRAINING (tentatively scheduled Mondays 2-3pm PST)

Fall
Weekly Clinical Seminar with LEND faculty

Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm) ​​​​


Winter
Attend 5 Clinical Seminars total during weeks 1-9  

Lead a case presentation during Clinical Seminar (winter or spring)

Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm)   


Spring
Attend 5 Clinical Seminars total during weeks 1-9  

Lead a case presentation during Clinical Seminar (winter or spring)

Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm)   


 

RESEARCH TRAINING (tentatively scheduled Mondays 3-4pm PST)

Fall
Weekly Capstone Research Seminar with LEND faculty 


Winter
Quarterly in-person social event and Capstone Project updates with LEND faculty 

Research mentorship from Capstone Project Faculty Mentors

​​​​Dedicated group meeting time for Capstone Project tasks 


Spring
Quarterly in-person social event and Capstone Project updates with LEND faculty 
​​​​​​
Research mentorship from Capstone Project Faculty Mentors

​​​​Dedicated group meeting time for Capstone Project tasks 

Final Capstone Project presentation to LEND faculty and fellow trainees 



Overall Time Requirement: 4-5 hours of weekly didactics and up to 3 hours of quarterly clinical observation. 

 

Medium Term Trainees have a variety of career backgrounds and are not required to be enrolled at UCLA or UCR. Medium-term trainees complete 40-299 hours of training, which occurs as trainees audit courses and participate in the Clinical Seminar.  

  • Attendance at Clinical Seminars is not required, but highly encouraged.   
  • Trainees can enroll or audit one of the three courses offered on Fridays from 9am-12pm:

Fall
HPM 243: Population Health Approach to Autism (4 units) 


Winter
HPM 449A: Child Health, Programs, and Policies (4 units) 


Spring
HPM 428: Leadership Seminar (2 units) 


Practitioner Track Trainees, also considered Long-Term Trainees, are current working professionals who are seeking to further develop their skills in their respective disciplines and gain additional knowledge on neurodiversity. Completion of 300+ hours of training is required, which is accomplished as trainees complete the following program requirements:

  • ONLINE CURRICULUM covering neurodevelopmental disabilities from a neurodiversity lens  
    • Complete at your own speed over the course of the year 
      • Lectures included from courses taught by LEND faculty, including a Population Health Approach to Autism; Child Health, Programs, and Policies; and Leadership Seminar  
  • CLINICAL TRAINING (tentatively scheduled Mondays 2-3pm PST)

 

Fall
Weekly Clinical Seminar with LEND faculty (End of September through early December)

Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm)


Winter 
​​​​​Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm)
​​​


Spring
Observation of LEND Clinic three times during training year (LEND Clinic occurs bi-weekly Wednesdays 9am-12pm)
​​​


  • CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT
    • Group project utilizing expertise from each represented discipline  
    • Legacy project continuing from previous cohorts to provide digestible resources for UC-LEND clinic patients and their families
  • MONTHLY CHECK-INS with fellow trainees and LEND leadership
    • Scheduled based on trainee availability 

Overall Time Requirement: 1 hour monthly check-in, 1 hour of weekly clinical seminar during fall quarter, and 3 hours of quarterly clinical observation. 

The UC-LEND Physician Track was created for current physicians who are interested in furthering their understanding of best practices when serving neurodivergent patients and their families. The training content is neurodiversity and patient-centered and urges physicians to become LEND Champions in their own practices to improve care for autistic and neurodivergent patients.

Physician-level trainees complete 300+ hours of training over a six-month period with the understanding that they will continue as a UC-LEND Physician after training period. These training hours are broken down as follows:

  • Online, asynchronous curriculum about neurodevelopmental disabilities from a neurodiversity lens
    • Clinical training about the LEND Clinic Model of Care to be completed during the first month of training to improve trainee understanding of clinic processes
  • Clinical observation, practice, and supervision
    • Complete weekly LEND Clinic observations in the virtual UC-LEND Clinic – Wednesdays from 9am-12pm
      • Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support UC-LEND patients
    • Complete clinical rotation 2x/week in-person at Santa Monica and Redondo Beach clinics – Mondays and Fridays from 9am-12pm
    • Clinical supervision under the direction of Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, MBA

The UC-LEND Track for Nurse Practitioners was created as a joint program for UCLA and UCSF post-grad NP’s who are interested in furthering their understanding of best practices when serving neurodivergent patients and their families. The training content is neurodiversity and patient-centered and urges NP's to become LEND Champions in their own practices to improve care for autistic and neurodivergent patients.

NP-level trainees complete 150+ hours of training over a six-month period. These training hours are broken down as follows:

  • Online, asynchronous curriculum about neurodevelopmental disabilities from a neurodiversity lens
    • Clinical training about the LEND Clinic Model of Care to be completed during the first month of training to improve trainee understanding of clinic processes
  • Clinical observation, practice, and supervision
    • Complete weekly LEND Clinic observations in the virtual UC-LEND Clinic – Wednesdays from 9am-12pm
      • Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support UC-LEND patients
    • Clinical supervision under the direction of Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, MBA