Prince George, B.C.-   Northern Health is celebrating its recruitment successes, and says the positive results   are the result of the Northern Medical Program, and the hard work of communities.

 

Although most of the Northern Medical Program grads are either still in residency or taking part in five year specialty training programs, Northern Health says it has successfully recruited nearly a dozen graduates.

 

In all, 55 physicians (including those from the NMP) have been recruited from all over B.C. , Canada and the world Since January of 2012.

 

“Although the Northern Medical Program has been admitting students since 2004, we are only now beginning to see graduates settle in the region and begin to practice,” said Dr. Charles Jago, Northern Health Board Chair. “As physicians complete their residencies and specialties, and as they take the time to determine where they want to practice permanently, we will begin to see more and more settle in northern B.C.”

 

In addition to those recruited from the NMP, Northern Health has also recruited 24 physicians since 2010, all of whom completed their residency in the north but were not from the NMP.

 

Northern Health  says it “remains in contact with graduates of the NMP who have not reached the point of selecting a permanent home and expects many of those to establish practices in northern communities in the future.”

 

 

The health authority also credits communities for their involvement, noting the efforts of Fort St. James in particular. Just over a year ago, that community was down to just one physician and now, Northern Health says the community is “nearing a full complement of five physicians.”  

 

In a release issued today, Northern Health Chief Operating Officer Michael McMillan offers praise to the community of Fort St. James “The community of Fort St. James deserves the credit for making the doctors that have been recruited feel welcomed and wanted.”

 

The successes  noted today, do not mean Northern Health has no positions to fill, quite the contrary as the following chart will show. However, as Northern Medical Program graduates complete their residencies and specialty training, the picture is expected to be even rosier.

 

Vacancies within Northern Health: