Provincial Physician Recruitment Office opens

Julie Bettney, Minister of Health and Community Services, John Peddle, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Association (NLHBA), and Dr. Ian Bowmer, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University, today announced a cooperative initiative which will be the most effective physician recruitment process ever to be undertaken in this province.

The Department of Health and Community Services and the NLHBA will fund the operation of a Provincial Physician Recruitment Office which will be established in space provided by the medical school.

"When our physician graduates are making decisions on where they want to pursue their medical careers, we want to ensure they know of the opportunities in this province," said Minister Bettney. "We want to increase the number of graduates who make this province their first choice of where to practice. By locating this office at the medical school, the physician graduates will have easy access to information on where vacancies exist in the regional health boards and at community and private practice clinics."

Scarlet Hann has been hired as the coordinator of the Provincial Physician Recruitment Office. Ms. Hann will be a direct contact for medical students to be informed of vacancies and opportunities in the province and for information on incentive programs. As well, she will assist the health boards and, for the first time, fee-for-service clinics in identifying potential candidates.

"At various times throughout the year, our boards are looking for physicians and specialists to work within their organizations," said Mr. Peddle. "By having a provincial coordinator, the health boards will have a point of contact to determine which physicians have an interest in practising in this province."

Dr. Bowmer said the medical school is looking forward to working with the department and the health boards association in their efforts to recruit physicians.

"This office will mean our physician graduates will be kept informed of where practice opportunities exist in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Dr. Bowmer. "We all share the same goal of wanting to retain as many of our graduates as possible."

Ms. Hann's mandate will also include recruiting physicians from elsewhere in Canada and internationally to ensure that vacant positions are filled on a timely basis.

Media contact: 
          Carmel Turpin, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377
          Sharon Gray, Information Services, MUN, (709) 777-8397
          John Peddle, NLHBA, (709) 364-7701 ext. 317.

2001 10 18                       12:15 p.m.