Developing a New Work Force for the Bay
Psychiatry Residency Program
Santa Cruz County boasts a great resource in Vanessa de la Cruz, Chief of Psychiatry for the County of Santa Cruz and HIP Council participant. Through her connections with Stanford University, Santa Cruz has been included in their residency rotations for their MD Psychiatry program. This residency program includes two days at Telecare, two days at the County’s Integrated Behavioral Clinic, and one day in Palo Alto.
While brand new, this residency program has had a successful start with the County’s first resident completing his time in November. This budding partnership between the County of Santa Cruz and Stanford University ensures that not only will new psychiatrists have a strong foundation through work experience, but that new and talented providers come to Santa Cruz and are exposed to Santa Cruz’s system of care. This program offers opportunities for new providers to practice and becomes a strong resource for Santa Cruz County workforce growth.
CSUMB Health Sciences and Human Services
Pivoting towards the idea of cultural health in health care, Cal State Monterey Bay’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services (CHSHS) has developed a simple strategic goal: to become a hub for workforce training in health. CHSHS is the fastest growing college with it’s MSW department as the 2nd largest masters degree at CSUMB. This growth will only continue, as it’s Masters of Science Physician Assistant program will launch its first class in January 2019. The MSPA program will be led by Christopher Forest, a professor with over 20 years of experience teaching PA students. Along with professor Forest, the MSPA programs faculty has over 20 years of teaching experience combined, from prestigious Universities such a Stanford and UCSF. The program is scheduled to host 5 student cohorts, lasting for 27 months and 7 semesters. To engage consideration of the community’s needs in the program development, an Advisory Council comprised of different organizations is being assembled.
