New Lakeridge Health-Queens Med School Family Medicine Program Offers Hope for More Family Doctors in Scugog
For many Scugog residents, finding a family doctor is challenging. This struggle stems from a widespread shortage of family doctors, not just in this community, but across Durham Region and beyond.
Around 2.2 million Ontario adults are without a family doctor or primary care nurse practitioner, according to the Ontario College of Family Physicians. In Durham Region, approximately 79,000 residents lack a family doctor – a number expected to nearly double to 152,000 by 2026.
The Township of Scugog feels this impact acutely. Patients who visit any Lakeridge Health facility, such as Port Perry Hospital’s Emergency Department, need to follow up with a family doctor for ongoing care.
At Lakeridge Health, we recognize the urgency of addressing this family doctor shortage. Building robust relationships between hospitals and primary care providers is essential to fostering healthy communities.
That’s why we’re proud to have launched the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program. This is a first-of-its kind program in Canada, centered around an innovative medical education model to train more family doctors. Learning and building relationships in the community begins right from the start.
Last fall, we welcomed our first class of medical students who have already begun to integrate into the Scugog community. They’ve made connections, learned from mentors at Port Perry Hospital and at the Medical Associates of Port Perry.
This is exciting news for Scugog. Through a blend of classroom and hands-on learning, these students are on their way to becoming well-trained, comprehensive family doctors. Within five years, the program will produce graduates ready to make an immediate impact, with some even joining our local interdisciplinary primary care teams to enhance access to primary care in Scugog.
The shortage of family doctors in the Scugog community and beyond requires a bold and new collaborative approach. And we believe that this program holds tremendous promise to increase access to primary care in this community and across Durham Region.
We’re so proud to welcome the second cohort of students in August 2024.
Together, we can address this critical need and ensure everyone in Scugog has access to health-care they deserve.