SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2024) – The Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program, part of Sutter Health, has launched a new Addiction Medicine Fellowship to improve high-quality, de-stigmatized care for people with substance use disorders (SUDs).
In recent years, Sonoma County has faced rising substance use and addiction rates. This trend has contributed to an increased demand for community resources, also impacting hospitals and emergency rooms. On average, the county experiences 100 overdose deaths annually, while there are around 500 emergency room visits each year due to accidental drug overdoses.
“Addiction is a complex journey that deserves compassion and understanding,” said Dr. Erin Lund, fellowship program director. “Sutter’s new fellowship adds more doctors in the community to treat people with substance use disorders while also restoring hope and dignity to those affected by it.”
During Sutter’s 13-month fellowship, primary care physicians will deepen their skills and training in addiction medicine, focusing on evidence-based treatment, harm-reduction strategies and connecting patients to counseling and support services. The fellowship will also prioritize serving unhoused people with SUDs through Sonoma County safety-net systems, such as continuity clinics and street medicine initiatives. The fellows will also contribute to advancing knowledge in the field through research projects, presentations and teaching.
“Our program blends practical, hands-on experience across different healthcare settings with a strong focus on the social factors driving these challenges,” said Dr. Lund. “This approach will sharpen doctors’ clinical skills while also helping them understand the bigger picture of what drives addiction and recovery.”
Following the program’s completion, the fellows will be well positioned to pass their national exam to become board-certified as addiction medicine specialists. Certified addiction medicine specialists are physicians who demonstrate the requisite knowledge and skills to provide prevention, screening, intervention and treatment for substance use and addiction with education, experience and examination.
Meet the Fellows
Bianka Aguilar, M.D.
Dr. Bianka Aguilar
Dr. Aguilar is a graduate of the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California. She joins after completing a family medicine residency at Contra Costa Health, where she served completed the Global Health Track and served as chief resident. With a strong background in public health and binational health efforts, including collaborations with Mexican governmental agencies, Dr. Aguilar has dedicated her career to advancing care for disadvantaged populations.
Anna Bowen, M.D.
Dr. Anna Bowen
Dr. Bowen is a University of California, San Diego graduate with a degree in Sociocultural Anthropology. She comes to the Addiction Medicine Fellowship after completing a residency in family medicine at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital. Dr. Bowen has led global health work in countries like Ghana, Malawi and India, and she is deeply committed to reproductive health justice and migrant health. Dr. Bowen is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and passionate about reducing barriers to care for patients experiencing addiction.
Sutter’s Expanding GME Programs
The introduction of the Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Program’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship aligns with Sutter’s commitment to expand its Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities, which are on track to graduate 1,000 residents and fellows annually by 2030.
“This new fellowship program will further expand access to high-quality, equitable addiction and behavioral care in Santa Rosa, while also distinguishing Sutter as a best place to work, practice medicine and conduct research,” said Sutter’s Chief Medical Officer of Medical Education and Science, Dr. Lindsay Mazotti. “By attracting and retaining a primary care workforce equipped to handle the complexities of substance use disorders, Sutter demonstrates its commitment to improving health outcomes and fostering wellness across Northern California.”
