The Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Santa Cruz, California, was established in 2022 to address health equity in our local and global communities. This 8-8-8 program is unopposed, serving the Central Coast of California. As part of Dignity Health, we are a member of CommonSpirit Health's national network of more than 2,200 care sites across 24 states. That broad perspective supports our local commitment to community-based training, health equity and compassionate care.
Primary training sites include Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz Community Health Center, Watsonville Community Hospital, and Salud Para La Gente, serving a diverse, underserved, and vulnerable patient population, including a predominately Latinx farmworker community. These sites offer deep learning experiences that rival those found at large teaching hospitals.
Our mission is to train family physicians to provide excellent patient-centered, whole-person care for all individuals and communities we serve, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to practice full-spectrum family medicine and promote health equity.
The More in Common Alliance is a partnership between CommonSpirit Health and Morehouse School of Medicine designed to expand graduate medical education opportunities, strengthen and diversify the physician workforce and improve access to care in communities that have historically experienced health disparities.
At Dominican Hospital, the alliance combines local clinical training and community-based experience with the academic resources of Morehouse School of Medicine and the broader network of CommonSpirit Health. Together, the organizations share a commitment to health equity, culturally responsive care and preparing physicians to serve communities with significant health care needs.
Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the Morehouse School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz. As a member of our resident class, you will be instrumental in shaping the culture of our program while benefiting from a rigorous curriculum designed to fully prepare you for a career in medicine.
Our program is a collaboration with Santa Cruz Community Health Center, Salud Para La Gente, and other partners, providing a strong medical training environment in the county's only residency. Our mission, the vibrant medical community, and the profound need for newly trained family physicians inspired me to join this program. We are a community-based program, sponsored by the Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health, partnered to ensure health for every person through a culturally competent workforce.
Our quest is to dismantle structural oppression by promoting medical education transformation and health equity for all. This is accomplished by providing comprehensive training for full-scope, culturally competent family medicine, supporting residents' professional goals, and equipping them with leadership skills to improve health among underserved communities. The CommonSpirit values of compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration are foundational to our curriculum and partnerships.
It is in this spirit of humble leadership and appreciation that I welcome you to our program.
Gary Zane, DO
Program Director
Welcome from the Designated Institutional Official (DIO)
Welcome to the Morehouse School of Medicine-sponsored Family Medicine Residency Program at Dominican Hospital. We are proud to partner with Dominican Hospital and CommonSpirit Health through the More in Common Alliance to prepare the next generation of physicians while advancing health equity and expanding access to care.
At Morehouse School of Medicine, we are committed to providing a supportive learning environment where residents receive the mentorship, resources and clinical experiences needed to grow as compassionate, skilled physicians. We believe that patient safety, quality care and resident well-being are essential to developing future leaders who will make a lasting impact on the communities they serve.
Chinedu Ivonye, MD, FACP
Professor of Medicine
Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education
ACGME Designated Institutional Official (DIO)
Morehouse School of Medicine
Our Family Medicine program is designed to graduate physicians capable of practicing full-spectrum family medicine globally. Our curriculum robustly integrates Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP), and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) across all clinical learning experiences and didactic sessions.
Foundational training includes rotations in inpatient medicine, community and clinical integration workshops, obstetrics, inpatient pediatrics, ambulatory pediatrics, general surgery, POCUS and procedures, community medicine and behavioral health, geriatrics, palliative care and hospice, leadership and practice management, orthopedics/sports medicine, and acute rehabilitation unit/physiatry.
Expanded clinical responsibility involves inpatient medicine, ICU, obstetrics, inpatient pediatrics, ambulatory pediatrics, gynecology, emergency medicine, community medicine and behavioral health, leadership and practice management, orthopedics/sports medicine, and elective/selective rotations.
Independent practice preparation includes inpatient medicine, medical subspecialties, surgical subspecialties, emergency medicine, night float, community medicine and behavioral health, leadership and practice management, and extensive elective/selective rotations.
Ambulatory Care Track
This track focuses on advanced training and experience in outpatient primary care settings.
Includes comprehensive training in reproductive health, consistent with RHEDI certification, and advanced maternity care.
Designed for residents interested in inpatient medicine and hospital-based care.
Provides specialized training and experience in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
Focuses on addressing health disparities and providing care in underserved and marginalized communities.
This track supports residents in pursuing national certification in Integrative and Functional Medicine, integrating its principles into patient care.
Prepares residents for leadership roles and advocacy efforts in healthcare.
Offers opportunities for experience in global health initiatives and practices.
The program has received ACGME designation for Osteopathic Recognition, demonstrating a commitment to teaching and assessing Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) across all six ACGME Core Competencies.
Protected monthly didactic time is a core component of our curriculum, with robust hands-on Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) didactics. Protected wellness time is incorporated into didactics almost weekly, and Personal & Professional Development (P&PD) sessions are facilitated by trained faculty to foster support and community.
Residents currently have no call outside of their scheduled rotations. PGY-2 and PGY-3 rotations include one week of night float per quarter, designed with ample time for rest and self-care. The program has eliminated "Jeopardy Call" to ensure resident well-being and uninterrupted learning.
Our program features a robust Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) program, with each resident having their own POCUS probe for use across all clinical settings. We are Reproductive Health Education in Family Medicine (RHEDI) Certified, providing residents with tools and procedural skills for reproductive justice. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) techniques are practiced daily in continuity clinic and a dedicated weekly OMT clinic.
The curriculum incorporates Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) into resident scholarly and quality improvement projects, as well as journal club activities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Elective and selective rotations are available, particularly in the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years, designed to support individualized learning plans and preparation for various career paths.
Santa Cruz County offers urban, suburban, and rural communities for training.
Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz Community Health Center
Santa Cruz, California
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, California
Salud Para La Gente
Watsonville, California
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Santa Cruz, California
Dignity Health Medical Foundation/Santa Cruz Medical Group
Santa Cruz, California
Residents are eligible for benefits beginning on their first day of hire.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, annual resident salaries are:
PGY-1: $84,109.00
PGY-2: $86,908.00
PGY-3: $89,821.00
Chief resident: $91,621.00
Medical plan premiums paid in full for residents; low-cost coverage for enrolled dependents
Dental and vision insurance premiums paid in full for residents and enrolled dependents
Life and AD&D insurance (1x annual salary)
Long-term disability insurance
Optional spousal and dependent life insurance
Professional liability insurance
Four weeks of paid vacation and holiday leave
Paid medical, parental and caregiver leave
Additional education and program-specific benefits, where available
403(b) retirement plan with employer match through Fidelity (eligibility requirements apply)
Additional benefits vary by sponsoring institution and residency program
Santa Cruz County, comprising urban, suburban, and rural communities, is frequently recognized among the "Best Places to Live." Nestled among stunning beaches, majestic mountains, and ancient redwoods, this extraordinary place offers natural beauty alongside a vibrant, cosmopolitan culture just 30 miles from Silicon Valley. The South County, particularly Watsonville, is predominately Latinx with a large farmworker population, providing valuable training in bilingual and bicultural competence, supported by our Spanish proficiency program for residents.
Application Process
Our Residency Program accepts applications through ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application Service, until December 15, 2025. Applications are reviewed after receipt of the ERAS Application, which should include a personal statement detailing desire to work with underserved communities, interest in full-spectrum training, level or desire of Spanish proficiency, and future practice plans. Also required are three or more letters of recommendation, medical school transcript, USMLE/COMLEX scores, and MSPE.
Interview Season Information
Interviews take place from mid-October through mid-January. Selected applicants will be contacted by email via Thalamus. We offer both in-person and virtual/remote interviews.
International Medical Graduates
Applicants must meet one of the following medical school graduation qualifications: graduate of a medical school in the United States or Canada accredited by the LCME, graduate of a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the AOA, or graduate of a medical school outside the United States or Canada with a current valid ECFMG certificate or a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction. We are not able to accept applicants with J1 Visas.
Medical Student Clerkships
We offer inpatient/outpatient family medicine rotations for fourth-year medical students. This sub-internship elective is designed to prepare medical students for residency, typically as a four-week block, with options for shorter durations. Students work with experienced physicians in ambulatory and inpatient settings, gaining hands-on experience. Rotations can be customized to individual interests, including inpatient medicine at Dominican Hospital, ambulatory community medicine at Santa Cruz Community Health Center (FQHC), and faculty-run private practices. Opportunities are also available to rotate through geriatrics, palliative care, and various outpatient clinics. Scholarships for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students are available. For information, email Layla Franks, UME Program Administrator.
