Aviva Health Launches Advanced Practice Provider Residency Program

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Aviva Health has launched its Rural Oregon Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Residency Program, a 13-month training program designed to support newly graduated family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and physician associates (PAs) as they transition into clinical practice in rural settings. Interviews are currently underway to select the first cohort of two residents, who will begin in early September. The program includes four days per week of direct clinical practice under the guidance of experienced providers, with a focus on managing health conditions common in rural communities. It includes specialty rotations in pediatrics, behavioral health, women's health, and dermatology, as well as dedicated time for classroom learning, small group sessions and clinical skills development. “Launching this residency program just makes sense. New providers get real-world experience with the support they need, and our patients get high-quality care from clinicians who are learning how to practice medicine the right way—in the places that need it most,” says KC Bolton, CEO of Aviva Health. Plus, if we do this well, maybe they’ll stick around and fall in love with Douglas County like the rest of us. We’re not just growing talent; we are planting seeds to build our community’s capacity.” Each resident will also participate in a team-based quality improvement project aligned with organizational goals, gaining experience in data-driven decision-making and population health management. The APP Residency Program builds on Aviva Health’s ongoing efforts to recruit, train, and retain healthcare providers in Douglas County. Since 2020, Aviva Health has operated the Roseburg Family Medicine Residency Program, which prepares physicians for rural primary care. The organization also continues to build academic partnerships with Umpqua Community College and other regional institutions to expand local training opportunities and strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline. For more information, visit https://aviva.health/appresidency/. PHOTO CAPTION: Aviva Health Family Nurse Practitioner Shannon Suhr, a member of the APP Residency Program faculty, consults with Medical Assistant Sara Cunningham after a patient visit at the organization's main Roseburg clinic. ABOUT AVIVA HEALTH Founded in 1991, Aviva Health is an independent, board-governed, not-for-profit organization that cares for the people of Douglas County by providing high-quality, patient-centered, accessible and affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care, regardless of their ability to pay. Aviva Health offers integrated services from nine clinic sites in Roseburg, Myrtle Creek, Sutherlin, Glide and North Douglas County (Drain), including a Teen Health Center located on the campus of Roseburg High School. In partnership with CHI Mercy Medical Center, Aviva Health also serves as the family medicine practice site for the Roseburg Family Medicine Residency Program. Via Aviva Health