Fairfield-based NorthBay Health is teaming up with Touro University California in Vallejo to train new doctors in Solano County. The two have signed a three-year academic affiliation that makes Touro the academic partner for NorthBay's residency programs, both organizations announced.
A first residency class in 2027
The deal comes as NorthBay prepares to launch its first residency program. According to Touro, the inaugural Internal Medicine Residency class begins in July 2027, with 10 physicians joining NorthBay for their training.
Residents are doctors who have finished medical school and are doing their hands-on specialty training. Hospitals often hope residents stay in the area after they finish, which is a big part of the pitch here.
"Our hope is that the investment we make today will have an impact for years to come," NorthBay president and CEO Mark Behl said in the announcement, adding that he wants to "inspire the next generation of physicians to build their careers here."
What each side gets
Under the agreement, NorthBay residents and faculty will get access to Touro's academic and research resources, including library tools, mentorship on scholarly work and faculty development. NorthBay doctors will also be able to seek academic appointments, and residents and faculty can take part in research, presentations and publications.
The partnership runs the other direction too. Touro students in medicine, physician assistant, public health and other programs will be able to pursue training at NorthBay, and the two will work together on regional workforce and community health projects, the Daily Republic reported.
Dr. Tami Hendriksz, Touro's campus provost and dean of its College of Osteopathic Medicine, described the goal as a full local pipeline: encouraging people from the community to go into health care, training them in Solano County, and then giving them the chance to "care for their neighbors right here at home."
Why it matters
Like much of California outside the big medical hubs, Solano County competes hard for physicians. Training doctors locally is one of the main tools hospitals use to fill those gaps, and this agreement gives NorthBay an academic partner in its own backyard as its first residents arrive.