Dignity Health’s Annual Summer Physician Mentor Program Inspires Future Healthcare Professionals on the Central Coast

Dignity Health Central Coast’s Physician Mentor Program wraps another successful summer inspiring 65 local students with real-world healthcare experiences. This annual summer shadowing experience is designed to ignite passion for medicine in young minds. 

“We believe that by providing these students with firsthand experience and mentorship, we can cultivate a new generation of dedicated healthcare providers for our community,” said Kelly Olney, RN, Mentorship Program Coordinator. “This program is vital because it not only exposes students to the realities of medicine but also fosters a sense of responsibility and commitment to serving others.” 

This summer’s program started on June 30th and ends this Friday, August 8th. It placed participants with a different healthcare professional in a new specialty each week at Marian Regional Medical Center, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo. This immersive approach allowed students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various career paths available in medicine, from emergency medicine to specialized surgery. The program’s primary goal is to inspire young students to pursue careers in healthcare and, ideally, return to practice on the Central Coast, addressing the region’s growing need for medical professionals. 

Dr. Terrance McGovern, Emergency Department Director at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria and a participating physician mentor, emphasized the program’s impact. “It’s incredibly rewarding to share my experiences with these bright, enthusiastic students,” said Dr. McGovern. “The Physician Mentor Program is a fantastic way to show them the challenges and rewards of a career in medicine and to encourage them to consider serving our community.” 

The selection process for the program is highly competitive. This year, 65 students were chosen from a pool of 97 applicants after a thorough application period, in-person interviews, and a review of letters of recommendation. 

Kaitlyn Denissen, a college student at Barnard College in New York City, originally from Paso Robles, is home for the summer and a participant of this program. Kaitlyn says, “this mentoring program has truly opened my eyes to the

vastness of medicine and provided the invaluable experience of learning firsthand from medical professionals across a variety of specialties. The mentors offered advice and insight you can’t get from textbooks, giving me wisdom I know will help me on my path to becoming a doctor.” 

Ysabel Adoremos, a St. Joseph High School student from Santa Maria, who is in the program shares, “the mentor program has shown me a lot of what my future could potentially look like. The opportunity has been nothing but amazing, and I have gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to be in the medical field.” 

The Physician Mentor Program is committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Applications for the 2026 summer program will be available on the program website at the end of February, with the application period running from the end of March to the end of April. The popular program, initially started in 2001 by four Central Coast doctors;. Dr. Dennis Blackburn, Dr. Charles Merrill, Dr. Robert Moss and Dr. Michael Schrager. Their wives helped coordinate the program, but in 2013 the Dignity Health Central Coast Education department officially began running it and has ever since.