Community Health Care officials tell Pierce County Council residency program faces closure; ask council to convene hospitals
May 19, 2026 | Pierce County, Washington
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Representatives of Community Health Care told the Pierce County Council on May 19 that the nonprofit’s family medicine residency program is at risk of closing June 30 after Virginia Mason Franciscan Health ended its affiliation and MultiCare declined to take on CHC’s residents.
Dr. Donna Bergson, clinical psychologist and director of behavioral medicine at CHC’s family medicine residency training program, and family physician Laura Whitehill said the residency — which has graduated 55 board‑certified family physicians since 2014 — is an important local training pipeline for primary care clinicians who serve low‑income and underserved communities. Dr. Bergson said the abrupt termination of the hospital affiliation left the residency without a viable way to meet hospital‑based training requirements.
“We can’t afford to cut this residency program,” Dr. Bergson said, asking the council to help bring stakeholders — including CHC, Virginia Mason, and MultiCare — together to find a solution that preserves training capacity in the region.
Whitehill added that CHC provides a range of services, including maternity and inpatient care, and warned that losing the residency will affect more than outpatient primary care.
Chair Hitchens invited CHC to send the council its press release and asked county staff to accept the filing so the council and relevant staff can follow up. Councilmembers expressed sympathy and indicated they would look for ways to help convene parties and review options.
CHC leaders said the loss of hospital training partners was announced in December 2025 (Virginia Mason) and more recently when MultiCare declined to integrate the residents, leaving the program unable to continue as currently structured. CHC said it serves large numbers of local patients; the transcript contained an unclear numeric statement about that total, which CHC and staff are expected to clarify in the press materials the organization will provide to the council.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting but asked CHC to share written material and indicated staff would review options and contacts for convening stakeholders.
Dr. Donna Bergson, clinical psychologist and director of behavioral medicine at CHC’s family medicine residency training program, and family physician Laura Whitehill said the residency — which has graduated 55 board‑certified family physicians since 2014 — is an important local training pipeline for primary care clinicians who serve low‑income and underserved communities. Dr. Bergson said the abrupt termination of the hospital affiliation left the residency without a viable way to meet hospital‑based training requirements.
“We can’t afford to cut this residency program,” Dr. Bergson said, asking the council to help bring stakeholders — including CHC, Virginia Mason, and MultiCare — together to find a solution that preserves training capacity in the region.
Whitehill added that CHC provides a range of services, including maternity and inpatient care, and warned that losing the residency will affect more than outpatient primary care.
Chair Hitchens invited CHC to send the council its press release and asked county staff to accept the filing so the council and relevant staff can follow up. Councilmembers expressed sympathy and indicated they would look for ways to help convene parties and review options.
CHC leaders said the loss of hospital training partners was announced in December 2025 (Virginia Mason) and more recently when MultiCare declined to integrate the residents, leaving the program unable to continue as currently structured. CHC said it serves large numbers of local patients; the transcript contained an unclear numeric statement about that total, which CHC and staff are expected to clarify in the press materials the organization will provide to the council.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting but asked CHC to share written material and indicated staff would review options and contacts for convening stakeholders.
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