Aviva Health Panel to Connect Resident Physicians With Douglas County Leaders

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Understanding a patient’s health often means understanding what happens outside the exam room. An Aviva Health event Thursday evening will give local resident physicians a chance to hear directly from community leaders about the needs and challenges facing Douglas County residents.

Aviva’s second annual Community Impact Panel is scheduled for Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Willamette Conference Room on the second floor of its main Roseburg clinic, 150 NE Kenneth Ford Drive.

The event will bring together physicians in the Roseburg Family Medicine Residency program and leaders from community organizations. Discussions will focus on local strengths, barriers to health, and the resources available to people who are underserved.

“To serve patients well, we have to understand what life looks like beyond their appointments - the barriers they face, the support they rely on and what matters most to them,” said Sarah Holborow, Aviva Health’s community engagement director.

Holborow said community partners can help physicians develop a fuller understanding of patients’ lives and use that knowledge in their everyday care.

Panelists will discuss the populations their organizations serve, the work already taking place across Douglas County, and opportunities to collaborate. Those conversations will also help resident physicians shape capstone and quality improvement projects around local priorities.

The evening begins with a social gathering from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by a welcome and an overview of the residency program and capstone projects. A facilitated panel discussion is scheduled from 6:15 to 7 p.m., with networking continuing until 7:30 p.m.

“Rural communities rely on partnerships, and collaboration is something Douglas County does well,” Holborow said.

The event also gives community leaders an opportunity to learn about the residency program’s mission, structure, and role in Douglas County. Aviva hopes the gathering will lead to lasting relationships between resident physicians and organizations working to improve community well-being.

Founded in 1991, Aviva Health is a nonprofit organization providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care regardless of patients’ ability to pay. It operates 11 clinic sites across Roseburg, Myrtle Creek, Sutherlin, Glide, and Drain, including a Teen Health Center at Roseburg High School.

In partnership with CHI Mercy Medical Center, Aviva serves as the family medicine practice site for the Roseburg Family Medicine Residency program.