Hi, I'm at UCSD - and having worked at both, I can tell you that they are very different hospitals.
Scripps-Mercy is located close to downtown San Diego and serves a patient population very similar to that of UCSD (Spanish really helps!). The categorical medicine residents work alongside transitional medicine residents in the PGY-1 year. Also, one of the ward months is done at UCSD (four blocks down the street). The faculty is excellent and the teaching is wonderful. I would disagree that the residents aren't "cohesive" - in fact, I would state just the opposite. The residents do work hard but overall appear quite happy. In general, the program does a good job of alternating ward/outpatient months and gives you ample time for electives. Excellent board passage rate and I've seen quite a few people match to some nice fellowships.
Scripps-Green is located in La Jolla and as a result has a very different patient population than Scripps-Mercy (as was mentioned before). Very nice hospital; teaching on par with Mercy. I feel like you get a better look at specialties here; note that you do some rotations through the Naval Medical Center. It may be right next to the beach, but unfortunately you don't get to visit it that much. Also, by reputation, residents who graduate this program also match to many fellowships.
Hope that helps... 🙂
