A Day in the Life of a Community Physician Recruiter: More Than Just Filling Jobs Most people think physician recruitment is just posting a job and waiting for applications to roll in. The truth? It’s a strategic, high-stakes, relationship-driven role that touches healthcare, immigration, licensing, real estate, economic development, and lives. Here’s what one day might look like for a [...]
The ROI of Physician Recruitment: Why It’s More Than Just Filling a VacancyPhysician recruitment is often treated as a temporary solution to a staffing shortage. But in reality, it’s one of the most powerful economic development tools a community can invest in—especially in Ontario.A single physician doesn’t just treat patients. They generate local jobs, stabilize communities, and support millions in [...]
Left to Right: Melanie Goulet (NEOPRA Chair), Zoe Brenner (NWOPRA co-chair), Jeff Remington (OPRA Physician Lead), Jill Croteau (SOPRA and OPRA Chair), Adam Hambly (EOPRA Vice Chair), Melanie Delion (COPRA Chair and OPRA Vice Chair) Stephan Smit (NWOPRA co-chair) Andrea Loewen (OPRA Director of Advocacy), and Owen Doerksen (NWOPRA co-chair). On Teams - David Gravelle (COPRA) and Brad Van den [...]
Ontario Takes a Bold Step to Address Primary Care Gaps Today, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced a $1.8 billion investment in primary care improvements. This funding provides a critical step toward addressing the healthcare needs of Ontarians and expanding access to family physicians. "We are excited about the energy behind this initiative," said Jill Croteau, Chair of the Ontario [...]
severe physician shortage, which they say has led to a crisis in rural medicine. This issue is particularly acute in small and rural communities, where emergency departments frequently face closures due to the lack of doctors. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) hosted an online discussion with its president, Dr. Dominik Nowak, and two northern physicians, Dr. Sarah Giles and [...]
The job of recruiting family doctors starts by understanding where the gaps in primary care services are. To identify the areas where the people do not have access to a family doctor or other primary care provider, the OPRA team requests data from the Ministry of Health, which is compared to the 2023 census data. With this information, it [...]
The Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (OPRA) is at the forefront of addressing the physician recruitment crisis in Ontario. With a significant percentage of the population not enrolled with a primary care physician (Ministry of Health PEM data, Oct 2024) and 2.52 million “uncertainly attached” to a primary care provider (INSPIRE ), the gap between the care needed and the [...]
Niagara is currently facing a shortage of 106 family doctors. Local mayors and administrative officers are working together to address this issue. Jill Croteau, a physician recruitment specialist, has been actively recruiting doctors from Ireland, the UK, and other regions. Niagara municipalities are offering financial incentives to attract doctors. In 2024, a record-setting 28 new doctors started practices in [...]
The article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) discusses the challenges and strategies related to supporting rural physicians in Canada. It highlights the unpredictability of the rural physician workforce and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive recruitment process that ensures physicians feel welcome and connected to their communities. The article also addresses the need for policy changes and [...]
The closure of the only walk-in clinic in St. Thomas has left approximately 10,000 residents without a primary care provider, forcing many to seek care at the emergency room, which has led to long wait times and high patient volumes. The remaining clinic that accepts non-registered patients has very limited hours, making it difficult for many to access care. [...]
