MEDFORD, Ore. (Jun. 9, 2026) — Southern Oregon will soon play a larger role in training the next generation of physicians through a new partnership between Asante and Western University of Health Sciences aimed at strengthening the region’s health care workforce.
Asante announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest, which is transitioning to its new name, the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, to establish core rotation sites for third- and fourth-year medical students in southern Oregon.
The program is scheduled to begin in July 2026, bringing osteopathic medical students to the Rogue Valley to complete portions of their clinical training within Asante’s health system.
“The partnership with WesternU, along with our partnerships at OHSU, will bring future physicians to the region, educate them in our facilities and communities, which in turn, will help grow our local workforce,” said Dr. Scott Wilber, CEO of Asante Physician Partners.
Under the agreement, students will receive hands-on training through rotations in several core medical specialties across southern Oregon. Those specialties include general surgery, internal medicine, primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and pediatrics, among others.
Dr. Heather Phipps, site dean for COMP-Northwest, said the partnership will provide students with a broad clinical experience while also benefiting the communities they serve.
“The partnership between WesternU and Asante creates meaningful opportunities for medical students to gain experience across both hospital and outpatient settings,” Phipps said. “By training future physicians, clinicians are supported in strengthening the overall quality of patient care. This collaboration also extends beyond the hospital, enabling students to learn from, engage with, and become fully immersed in the local community.”
Officials said the partnership also seeks to inspire local students to pursue careers in medicine by demonstrating that those opportunities can begin close to home.
“As a former school board member, I know that many high school or college students may feel that becoming a physician is beyond them,” said Dr. Scott Nelson, a surgeon and chief of staff at Three Rivers Medical Center. “We hope that through this partnership we can not only provide excellent educational opportunities to current medical students but also inspire the next generation of physicians.”
Health care leaders said the initiative represents a long-term investment in addressing physician shortages and expanding access to care throughout the region.
“This partnership represents a major investment in the future of our community,” said Patrick Sharp, CEO of Three Rivers Medical Center. “By training the next generation of physicians right here in southern Oregon, we’re strengthening local access to care and ensuring that talented clinicians choose to build their careers in this region.”
According to Asante, the health system experienced a record-breaking year for physician recruitment in 2025. Leaders say the addition of the WesternU medical student program is expected to further strengthen that pipeline by encouraging future clinicians to establish their careers in southern Oregon.
Asante is a locally owned, nonprofit health system employing approximately 6,000 people and providing care to nearly 600,000 residents across a nine-county region of southern Oregon and northern California. The system includes Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Asante Ashland and numerous outpatient locations.
Western University of Health Sciences is an independent nonprofit institution with campuses in Lebanon, Oregon, and Pomona, California. The university offers graduate programs in a range of health professions, including osteopathic medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dental medicine, physician assistant studies and veterinary medicine.
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