The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About _ 9A--Letter of Support for a Northern California Medical Sciences School in the City of Redding GI �" Y C� F � � �- ' � ° � � i � CITY OF REDDING �� REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 17, 2026 FROM: Mike Littau, Mayor ITEM NO. 9A ***APPROVED BY*** mlittau@cityof'redding.gov �+�� '� �� a s � � 1�1�cC��.t lr��c1 �:�I � �/�/��U .,.,r"��ry ..� mlittau@cityofredding.gov SUBJECT: 9A--Consider a Letter of Support for a Northern California Medical Sciences School in the Cit of Reddin . Recommendation Consider authorizing the Mayor to send a letter of support to the Rura1 Northern California Medical School Consortium in support of a medical sciences school in the City of Redding. Fiscal Impact There is no �scal impact associated with this Letter of Support. AZteNnative Action Council could decline this action or provide alternative direction. Background/Analysis Staff has been unable to locate background information on the Rural Northern California Medical Education Consortium. Th�us far the information found is limited to various social media posts. It is unclear as to the status of this group; LLC, Corporation, partnership, or non-profit entity. The Secretary of State does not have a record of the entity, making it difficult to obtain additional detail. Through various news reports, it appears the consortium was formed in an effort to bring rural. health care to the 17-county North State region by establishing a regionally based medical sciences school, in partnership with hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, and community organizations with the overall goal of increasing health care providers in the region. Report to Redding City Council March 12,2026 Re: 9A--Letter of Support for a Northern California Medical Sciences School in the City of Redding Page 2 The consortium membership gleaned from the various social media posts lists the following individuals as Members: • Dr. Paul Dhanuka; • Dr. Irene Salter; • Dr. Jason Salter; • Dr. Norm Hall; � Crretchen Melburg; • Dean Germano; � Christy Coleman; • Robin Schurig; • Dr. Paul Wang; • Dr. Darren Gordon; and • Todd Smith Environmental Review This item is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council Priority/City Manage� Goals • This agenda item is considered a routine operational item. Attachments Draft Letter of Support - Medical School � � T 'Y C� F _-� CITY {�F R�Q�1 Ca' -�-�._ :�� r�.- 777 �Ypr�ss .Avenu�, Reddi�tg, �A 9�G�1 .- :- PC� BQX 496t}71, Reddin�, �CA ��iJ49-6a7� � .'�, L I F �.."= cityofa��dir�g.arg Mike�ittau,Mayor mlittau@cityofredding.org 530.225.4447 March 17, 2026 Rural Northern California Medical Education Consortium Norm Hall Ed.D., Chair c/o Simpson University 2211 College View Drive Redding, CA 96003 Re: Letter of Support for Establishment of a Rurai Northern Califc�rnia Medical Sciences School in the City of Redding Dear Chair Hall and Members of the Northern California Medical Education Consortium, On behalf of the City Council of the City af Redding, I am writing to express our suppart for the establishment of a medical sciences schoal lacated in the City of Redding. Communities across the country are experiencing an urgent shortage of health care providers and trained medical staf£ A strong,well-resourced and suppc�rted medical sciences school could be one of the most effective solutions to this challenge. A medical sciences school ct�uld be uniquely positioned to address this gap by partnering with 1oca1 workforce development boards,schoal districts, industry leaders,and apprenticeship programs. Through these collaborations,the schot�l could: + Align with real-time community needs • Expand apprenticeship and internship opportunities • Create career pathways for rural northern-California high school students and adult learners • Suppart incumbent health care providers by upskilling current staff • Strengthen the regional'economy Investing in rural communitiies,where access to higher education and workforce training presents many challenges, such as geography,transportation,housing, etc.,will help build a sustainable workforce pipeline for decades to come. Thank you for your commitment to this effort. Sincerely, Mike Littau Mayor City of Redding From: Members Council To: Mike Littau �; Paul Dhanuka; Erin Resner;Tenessa Audette;Jack Munns Cc: Tarbox.William;Curtis.Christian;Ti�ton.Sharlene; Barnhart.Erin; Members,Council Subject: Item 9A for 3/17/2026 City Council Meeting-FW: Medical School Letter Of Support. Date: Monday,March 16,2026 10:44:18 AM Erin Barnhart Executive Assistant II 530.225.4044 From: Christian Gardinier Sent: Monday, March 16, 2026 10:00 AM To: Munns, Jack<jmunns@cityofredding.gov>; Littau, Mike<mlittau@cityofredding.gov>; Resner, Erin <eresner@cityofredding.gov>; Audette, Tenessa <taudette@cityofredding.gov>; irene@irenesalter.com Subject: Medical School Letter Of Support. You don't often get email from Learn why this is important To All, We already have a great medica) training institution, UCD, that has been serving AND TEACHING the medical needs of Shasta and all Northern California counties for many, many years. Simpson is a conservative to a far-right MAGA institution with alliances to the Seven Mountain Mandate and the Republican Party's (Trump and Kenddey)vision of America's political, social, and health agenda. We would be MUCH better served if we built on the NON-PARTICIPANT whee) that has been working very well for years and looks like this. https://health.