Role: Program Director
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Crozer-Keystone
Clinical/academic interests: Teaching, patient care, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, inpatient medicine, community medicine, musculoskeletal medicine, mind-body connection
Role: Associate Program Director, Director of Osteopathic Education, Family Medicine OB Physician (FMOB)
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Fellowship: Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship
Clinical/academic interests: Full spectrum Family Medicine, obstetrics, inpatient medicine, POCUS, critical care medicine, Osteopathy for the Underserved, global health, social justice
Role: Associate Program Director, Academic Medical Director, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Santa Cruz Community Health
Medical school: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Clinical/academic interests: Reproductive justice, equitable access to healthcare, RHEDI, full-spectrum outpatient medicine, procedures, comprehensive reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, addiction medicine, POCUS, leadership, practice management, outpatient pediatrics, clinic first
Role: Core Faculty, Curriculum Chair, South County Director, Family Medicine Physician (FMOB)
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical school: Mayo Medical School
Residency: Ventura Family Medicine Residency
Fellowship: Maternal Child Health
Clinical/academic interests: Family Centered Pediatrics & OB/Gyn longitudinal curriculum, maternal child health, FQHC, OB-Peds rotations
Role: Core Faculty, Director of Behavioral Health, Director of Resident Wellness, Psychiatrist
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical school: Vanderbilt
Residency: UCLA Board certification: Psychiatry
Clinical/academic interests: Psychiatry, psychotherapy, community medicine, behavioral health, psychodynamic psychotherapy, CBT, OCD and anxiety management, sports psychiatry, ADHD treatment
Role: Core Faculty, Chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Obstetrics and Gynecology
Program/affiliation: Salud Para La Gente
Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago
Residency: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Obstetrics and Gynecology
Board certification: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clinical/academic interests: Maternal and reproductive health, Latinx community, systemic inequities, Latinx immigrant women, agricultural field workers, young mothers, family- and community-centered approach to caring for pregnant people, strengthening and diversifying healthcare workforce
Role: Director of Integrative and Functional Medicine, Director of Faculty Wellness, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical school: UC Davis School of Medicine
Residency: San Bernardino County Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
Board certification: Family Medicine, Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture
Clinical/academic interests: Integrative and Functional Medicine, community service, Direct Patient Care, full spectrum family medicine, farmworker rights, leadership, practice management, hospitalist, home care, physician well-being and resilience
Role: Core Inpatient Faculty, Co-Director of Inpatient Adult Medicine
Program/affiliation: Santa Cruz Medical Group in Dominican Hospital
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: East Tennessee State University-Quillen College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency
Board certification: Internal Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Inpatient adult medicine, hospitalist program, quality improvement
Role: Core Inpatient Faculty, Co-Director of Inpatient Adult Medicine
Program/affiliation: Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Medical school: Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University
Residency: University of Pennsylvania Internal Medicine Residency
Board certification: Internal Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Hospitalist medicine, quality improvement
Role: Co-Chair Community Advisory Council
Program/affiliation: Santa Cruz Community Health
Medical school: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM)
Residency: Harbor-UCLA Family Medicine Residency
Board certification: Family Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Healthcare advocacy, community medicine, underserved communities, ambulatory clinical care, practice management, population health, leadership in health care, chronic disease management, pain management, addiction treatment, mental health
Role: Director of Community Medicine, Co-Chair Community Advisory Council
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Education: MPH in Public Health, BA in Integrative Biology, both at UC Berkeley
Clinical/academic interests: Community medicine, health education, community development, syringe exchange services, street medicine, care for marginalized groups
Role: Director of Surgery, Leadership, and Health Systems Management
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital General Surgery Residency
Board certification: General Surgery
Clinical/academic interests: Surgery rotations, leadership curriculum, health systems management
Role: Director of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency
Board certification: Orthopedic Surgery
Clinical/academic interests: Orthopedics, sports medicine
Role: Director of Geriatrics, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency
Board certification: Family Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Geriatrics, SNF physician, medical director
Role: Co-Director of Community Medicine Curriculum, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency
Clinical/academic interests: Community medicine, inspiring resident development
Role: Director of Palliative Care and Hospice, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Residency: St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado
Board certification: Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Palliative care, hospice, primary care, urgent care
Role: Director of Medical Aesthetics Training, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: University of California San Francisco
Medical school: Cambridge University, Harvard Medical School Residency: Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency
Board certification: Family Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Medical aesthetics training, dermatologic and aesthetic skin conditions, primary care procedures, medical student education, tattoo removal, skin care outreach, underserved communities
