Training Overview

UC-LEND is a 1-year, interdisciplinary training program that focuses on developing skills in leadership, education, policy work, and advocacy in neurodiversity. UC-LEND trainees come from various disciplines, professional backgrounds, and work experience, and are highly motivated, involved, and seeking to further their training in their respective fields. For information about the UC-LEND application cycle, please see the Admissions page.

Who can be a UC-LEND Trainee?

The UC-LEND Training program is open to and can be tailored for a variety of interested individuals. UC-LEND Trainees can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term, depending on UC-LEND-associated time.

Short-Term Trainees

UC-LEND Short-Term Trainees complete 0-40 hours of UC-LEND-associated training over one academic year. The UC-LEND program offers customizable short term training programs to a variety of groups, including residency programs, typically in the form of a short lecture series (3-4 lectures total) provided over an academic year by UC-LEND faculty and partners.

Medium-Term Trainees

UC-LEND Medium-Term Trainees complete between 40-299 hours of UC-LEND-associated training over one academic year. These trainees can include undergraduate students, graduate students, and working professionals who want to receive LEND training but do not have the time or flexibility to commit to the long-term training program. For more information, please contact uc-lend@mednet.ucla.edu.

Long-Term Trainees

UC-LEND long-term trainees are required to complete a minimum of 300 UC-LEND hours over one academic year and interact with the UC-LEND Training Cohort across a variety of interdisciplinary seminars and events. The UC-LEND Long-Term program is customized based on the type of long-term trainee, each with their own requirements as outlined below.


This training program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under training grant T73MC30114. Based on grant stipulations, in order to receive financial support under this program, a trainee must be a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national or other permanent resident of the United States.
 

The UC-LEND interdisciplinary Long-Term Training Program is a 300+ hour program. All trainees regardless of discipline must complete the following requirements:

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Monthly Learning Collaboratives: Some trainees are required, and all Trainees are invited to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

UC-LEND Clinic Observation: UC-LEND Trainees are required to shadow in the interdisciplinary UC-LEND Clinic at least once per academic quarter, for a total of 3 times per year. Trainees are welcome to participate in additional observation at the Training Programs Team’s discretion.

  • UC-LEND Clinic is held most Wednesdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom

Further requirements are outlined below for different UC-LEND Trainees.

Graduate students at the masters, doctorate, or professional level at UCLA or UC Riverside are eligible to be Graduate Student LEND Trainees. Graduate students are eligible for a stipend to support their LEND training during their graduate studies and have to meet the following requirements:

*Coursework: To fulfill the curriculum requirement, Graduate Students take the following 12 units of UC-LEND courses offered through the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

  • Fall – HPM 243: Population Health Approach to Autism (4 units)
  • Winter – HPM 449A: Child Health, Programs and Policy (4 units)
  • Spring – HPM 428: Leadership Seminar (4 units)

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Research Seminar: This one-hour virtual research seminar led by Dr. Emily Hotez exposes trainees to different facets of developing research projects.

  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday during Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarter

UC-LEND Clinic Observation: UC-LEND Trainees are required to shadow in the interdisciplinary UC-LEND Clinic at least once per academic quarter, for a total of 3 times per year. Trainees are welcome to participate in additional observation at the Training Programs Team’s discretion.

  • UC-LEND Clinic is held most Wednesdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom

Monthly Learning Collaboratives (optional): Graduate Trainees are invited to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

Mentorship: UC-LEND Trainees are required to attend quarterly mentorship meetings with an assigned faculty mentor. Mentorship meetings are scheduled by program staff at the start of each quarter.

In-person events: In order to further provide our trainees with interdisciplinary networking opportunities, the UC-LEND program hosts occasional in-person cohort building and professional development events for trainees.

*If graduate students have previously taken one or more of the UC-LEND required courses, that student will be required to supplement the course requirements with an elective course as approved by the UC-LEND Training Team.

Graduate students completing their Masters in Social Work at UCLA are eligible for the UC-LEND Social Work Internship. MSW Interns are eligible for a stipend to support their LEND training and clinical rotations, and have to meet the following requirements.

