At Natividad, we view physicians as the heart of our hospital. Natividad has provided health care to the residents of Monterey County for more than a century. We are the only teaching hospital on the Central Coast, through our affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Natividad’s Family Medicine Residency Program is postgraduate training for physicians specializing in family medicine – about one-third of graduates remain on the Central Coast to establish a practice.
Our educational programs include a family medicine obstetrics fellowship, a global health fellowship through UCSF, and medical student clerkships in collaboration with Touro and UCSF medical schools. Our culture of learning has opportunities for knowledgeable and experienced physicians to mentor and influence the next generation of physicians. The nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment that encompasses all the educational programs at Natividad attracts diverse physicians from all over the world, which further enhances both the learning and work environment for the residents and physician staff.
Additionally, Natividad is recognized as the only Level II Trauma Center in the tri-county area, allowing us to provide the immediate availability of specialized personnel, equipment, and services to treat the most severe and critical injuries.
In the Salinas Valley, an estimated 30,000 people speak an indigenous language. Until five years ago, Natividad and other local hospitals did not have specialized interpreters on staff to communicate with patients who spoke languages other than English or Spanish. In 2014, Driscoll’s, The Agricultural Leadership Council (TALC), the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the University of California, San Francisco teamed up to create Indigenous Interpreting+®.
Indigenous Interpreting+ is the first program of its kind in the U.S. that helps interpreters from Mexico and Central America get credentials. In 2018, the program provided 1,565 indigenous language interpretations. That averages six per day, up from 1.6 interpretations per day in 2015.
Salinas is a Central Coast town located just northeast of the beautiful Monterey Bay. It is the major financial, governmental and agricultural center of Monterey County, but still has the feel of a rural community. Its nickname is “The Salad Bowl of the World.” Salinas is also the birthplace of the famous author John Steinbeck.
Monterey County offers iconic California experiences, with a little something special for everyone, just waiting to be enjoyed. Experience the top road trip in the United States as you wind along the breathtaking Big Sur coastline on Highway 1. Book an ocean view hotel on the beach, and then explore the shops and attractions of iconic Cannery Row. Sip handcrafted wines at tucked-away tasting rooms where the winemaker might just be the person pouring. Take a surfing lesson and catch a glimpse of a barefoot beach wedding as you ride your board to shore. Play 18 holes at legendary golf courses, or just hang out at the 19th hole and watch the pros practice. Pack a picnic and watch the sunset on the white sands of Carmel Beach. Monterey is an unforgettable destination that will invigorate your soul.