NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

The Medial Post front page article
August 2010

click here to read the complete article

Newsletter
August 2010

Click here to read our August Update Newsletter

The Observer
July 2010

CHOK News
April 2010

Cindy Scholten back from Recruitment mission:
http://206.186.23.154/action/singlelisting/autoid/1446/q/news

St. Clair Township Beacon
March 2010

Dr. Jason Hall:
http://www.twp.stclair.on.ca/beacon_201003.pdf

Sarnia-This-Week article
December 2009

Physician Recruitment Taskforce for Sarnia Lambton
Press release Thursday, June 04, 2009

The Taskforce is very pleased to announce the recruitment of 2 Family Medicine Physicians to the Sarnia Lambton community. This recruitment was made possible by the adoption of a new policy set in place by the Taskforce in the winter of 2008.

The new policy states that Family Medicine Residents may now apply to the Taskforce for the relocation incentive grant provided they are locals from the area and sign a return of service agreement (ROS). New Physicians coming to the area are requested to sign a ROS for 4 years for their incentive grant. The local FM Residents who wish to sign an ROS with the Taskforce must extend the term of the agreement to include the remaining year(s) of their Residency Program and the time it takes to set up full time family practice after graduation. If the budget allows, the new policy will permit the recruitment of one (local) Family Medicine Resident per year.

The first recruit is Dr. John O’Mahony. Dr. O’Mahony signed with the Taskforce in 2008 and is currently completing his Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Western in London Ontario. Dr. John O’Mahony, son of Dr. Michael O’Mahony is expected to set up a full time family practice in Sarnia in October 2010.

The second recruit is Dr. Samantha Soeder. Like Dr. O’Mahony, Dr. Soeder is also a local from the area and is currently completing her Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Western in London Ontario. Dr. Soeder is expected to set up full time family practice in July 2010.

“This is why it is very important that we attend recruitment fairs across the Province to follow our local medical students and Family Medicine Residents”, says Cindy Scholten Physician Recruiter. “I like to bring them back here during their Residency to show them that Sarnia isn’t just where mom and dad live, it’s full of exciting opportunities for Family Physicians that many other communities cannot compete with.”

The Taskforce is also working with 3 other Physician candidates currently practicing on the other side of the border. One Physician has already been approved through the new Pathways to Registration with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and is tying up loose ends in preparation for the move to Sarnia. Two other Physicians are expected to sign on with the Taskforce in the summer of 09.

“This will definitely be a successful year for the Taskforce”, says Ron Prior, Board Chair. “Our recruiter has focused a lot of her attention on the US side over the last year and half and has created some new programs to assist US candidates with the transition of practicing medicine in Canada rather than in the US. We’re especially happy to have recruited two of our own local residents.”

This is an exciting result for the Sarnia Lambton community, but it is just one stepping stone to the ultimate goal of seeing residents of Sarnia Lambton receive the medical care they deserve. The main objective of the Taskforce is to recruit and retain 3 Family Physicians per year. According to the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, Sarnia Lambton is still underserviced by 22 Family Physicians. With the recent loss of two Physicians in Petrolia and the rise in retirement with older local Physicians, the Taskforce must work diligently to have new Family Doctors commit to practice fulltime in our community.
The Physician Recruitment Taskforce of Sarnia Lambton is a non profit organization formed in 2001 and since inception has recruited 11 Family Physicians. The Taskforce would like to thank the Municipalities, Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, Bluewater Health, local businesses and community representatives for their continued support with their recruitment programs.

Contact Information: Cindy Scholten, Physician Recruiter
Tel: 519-383-7265 Cell: 519-384-8680

Ron Prior, Board Chair
Cell: 519-490-5984

Sarnia and Lambton County This Week
Monday, September 17, 2008

Two more doctors coming to Sarnia

Sarnia Lambton needs approximately 25 family physicians to have a full complement of doctors. However, that is a lofty number to shoot for, especially at a time when many of the region’s family doctors are approaching retirement age. But within days, the Sarnia Lambton Taskforce on Healthcare Worker Recruitment announced that it was successful in attracting two family docs to the area.
Mike Raes is the chairman of the taskforce and he is pleased that Dr. John O’Mahony and Dr. Patrick Boyle have both signed on the dotted line. Dr. O’Mahony is the son of Dr. Michael O’Mahony of Sarnia, and Raes said that it was the son who approached the taskforce. “He did his training in Ireland and came back to Canada as an international medical graduate,” Raes told This Week. Since Ireland does not have a Canadian-recognized medical school, O’Mahony has agreed to a two-year residency in London at the University of Western Ontario. After which he will begin his medical practice in Sarnia Lambton.
Raes said that he can see both sides of the argument for Canada not recognizing more international medical schools, as this country has standards that it sets for family physicians. On the other side of coin, it is frustrating not to have these doctors being able to practice medicine in Canada without having to go through an additional two years of training. “Perhaps we could have a competency exam,” Raes pointed out.
Dr. Boyle is also an international medical graduate, who was practicing in Qatar. “We had been working with him for five years,” said Raes. Dr. Boyle went to Alberta to get licenced but had purchased a home in Sarnia. It was always Dr. Boyle’s intention to set up shop in Sarnia once he received his licence. Dr. Boyle is working out of the Rapids Family Health Team, located at 1150 Pontiac Drive. He is accepting new patient applications.
Despite signing the two new doctors, Raes admits that to keep the present quota of family physicians will be extremely difficult. “If we go by 2002 figures, the average age of Sarnia Lambton doctors was 57. Many of them are now in their 60s,” Raes said. “We will be lucky to maintain the status quo...treading water would be optimistic.”
In a couple of weeks, the taskforce will be participating in a recruitment tour of the medical schools in Ontario. It is hoped that they will make some inroads at the tour. “It is extremely competitive,” said Raes. “You can tell the ones who are really interested in the community and those who aren’t.” Municipalities offer incentive bonuses to attract family physicians to their community. In some instances, these monetary incentives are what piques the interest of young doctors, many of whom have acquired a huge debt load pursuing their medical studies.
Raes said he can’t blame the young potential recruits, and admits that he would probably do the same if he were in their shoes.
When a potential candidate has been spotted, there are financial incentives, but it is the lifestyle of the region, culture and opportunities that are highlighted during a site visit that really sells the community to the physician.
Should a doctor be willing to call Sarnia Lambton home, the physician is asked to sign a four-year contract. “But we don’t really want a four-year doctor...we are looking for a lifer,” he said. The taskforce also had a site visit lined up last week, and there are other possibilities on the horizon. At this point in time, however, the taskforce would be very happy to keep the staffing allotment at the present levels, given the challenges they will face in the future.  

Don Biggs, Sarnia and Lambton County This Week

PRESS RELEASE
March 28, 2008

Dr. Anjana Naik began family practice on March 26th, 2008!

A new family physician is ready to treat patients in Sarnia Lambton.

Dr. Anjana Naik began practice Wednesday, March 26th, at the Sarnia-Lambton Care Centre located at 150 N. Christina St. Bayside Mall and is now accepting new patients!

Dr. Naik is the latest recruitment success of the Physician Recruitment Taskforce of Sarnia-Lambton. Taskforce chairman Mike Raes recently offered words of welcome to Sarnia’s newest medical practitioner. “It’s gratifying to have Dr. Naik here in Sarnia. She will be a good fit for our community and our Taskforce is truly happy to see her practicing.” Cindy Scholten, Physician Recruiter says “Dr. Naik has worked hard to be here. She’s happy to be practicing family medicine in our community, alongside her husband Dr. Garach who is a local specialist. We are pleased they chose this city to be their new home,” said Scholten.

Dr. Naik is taking on past patients of Dr. McKay as well as accepting new patients. Those seeking a family physician can call the Care Centre at 519 336-6661. Please note that only those who currently have no family physician will be considered.

“This is a great result for our community, but it’s just one stepping stone to the ultimate goal of seeing that the people of Sarnia Lambton receive the medical care they deserve,” said Scholten. “According to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care we are still underserviced by approximately 24 family physicians, therefore we still need the on-going support of the community to continue our efforts and ensure a healthy future for all.”

Sarnia Lambton This Week
Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Car Rally - a Community Event

Local credit unions are joining forces to help bring much needed family physicians to our community.  They’re gearing up for a community car rally on Saturday, April 12 to support The Physician Recruitment Taskforce of Sarnia Lambton.  

“It’s a perfect fit” says Gwen Klatt of Libro, who decided to take action after two of her co-workers found themselves without doctors.  She decided to rally not only Libro, but also Southwest and Lambton Financial for a fun-filled afternoon to raise funds for this worthy cause.  The net result is Libro Financial Group, Southwest Regional Credit Union and Lambton Financial are proud to be the 2008 Event Sponsors.  

The three community credit unions are giving financially, and their employees are showing their enthusiasm by putting together teams to participate.  The car rally kicks off at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School at 1:00 pm when teams of four will set out into the city and attempt to answer skill testing questions, puzzles, trivia and best of all share in the food, games and prizes at the finish line!  Everyone in our community is welcome and encouraged to take part.

