June 22, 2021 10:30 a.m.

Aviva Health has welcomed the second cohort of eight doctors to its residency program.

An Aviva release said that increases the total number of doctors in the program to sixteen. Mark Tsuchiya of Aviva said the program is a partnership with CHI Mercy Medical Center and aims to train and retain doctors to practice in rural areas of Oregon.

The release said according to a study published by the journal Family Medicine, more than half of family medicine physicians, practice within 100 miles of their residency program. Douglas County is an area recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a health provider shortage area.

Tsuchiya said last year the program welcomed its inaugural class of eight resident physicians. They care for patients on a regular basis at Aviva Health, CHI Mercy Health and at the Roseburg VA Health Care System. During their clinical rotations, the residents also work alongside providers in several other health care facilities as well. Tsuchiya said as they move into year two of the program, the residents will add an addiction medicine rotation at Adapt, an orthopedic rotation at CMG Orthopedics, and a sports medicine rotation at Umpqua Orthopedics to their schedules.

The release said next year the residency will be at full capacity when it adds another eight family medicine doctors to the program. From that point forward, the program will operate with 24 physicians rotating from training location to training location. Tsuchiya said the arrival of next year’s cohorts should time perfectly with the opening of Aviva Health’s new medical clinic, a 31,000 square foot building that will provide an additional 34 exam rooms, conference space and more.

For more information about the Roseburg Family Medicine Residency Program go to: www.aviva.health