Who is OPRA?
The Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (OPRA) is the leading organization dedicated to supporting physician recruitment and retention across Ontario. By becoming an OPRA member through a regional Alliance, you gain access to valuable resources, networking opportunities, and strategic initiatives that enhance recruitment efforts in your community. Here are the key reasons to join OPRA:
1. Access to Exclusive Workforce Data
OPRA provides members with comprehensive physician workforce data which is requested regularly from the ministry of health. This data helps members make informed recruitment decisions, identify gaps, and plan effectively for future physician needs.
2. Shared Recruitment Resources
Members benefit from a provincial job board with unlimited postings, marketing materials, and shared best practices that streamline recruitment efforts. OPRA’s applicant tracking system (ATS) allows members to track and manage potential candidates efficiently.
3. Representation and Advocacy
OPRA actively engages with government agencies, health organizations, and policymakers to advocate for improved recruitment policies, funding, and support for physician recruitment efforts across Ontario.
4. Networking and Collaboration
Join a community of physician recruiters through a regional alliance to share insights, strategies, and solutions. Membership includes participation in networking events, knowledge-sharing forums, and working groups that address regional recruitment challenges.
5. Cost Savings and Shared Opportunities
OPRA members participate in shared booth costs through the regional alliances, for recruitment events, ensuring a strong presence at key physician job fairs and conferences without bearing the full financial burden while sharing leads.
6. Enhanced Physician Repatriation Efforts
OPRA leads targeted initiatives to attract and repatriate Ontario-trained physicians working abroad, helping fill critical healthcare gaps across the province.
By joining OPRA, you become part of a province-wide movement to strengthen physician recruitment and retention. Membership ensures you stay connected, informed, and equipped with the best tools and resources to attract top medical talent to your community.
Chart of Physician Recruitment Organizations
Organization
Purpose
Key Responsibilities
Membership & Reach
CASPR (Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters)
National organization for physician recruitment professionals
Provides national networking, professional development, and best practices for physician recruiters. Hosts an annual conference to give recruiters tools to recruit and retain physicians.
CaSPR membership is open to any non-profit physician recruiter in Canada
OPRA (Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance)
Provincial non-profit organization supporting physician recruiters to recruit and retain doctors in Ontario
Provides workforce data, provincial level advocacy for policy changes to reduce barriers to recruitment and retention, provide recruiters with resources to effectively recruit and retain physicians. This organization oversees the provincial applicant tracking system and job board.
OPRA is the overarching organization to support SOPRA/EOPRA/COPRA/NEOPRA/NWOPRA with their recruitment initiatives.
Regional Alliances (SOPRA, COPRA, NWOPRA, NEOPRA, EOPRA)
Regional physician recruitment non-profit organizations focused on local physician recruitment coordination
Coordinates regional recruitment efforts, supports member municipalities under the OPRA banner. Collaborates on regional marketing and communication strategies to bring doctors to regions of Ontario.
Regional Alliance membership is a paid cost sharing model to increase the number of events and engagement opportunities for recruiters.
Ontario Health
Government agency responsible for healthcare planning and delivery in Ontario
Oversees healthcare system integration, healthcare workforce planning, and funding distribution for the NRLP, EDLP and NRRR programs.
Not a membership-based organization; serves healthcare institutions and policymakers
