August 11, 2025
Investing in the future of health care
Kaiser Permanente is actively partnering to expand the physician career pipeline and support the next generation of medical professionals.
Kaiser Permanente leaders and attending physicians in Kern County welcomed incoming internal medicine residents during orientation, marking the beginning of their journey.
In a transformative step toward expanding access to quality care in medically underserved areas, Kaiser Permanente is investing $2.5 million to support the launch of a new graduate medical education program in Kern County through the More in Common Alliance, a partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health.
The program not only addresses the physician shortage impacting California’s Central Valley but also strengthens equitable health care career pathways. Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is a site where Kaiser Permanente members receive care in various outpatient specialties. Training residents in these communities builds a pipeline of physicians with deep local and cultural understanding, which is essential for improving health outcomes and sustaining care excellence.
Kaiser Permanente’s participation in the More in Common Alliance residency program provides internal medicine residents with a unique opportunity to enhance their clinical training. While much of their residency focuses on inpatient care, Kaiser Permanente will provide exposure to an integrated outpatient model.
During their 4-week rotation, first-year residents rotate through various specialties, including obesity medicine, neurology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, and oncology. They also receive hands-on training in Epic, the electronic medical record system, providing residents with real-time access to lab results, imaging, and comprehensive care histories across various specialties. This integration enables a deeper understanding of coordinated, high-quality care and prepares residents to meet the evolving needs of modern health care delivery.
"I must express our gratitude to Kaiser Permanente for their transformative $2.5 million investment in the residency training program at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital,” said Veronica Mallett, MD, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of More in Common Alliance. This generous grant affirms a shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality medical education and ultimately patient care in Kern County and the Central Valley. “We are proud to partner with Kaiser Permanente on this vital investment shaping the future of health care for generations."
... we are shaping a healthier tomorrow by training the next generation of physicians locally, rooted in our proven approach to value-based care. Marvin Campos, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente in Kern County
The program welcomed its first group of residents with an orientation on June 25, 2025, connecting them with their attending physicians and administrative leaders. Kaiser Permanente in Kern County will serve as a key clinical training site, allowing residents to learn from and work alongside highly qualified physicians across a range of specialties
The new GME initiative is a testament to Kaiser Permanente’s dedication to supporting innovative partnerships that prioritize community health.
“At Kaiser Permanente, we know that truly serving our communities requires more than resources. It demands a shared commitment to people, education, and sustainable systems,” said Marvin Campos, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente in Kern County. “This partnership reflects our commitment to Kern County’s future. In collaboration with community leaders, we are shaping a healthier tomorrow by training the next generation of physicians locally, rooted in our proven approach to value-based care.”
With this investment, Kaiser Permanente and its partners are planting the seeds for a stronger, more equitable future — one class of physicians at a time.
