ACGME PROGRAM #1200500019
Our mission is to educate and train compassionate family physicians. Through full-scope, patient-centered care, we prepare residents to serve with excellence.
Our program is rooted in advancing health equity and reducing disparities.
With culturally responsive training and strong community engagement, we build physician-leaders.
Together, we shape doctors dedicated to healing and advocacy for underserved communities.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Good Samaritan Hospital Rural Family Medicine Residency Program is an innovative new initiative that will welcome its inaugural class of four residents in July 2026. As a 4-4-4 residency, we are committed to training exceptional family physicians equipped to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for diverse and underserved communities in both rural and urban settings.
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Our mission is to educate and develop physicians who can meet the unique health care needs of medically underserved populations. Alongside robust training in inpatient medicine, obstetrics, and ambulatory care, residents will gain invaluable experience through specialized rotations focused on caring for incarcerated individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and patients impacted by addiction and infectious diseases. These opportunities, combined with our emphasis on advocacy and community partnership, prepare residents to become skilled clinicians and leaders dedicated to advancing health equity.
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With a well-balanced curriculum, weekly didactic sessions, and a strong administrative infrastructure, our program ensures that residents and faculty can focus on patient care, education, research, and meaningful community engagement. Graduates will emerge confident in their ability to practice full-spectrum family medicine across a wide variety of settings, particularly in areas where access to care is limited.
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We seek individuals who share our passion for service, advocacy, and clinical excellence. At Good Samaritan Hospital, we are building a program that reflects the values of rural medicine, community partnership, and social responsibility. If you are looking for a residency that will challenge you, support you, and prepare you to be a leader in family medicine, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of care.
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FACULTY
Mandeep Bagga
Designated Institutional Official (DIO)
Dr. Mandeep Singh Bagga is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical psychiatry, residency program leadership, and hospital administration. He serves as Residency Program Director for the Adult Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Residency Program at Kaweah Delta Health Care District (affiliate of UC Irvine) and as Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He is also Medical Director and Chief of Psychiatry at Good Samaritan Hospital in Bakersfield, CA.
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Dr. Bagga has led major initiatives in medical education, quality improvement, and addiction treatment. He secured $1.6 million in grant funding to expand residency training and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) access, and he is a lead writer for an $8 million grant to integrate behavioral health into primary care. He has chaired hospital quality committees, spearheaded opioid reduction projects recognized with the Cal Hospital Compares Opioid Safe Hospital award, and served as Physician Champion for the MAT-BRIDGE program.
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He has published on telepsychiatry, academic psychiatry, and innovative psychiatric treatments, and has presented widely on psychopharmacology, addictions, brain stimulation, and sleep disorders. Dr. Bagga completed his Psychiatry Residency at East Carolina University (Chief Resident), an ECT and Brain Stimulation Fellowship at Duke University, and his MD at Ross University. He holds certifications in ECT, TMS, and MAT, and is an active member of the APA, CPA, AADPRT, and AAP.
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Fiona Axelsson, MD
Associate Program Director (APD)
Dr. Fiona Axelsson is a board-certified family medicine physician with expertise in addiction medicine, street medicine, and care for underserved populations. She is Associate Program Director of the Good Samaritan Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, where she focuses on equity, community-centered education, and resident wellness.
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She is the founding Medical Director of iSMART (Integrated Street Medicine and Addiction Recovery Team), which delivers primary care, harm reduction, and addiction treatment to individuals experiencing homelessness across Kern County. She also serves as Associate Medical Director of Integrated Wellness Solutions, providing medical care within Tulare County’s detention facilities.
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Dr. Axelsson is active in the American Society of Addiction Medicine, contributing to conference planning and committee work. She frequently presents on harm reduction and public health and is board-eligible in HIV and Obesity Medicine.
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She completed her medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean, residency at UCLA Rio Bravo, and fellowship in Primary Care Psychiatry. Outside of medicine, she enjoys the outdoors, yoga, and time with family in Canada and Iceland.
Amardeep Chetha, MD
Faculty
​Dr. Amardeep Chetha is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician based in Bakersfield, California, with extensive experience in both clinical and community-focused healthcare settings. He currently serves diverse patient populations at the Good Samaritan Hospital Clinic in Arvin and the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in Visalia, while also leading a street medicine program for individuals experiencing homelessness. Dr. Chetha is a graduate of the American International School of Medicine and completed his residency training at the UCLA Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, where he also served as Chief Resident.
His work spans rural healthcare, sports medicine—as a team physician for the Bakersfield Condors hockey team—and correctional medicine. Dr. Chetha is passionate about health equity, preventive care, and building innovative solutions to reach underserved communities. His clinical expertise includes outpatient procedures, point-of-care ultrasound, and chronic disease management. In addition to his clinical work, he is an active contributor to medical literature and research, with multiple publications and conference presentations to his name.
Kristine Martens, DO
Program Director (PD) - Interim
Dr. Kristine Martens is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician with over a decade of experience providing high-quality, comprehensive healthcare across all ages. Currently serving as the owner and co-founder of North Dakota’s first Direct Primary Care clinic—Resurgent Health in Fargo—Dr. Martens is passionate about patient-centered care that emphasizes wellness, affordability, and accessibility.
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Throughout her career, Dr. Martens has worked in various healthcare settings, including Pinnacle Health Care and Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. In addition to her clinical practice, she played a pivotal leadership role as Associate Program Director of the Sanford Health Family Medicine Residency, where she led educational initiatives, mentored residents, and helped shape future generations of physicians.
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Dr. Martens earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University and holds undergraduate degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish from Concordia College. She completed her residency at Rapid City Regional Hospital Family Medicine Residency in South Dakota.
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Known for her strong communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, and collaborative spirit, Dr. Martens thrives in both clinical and leadership roles. When she’s not caring for patients or running her clinic, she enjoys building puzzles and Legos with her children, listening to live music, and traveling to Montana to visit family.
Josue Fong Balart, MD
Faculty
Dr. Josue Fong Balart, MD is a board-certified family physician with a strong commitment to primary care, medical education, and community advocacy. He completed his Family Medicine residency at the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program in Bakersfield, California. Following his graduation, Dr. Fong Balart served as a family physician at Clinica Sierra Vista, where he practiced until 2022. During this time, he also took on the role of attending physician and clinical educator for nurse practitioner students, nurturing the next generation of healthcare providers.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine in 2019. In recognition of his leadership and advocacy in primary care, he was selected for the Outstanding Family Medicine Advocate Fellowship in 2022. Outside of work, Dr. Josue Fong Balart enjoys quality time with his family, often gathered around a good puzzle or exploring new destinations together. He is passionate about travel and makes time for weekend getaways to the coast, always looking to discover hidden gems and recharge by the ocean.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1) Apply through Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS)
2) Personal Statement
3) Three Letters of Recommendation dated within the last 3 years
4) Medical Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
5) Medical School Transcripts
6) Standardized Test Scores (USMLE or NBOME)
Residency Selections Committee will review each application and select Individuals who will be invited for an interview. If you are selected for a personal interview, our Coordinator will contact you Via email to schedule a date.
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