Doctors Found for Mackenzie and Fort St. James

By 250 News

Northern Health says efforts to recruit new family doctors for Mackenzie and Fort St. James are paying off.

Dr. Fabriel LeClerc has joined the Mackenzie Family Health Clinic, practicing on a part-time permanent basis. Mackenzie will also benefit from Dr. David Abbott’s arrival this month, who will practice full time. An additional physician will provide temporary coverage in December and January while considering moving to the community on a long-term basis. Two other physicians currently practice in Mackenzie.

Fort St. James has benefited from the hard work of veteran physician Dr. Paul Stent, who helped encourage Dr. Edward Hank to move to the community this fall for a three-year term. Fort St. James now has three full-time physicians for area residents, with further recruitment planned.

Northern Health has an aggressive recruitment strategy in place to help bring new physicians to underserved communities. Initiatives under the BC Government’s master agreement with the BC Medical Association also offer improved pay for physicians willing to practice in smaller centres.

“On top of our recruitment efforts, we value the opportunity to work closely with educational institutions both locally and provincially in meeting the demand for health professionals in the north,” said Dr. Charles Jago, chair of the NH Board

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