Life in Santa Barbara

What makes the Santa Barbara region so special?

As a Cottage Health resident, you’ll live and work in one of the most special places imaginable.

Nestled between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find a community full of outdoor recreational opportunities, healthy and fresh food options, arts and cultural events, world-class educational institutions and Cottage Health—a not-for-profit health system committed to providing patient-centered care for the community for more than 130 years.

In 1888, a group of 50 Santa Barbara women recognized it was time for the growing community to have a hospital—a facility dedicated to the well-being and good health of all residents. From this vision, Cottage Health has grown into the largest private teaching hospital on California’s Central Coast. In 1923, the first class of general practice residents arrived at Cottage. Since then, Cottage Health’s Graduate Medical Education has grown and flourished.

Residency on California’s Central Coast

Today, Cottage Health is nationally recognized for its superior health care with a Medical Staff of more than 600 physicians, nearly 4,000 employees, and an academic teaching hospital for some of the top residents in our country in diagnostic radiology, general surgery, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Our residents share their passion for this place we love.

So, whether it’s a morning surf before heading to the hospital, a sunset walk on the shores of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara or Goleta, a bike ride through the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, an evening out to hear a symphony or an afternoon at one of our world-class museums, you are sure to feel a bit of the magic that is the Santa Barbara region.

Caring for Our Community

More than 100 physicians now practicing in the Santa Barbara community completed their residencies at Cottage Health.