Program Director's Message

Greti Petersen, MD, FACP
Program Director

Welcome to the Morehouse School of Medicine/Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Transitional Year Residency Program!

We are an ACGME-accredited, one-year program offering 10 positions annually under the sponsorship of Morehouse School of Medicine, which provides strong academic support and educational resources. The program is primarily based at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital—Kern County’s largest hospital since the early 1950s—and is part of CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the U.S. As a Transitional Year resident, you will be part of our residency teams and will enjoy the same privileges and responsibilities as categorical Internal Medicine residents.

Our residency program offers broad clinical experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with the flexibility to tailor schedules to each resident’s goals. Our aim is to prepare residents for advanced specialty training or to support them as they explore career pathways. Through diverse rotations across multiple specialties, residents will learn to provide high-quality, evidence-based care, serve patients from all backgrounds, and practice medicine with empathy and humanism.

Our diverse, experienced, and deeply committed faculty guide residents in expanding their understanding of clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, and community engagement. We foster a culture of inclusion and provide a safe, supportive learning environment where residents can thrive.

The mission of our residency program is to train highly competent, resilient, and successful physicians by delivering broad-based foundational training and opportunities to develop the skills necessary for a smooth transition into advanced residencies. Ultimately, our goal is to graduate board-certified physicians who are prepared to serve diverse communities. Our mission aligns with our sponsoring institution (Morehouse School of Medicine) and our partner program (Morehouse School of Medicine/Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program), with a shared focus on health promotion and healthcare delivery in underserved areas. Kern County and Southern California represent some of the most diverse regions in the country, with many vulnerable populations in need of compassionate, high-quality care.

Congratulations on beginning your journey in graduate medical education. We look forward to welcoming you to our team!