Residents Help Fill a Need

Residency Program Expands Care

From left to right: Residents Micah Chong, M.D., Phoenix Underwood, M.D., Myly Le, D.O., and Olivia Owlett, D.O., stand with Natalie Ladine, M.D. The four new doctors are the first residents to join the Family Medicine Residency Program in Chico.

Enloe Health, in partnership with Healthy Rural California, a nonprofit organization focused on eliminating health disparities in the North State, brought the Family Medicine Residency Program to life.

Natalie Ladine, M.D., the Program Director, said the effort is a collaboration between Enloe, Healthy Rural California and other community partners who have stepped up to train the new doctors. Residents see patients in all areas of Enloe Health Enloe Medical Center, the Enloe Health & Wellness Family Medicine Residency Clinic, and at partner clinic sites.

“We really appreciate the input from all of our community partners,” said Dr. Ladine, a hospitalist at Enloe Health. “Not only are our residents receiving excellent training from them, but they are also learning about the resources available in our community at the same time.”

Sean Maiorano, D.O., Enloe Health’s Chief Medical Officer, added that the greatest health care need in the area is primary care, which falls under family medicine, making the program an excellent fit for both Enloe and the community.

The program marks a new era for Enloe, added Dr. Maiorano, who serves as the Family Medicine Residency Clinic Site Director.

“Teaching medical students and residents represents a significant cultural shift,” he said. “It introduces a new mindset to our medical staff. It is exciting for them and also has the potential to attract physicians who are interested in teaching.”

Dr. Maiorano said there are things to work out, but everyone involved is grateful for the community’s support.

“The community is very engaged, and we have community members asking us, ‘How can we support the residents?’” he said.

Looking to the Future

Four physicians make up the first cohort of the Family Medicine Residency Program. They began seeing patients in the summer of 2025. Andrew Pace, M.D., a family practice physician, oversees them at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic.

Olivia Owlett, D.O., is one of the residents. She grew up in a rural town in Pennsylvania, which inspired her to pursue a career in rural medicine. She said this motivated her to join the residency program in Chico.

“A big part of my desire to come here is the significant need for primary care in this area,” Dr. Owlett said. “I would love to stay and help alleviate the demand for primary care.” Dr. Ladine said the goal is to expand the program, adding that there are many opportunities to do so.

“We hope to increase our class size within the next year,” she said. “We are exploring multiple opportunities and are excited to see how we can further expand this program to better serve this community.”

One of her short-term goals is to see the residents excel during their first year of residency.

“We love seeing our residents thrive in their growth as both physicians and individuals,” Dr. Ladine said. “Our No. 1 priority is to provide our residents with the best training to set them up for long-term success as physicians.”

Beyond that, Dr. Ladine hopes some of the residents who come to the North State through the residency program will stay in the area after their training.

Dr. Owlett said that, since the start of the program, the support from the community and staff has been amazing.

“Everybody here has been so great and wonderful,” she said. “They have been really receptive to having medical students and residents in the area.”

More physicians will join the Family Medicine Residency Program in 2026. To learn more about the program, visit www.enloe.org/residency.