Role: Director of Pain Management, Family Medicine Physician
Program/affiliation: Santa Cruz Community Health
Medical school: UC Irvine School of Medicine
Residency: UC Davis family medicine residency
Fellowship: University of Iowa anesthesia pain management fellowship
Board certification: Pain Management, Family Medicine
Clinical/academic interests: Pain management, positive emotions and health, meditation
Role: Graduate Medical Education Manager
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Education: BA in Psychology, Master of Public Health from the University of Washington
Clinical/academic interests: Accreditation, compliance, strategic planning, equitable systems, scholarly activity, collaborative learning environment
Role: Undergraduate Medical Education Program Administrator
Program/affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Education: Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley
Clinical/academic interests: Medical research, leadership, organizational and time-management skills
Medical school: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Bay Area, CA
Professional interests: Substance use, addiction, OMM, advocacy, research, medical education, healthcare access and equity, underserved
Personal interests: Reading, crafting, Pilates, spending time with loved ones
Medical school: University of Novi Sad Faculty of Medicine
Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
Professional interests: Maternity care, emergent medicine, office procedures, community medicine, integrative medicine
Personal interests: Horses, yoga, hiking, travel, writing
Medical school: Western University of Health Sciences- COMP Northwest
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Professional interests: Addiction Medicine, Mental Health, OMM, advocacy, underserved communities
Personal interests: Surfing, fishing, working on classic cars
Medical school: St. George’s University
Hometown: Hawaii
Professional interests: Functional & Integrative Medicine, biopsychosocial model of healthcare, global medicine
Personal interests: Neuroplasticity, manifestation, self-development, spirituality, headstands, cooking spicy food
Medical school: University of the Incarnate Word
Hometown: Northern California
Professional interests: Medical and cosmetic dermatology, preventive and lifestyle medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), patient-centered care, health equity
Personal interests: Laughing with family and friends, exercise, sushi, beach volleyball
Medical school: Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina Guadalajara
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Professional interests: Pediatrics, adolescent medicine, hospitalist/inpatient medicine, community outreach, healthcare for the underserved
Personal interests: Building gundam model kits, San Diego Padres baseball, spending time with family
Medical school: Universidad de Autónoma de Guadalajara, School of Medicine
Hometown: Roseville, CA
Professional interests: Underserved communities, culturally competent and empathetic care, mentoring underrepresented students
Personal interests: Cooking Mexican cuisine, outdoor activities, photography, exploring Latin American cultures
Medical school: Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences
Hometown: Himalayan foothills, India
Professional interests: Holistic medicine, women’s health, elderly, underserved, marginalized population, prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, research
Personal interests: Spending time with son and dog, biking, swimming, camping, watching movies
Class of 2028
Medical school: Tulane University School of Medicine
Professional interests: Family medicine, prenatal & women's care, global health, underserved, rural communities
Personal interests: SCUBA diving, trekking, surfing
Medical school: California University of Science and Medicine - School of Medicine
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Professional interests: Underserved communities, building connections, community services
Personal interests: Surfing, Santa Cruz scenery
Medical school: University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Hometown: Healdsburg, CA
Professional interests: Wilderness and rural medicine, preventive care, OB/GYN, POCUS, Latine health, healthcare advocacy, health disparities, social justice
Personal interests: Spending time outdoors with husband and sons, hiking, camping, walking by ocean, chasing sunsets, mountain biking, surfing
Medical school: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Professional interests: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Mental Health, LGBTQ+ Health, Community Health, health equity, serving local communities
Personal interests: Long walks to the beach with wife, hiking, reading, outrigger canoe, baking, surfing
Medical school: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Professional interests: Medical device innovation, neuroprosthetics, neuroscience & the sensory system, health equity, care for underserved communities
Personal interests: Visual/performance arts, baking, combat sports
Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Fremont, California
Professional interests: Accessible healthcare, older immigrant population
Personal interests: Horseback riding, hiking, cooking, fishing, traveling, houseplant and fishkeeping, playing video games
Medical school: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Hometown: Selma, CA
Professional interests: Osteopathic medicine, community medicine, mentorship, advocating for the underserved, vulnerable and marginalized populations
Personal interests: Exploring local coffee shops, playing soccer, hiking/camping, watching stand-up, attending local NHL and MLS matches
Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
Professional interests: Integrative medicine, women's health, underserved communities, acute trauma, procedural care, primary care
Personal interests: Cooking with husband, hiking, playing with two cats, riding and jumping horses, surfing, learning Latin dance
Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz Family Medicine Residency
1555 Soquel Drive
Santa Cruz, California 95065
Phone: 831-462-7296
Email: cindy.au900@commonspirit.org
Secondary Contact (Program Director)
Gary Zane, DO
gary.zane@commonspirit.org
Secondary Contact (Medical Student Rotations)
Layla Franks
UME Program Administrator
layla.franks@commonspirit.org
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