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/PRIME%20Central%20Coast/prime-central-coast-index.html Additional Information. Diane Bell Gardinier worked in the Mary Center's NICU for over 35 years and developed a DEEP and PROFOUND understanding and relationship with UC Davis as the UC Center saved the lives of countless premature babies born in the North State. We both know Dr.Joe Stanger, who was instrumenta) in growing UC Davis's relationship with Shasta County and in starting the Hill County Health Clinic. But you can find numerous medical professionals who would tell the same story. WE NAVE a Medical School already that has done an exceptional job of serving Shasta County, without Kevin Crye, secessionist Chriss Street, right-wing Simpson, and far-right anti-COVID vaxer Dr. Dunkia, a campaign supporter and contributor to Crye. What is funny is that many of the above fully supported Trump's Big Beautiful Bill that has cut health care for over 67,000 Shasta County citizens and has seriously hurt the health care of all the North State and the nation, for that matter! And they are trying to use government money to build their far-right power structure! Again, typical of MAGA Kiven Crye, who got his buddy, New California Secessionist Chriss Street, $40,000 to pimp the Crye-Street, Dr. Dunika -and Simpson College" so called Medica) School, and have co-opted the consortium looking into creating a new "Medical School" here in Shasta County, that re-invents a well established meidical instatution, into their far-right political vision; and even using the State of California, who they disdain, and using Shasta County and California's taxpayers' money to do so... Like Trump, they want to break what works so they can create their visoin. What a joke. For your information, the excellent and well-established partnership between the UC Davis School of Medicine and healthcare provision, and its Doctor training sites in Shasta County dates back about 50 years. See Below! Key milestone 1975: The Family Practice Residency Program at Mercy Medical Center, Redding, was established and became affiliated with UC Davis. Since then, UC Davis has helped train medical residents and students in Redding and the surrounding North State. What that means is that from 1975 to 2026 = about 50-51 years of involvement. UC Davis has: Sent medical residents and students to train in local hospitals and clinics. Provided faculty oversight and academic affiliation for the residency program. Nelped train physicians who often stay and practice in rural Northern California. More recent expansion In 2025-2026, UC Davis expanded its rura) medical education programs so that students can train in clinics and public health sites across Shasta County (such as Shasta Community Health Center and county public health facilities). QQ Summary: UC Davis has been involved in medical education serving Shasta County for about 50 years (since 1975). Here is a clearer picture of how many doctors UC Davis has helped train in Shasta County through its affiliated residency programs. 1. Main UC Davis—Affiliated Program in Shasta County The primary training program is the Family Medicine Residency at Mercy Medical Center, Redding, which is affiliated with the UC Davis School of Medicine. The program was established in 1975. It trains at least 6 residents per year. Residency length is 3 years. Estimated doctors trained 6 residents per year x~50 years � about 300 physicians trained Many of these graduates remain practicing in Northern California and rural communities, helping address physician shortages. 2. Additional UC Davis—Affiliated Training in Shasta County Another training site is the residency at: Shasta Community Health Center This program Is also affiliated with UC Davis. Accepts about 4 residents per class. That program adds additional doctors trained each year locally beyond the Mercy program. 3. What UC Davis Has Contributed Locally Over roughly 50 years, UC Davis medical education in Shasta County has provided: �300+family physicians trained locally (Mercy program alone) Additional physicians from the Shasta Community Health Center residency Medical student rotations and rural training programs across the North State Many of these physicians stay in the region, which is one reason Redding functions as a medical hub for far Northern California. QQ Bottom line: UC Davis has been involved in medical education in Shasta County for about 50 years. It has helped train roughly 300+ physicians locally, likely closer to 350-400 when all r�ograms are included. Stop breaking what works for MAGA and do what's right for all the citizens of Redding and Shasta County! Sincerely, Christian Gardinier, Shasta County