Physician Recruitment Committee brings 50th new family doctor to Oshawa
October 27, 2010
Oshawa, ON - The Oshawa Physician Recruitment Committee (OPRC), working in partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and the City of Oshawa has successfully recruited its 50th new family doctor as of September 2010. Additional doctors are slated to begin practicing in the coming months.
"Doctors are quickly realizing Oshawa is a dynamic place to work and live and these numbers are reflective of that," said John Samis, chair, OPRC and assistant professor, UOIT Faculty of Health Science. "While we've had considerable success, additional doctors are still needed and the committee will continue to work to meet the demand."
In 2003 Oshawa City Council, in a proactive move to support the health care needs of its residents, established a task force to recruit family doctors. The task force included a dedicated physician recruiter, Sandy Yorke, with many years experience in the medical field. By September 2004 an application to the Ministry of Health and Long term Care (MOHLTC) was approved designating Oshawa as an underserviced area for family doctors and in 2005 the first new family doctor was recruited. The task force has evolved into a committee, where the commitment and determination of its members continues to successfully attract and recruit new family doctors to the area.
To help encourage new family doctors to establish themselves and their practice in Oshawa, the OPRC is seeking additional community partnerships, similar to those already established with UOIT and the City of Oshawa, which include in-kind and financial support.
UOIT provides new family doctors the added benefit of having an innovative and research-intensive university in close proximity that offers technology-enhanced programs in the areas of science and health sciences; thereby supporting professional development opportunities.
If you are currently in medical school, a family doctor interested in setting up practice in Oshawa, or need a list of family doctors taking new patients, please visit www.oshawaphysicians.com.
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