For more information about the UC-LEND MSW Internship, please contact abowen@mednet.ucla.edu. 
MSW Interns do not complete the UC-LEND Graduate Student Application.

*Coursework: To fulfill the curriculum requirement, Graduate Students take the following 12 units of UC-LEND courses offered through the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

  • Fall – HPM 243: Population Health Approach to Autism (4 units)
  • Winter – HPM 449A: Child Health, Programs and Policy (4 units)
  • Spring – HPM 428: Leadership Seminar (4 units)

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Research Seminar: This one-hour virtual research seminar led by Dr. Emily Hotez exposes trainees to different facets of developing research projects.

  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday during Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarter

Monthly Learning Collaboratives (optional): Social Work Interns are invited to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

UC-LEND Clinic: Social work trainees will obtain the clinical experience required for their program under the supervision of LEND Clinic Social Workers. More information can be obtained by the Social Work Team.

Mentorship: UC-LEND Trainees are required to attend quarterly mentorship meetings with an assigned faculty mentor. Mentorship meetings are scheduled by program staff at the start of each quarter.

In-person events: In order to further provide our trainees with interdisciplinary networking opportunities, the UC-LEND program hosts occasional in-person cohort building and professional development events for trainees.

*If graduate students have previously taken one or more of the UC-LEND required courses, that student will be required to supplement the course requirements with an elective course as approved by the UC-LEND Training Team.

Practitioner trainees are current and/or aspiring community members, healthcare practitioners, and advocates who are enthusiastic about learning and developing skills related to neurodiversity-affirming care. UC-LEND Practitioner Trainees come from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, psychiatry, and more!

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Monthly Learning Collaboratives (required): Practitioner trainees are required to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

UC-LEND Clinic Observation: UC-LEND Trainees are required to shadow in the interdisciplinary UC-LEND Clinic at least once per academic quarter, for a total of 3 times per year. Trainees are welcome to participate in additional observation at the Training Programs Team’s discretion.

  • UC-LEND Clinic is held most Wednesdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom

Asynchronous Curriculum: UC-LEND Practitioners complete an asynchronous curriculum that provides a clinical, research, and public health view at different sectors of health care that are affecting neurodivergent individuals.

Capstone: UC-LEND Practitioners will work together on a 100+ hour Capstone project. Trainees will meet monthly to discuss progress with LEND Faculty.

Physicians employed at UCLA interested in expanding their ability to provide neurodiversity.

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Monthly Learning Collaboratives (required): Physician trainees are required to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

Asynchronous Curriculum: UC-LEND Physicians complete an asynchronous curriculum that provides a clinical, research, and public health view at different sectors of health care that are affecting neurodivergent individuals.

UC-LEND Clinic: As UCLA Physicians, those in the LEND Training program will train alongside UC-LEND Clinic providers and will receive blocked clinical time for UC-LEND Clinic activities.

The UC-LEND program serves as a preceptor site for the UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Postgraduate Certificate Program. As part of this 500-hour program, Nurse Practitioners complete the following LEND Training requirements.

Clinical Seminar: This one-hour virtual weekly seminar led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the LEND clinic model and the components of case presentations as well as hear from guest speakers on a variety of clinical considerations.

  • 2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific Time) every Monday via Zoom

Monthly Learning Collaboratives (required): Physician trainees are required to attend the UC- LEND Open Learning Collaborative for individuals wanting to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to discuss topics and cases related to neurodevelopmental disabilities on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM.

Asynchronous Curriculum: UC-LEND PMHPs complete an asynchronous curriculum that provides a clinical, research, and public health view at different sectors of health care that are affecting neurodivergent individuals.

UC-LEND Clinic: As a part of their clinical rotation, PMHNP trainees will rotate in the UC-LEND Clinic and work alongside UC-LEND PMHNPs to develop and apply scientific knowledge to clinical practice, including diagnosis, clinical decision making, direct care and medical management of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.