Record physician recruitment in 2012

For the third year in a row, a record number of new physicians has been recruited to the City of Greater Sudbury and Health Sciences North.

A total of 27 family physicians and specialists established practices in 2012. That bests the previous records of 23 physicians in 2011, and 22 physicians in 2010.

The physician recruitment program is a co-operative effort involving the hospital, the city and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

Of the 25 new physicians recruited in 2012, 12 are family doctors, five are emergency department physicians, and 10 are specialists in such fields as psychiatry, medical oncology, neurology, anaesthesiology, obstetrics/gynecology, and geriatrics.

“Health Sciences North is increasingly becoming a destination of choice for physicians and specialists who want to practise in an environment that encourages new approaches to health care, research and teaching,” said Dr. Denis Roy, President and CEO of Health Sciences North, in a press release.

“I believe HSN’s evolution as an academic health sciences centre is a key component of Greater Sudbury’s successful recruitment efforts over the past three years.”

“This is a highly skilled group of physicians who will have an immediate impact in some key areas of need such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, and geriatrics,” said Dr. Chris Bourdon, the hospital's chief of staff and vice president of medical and academic affairs.

“This is excellent in terms of timely access to quality care. The medical and clinical expertise we are attracting to our city and institution is truly remarkable and is helping us further develop our health-care hub of excellence.”

Since 2000, 176 physicians have been recruited to Greater Sudbury under the co-ordinated efforts of Health Sciences North, the City of Greater Sudbury, and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

“The City of Greater Sudbury is committed to working with community partners to promote our city as a leader in health care, research and education with superior quality of life,” said Mayor Marianne Matichuk.

“Thanks to the dedication of city council, city staff and our partners, the message that Greater Sudbury is a world-class city in which to live, work and play is paying off.”

“Often, we only hear of the challenges and constraints facing the health-care system,” said Debbi Nicholson, president and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

“Yet, the Physician Recruitment Program is just one example of the effective work being done in our community to improve our health care. We congratulate all those who worked to bring these 27 medical practitioners to our community and are certain that the enthusiasm, expertise and resources from this project will carry forward in new ways that ultimately improve patient care.”