Entry forms may be obtained at all three community credit unions, online at www.doctors4sarnialambton.com or by contacting the Taskforce at (519) 336-4083 or scrowe@doctors4sarnialambton.com

Pictured from left to right:
Tony Doucette, General Manager, Southwest Regional Credit Union,
Gwen Klatt, Lending Specialist, Libro Financial Group and
John Hassenstein, General Manager, Lambton Financial.

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Sarnia Lambton This Week
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Physician Recruitment Taskforce has uphill battle.

If you thought it was difficult now to get a family doctor, patients in Sarnia-Lambton could be in for a tougher go of it during the next few years.

According to Mike Raes, chairperson of the Physician Recruitment Taskforce Sarnia-Lambton, data from five years ago indicated that the average age of a practicing family doctor in the region was 58. And should that trend continue, a large complement of family physicians will be retirement age in just a few short years. In fact, Raes said that Sarnia will be losing four doctors this year to retirement.

Raes told Sarnia-Lambton County This Week, that the goal of the taskforce is to net three family physicians more than would be retiring or leaving the area each year.

"I am afraid that the 'net 3' formula could be a pipe dream," Raes said. That is why the taskforce is working diligently, following every possible lead that could land family physicians to the area.

Cindy Scholten, the coordinator/recruiter for the Physician Recruitment Taskforce of Sarnia-Lambton, said that based on present statistics, the region needs approximately 25 family doctors.

Bringing the region up to its full complement will be a challenge for the taskforce, but it is one in which they work tirelessly on a daily basis.

"We follow every lead," said Scholten. "If someone says, "I know someone's son or daughter is studying medicine," then we go through the channels."

Recruiting a family physician is mainly due to hard work and a little bit of luck thrown in for good measure.

Scholten attends several recruitment tours throughout the year at different universities and cities with the other 95 delegates from across Ontario. Having the Sarnia-Lambton County banner at these functions builds a relationship with the potential recruits, as they begin to look for the booth at the trade shows.

However, the competition for family physicians is almost cut-throat. Although no one wants to say how much financial incentive is offered to potential recruits, Scholten has heard of upwards of $500,000 for two years.

This is not a game that the local taskforce is about to play. Sarnia- Lambton, said Raes, is not about to throw wads of cash at candidates, instead it relies on site visits to sell the physicians on the region and the lifestyle. "It is the site visit where we shine," Raes said. "On the financial side, Sarnia-Lambton is probably the lowest on the scale for incentives."

Taking potential candidates on a tour of the city, surrounding communities, Lake Huron, St. Clair River, hospitals, etc. is where the taskforce excels. "You can tell by the questions they ask whether they are interested in the community or just the money," said Scholten.

The taskforce also focuses on local students who are studying medicine, as well as international medical graduates (IMGs). Being able to practice medicine in Ontario can be a long, drawn out process for an IMG, who usually sets up shop in Newfoundland and Alberta, where the system is less onerous and time-consuming. It normally takes two years or more for an IMG to complete the licencing requirements for Ontario. In the meantime, the taskforce has to shuttle the family into Sarnia a couple of times a year, in order to keep the physician interested in the community. As such, said Raes, it costs the taskforce approximately $50,000 per physician they recruit.

The Chamber of Commerce has stepped up to offer a new scholarship for local students. This also allows the taskforce to keep track of the students as they go through the system to become family physicians, and hopefully, return to Sarnia.

Recruiting a family physician is going to be more difficult with each passing year.

According to statistics, albeit dating back five years, the average age of practicing family physicians in Sarnia-Lambton was 58 years old. That would bring a large component close to retirement age in the next few years.

Factor in fewer medical students choosing family practice and the future is not all that rosy for remedying the doctor shortage. We may never reach our full complement of family physicians, but the Physician Recruitment Taskforce for Sarnia-Lambton is on the right track in its method. Offering loads of cash to recruit physicians is merely a short-term solution. Getting into a game where the services goes to the highest bidder is not in the best interest of Sarnia- Lambton. In the long-term what sells a candidate on Sarnia is the community, social networking, medical facilities and spousal employability. All areas where Sarnia-Lambton scores high marks. Focusing on international graduates is one of the best approaches when it comes to recruitment. The province could lower its standards of licencing requirements for IMGs, but is that really in the best interest of patients?

The other avenue is to follow the progress of local students who enter the medical field as they might be enticed to return home to practice.

However, there is no quick-fix to the doctor shortage. Having alternative options, such as establishing a practice that allows for nurse practitioners and other health professionals to alleviate the workload, and allow physicians to concentrate on the medical necessities, is perhaps the best model.

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