Sault Ste. Marie welcomes six new doctors

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COMMITEE

*************************** Six new physicians recruited to the Sault

The SSM Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee is pleased to share the news that six new physicians have been recruited since April 1 of this year.

All six physicians will be practicing in critical areas of need.

“Ensuring quality health care in this community is one of the most important issues of the day,” said Debbie Amaroso, chair, Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. “Welcoming these new physicians into our community will assist in addressing this ongoing concern for our citizens. We need to be persistent in our efforts regarding our recruitment and retention activities so that we can continue to be a leader in attracting the expertise the community requires.”

“The shortage of physicians and specialists is common to many communities across the province and indeed Canada. Notwithstanding this fact, the Sault Ste. Marie Physician and Recruitment and Retention Committee, with the support of the City, Sault Area Hospital, the Group Health Centre and our local doctors continues to enjoy amazing success in attracting physicians to our community”, said Joe Fratesi, CAO of the City and executive member of the committee.

Dr. Malcolm Brigden is an oncologist who came to us from Saskatchewan with much experience in the field of cancer treatment.

Since locating here, Dr. Brigden has assumed the role of medical director for the Algoma District Cancer Program.

Dr. Damian Micomonaco, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist), will be joining the medical community in September 2010.

Dr. Micomonaco is a Saultite who is looking forward to returning home to practice.

He completed his otolaryngology residency this year and is currently doing a rhinology fellowship which will bring added skills to the community.

Dr. Jeffrey Jenkin, a radiologist who has been coming to the Sault on a locum basis for a number of years has committed to the community on a full-time basis.

Dr. Jenkin provides a full range of radiology services, including interventional radiology, and is now the chief of diagnostic imaging for the Sault Area Hospital.

Dr. Melissa Hemy is a family physician who has just opened her practice at the Group Health Centre.

Dr. Hemy is also a Saultite who completed her family medicine residency in Hamilton and is a previous participant in our Summer Studentship Program.

Dr. Anis Aziz and Dr. Nadim Haider are two urologists in training that are coming to the community as a result of participation at a recruitment event held in Montreal in February of this year, one of several such events attended each year by Mary Jane Yorke, manager of the SSM Physician Recruitment and Retention Program.

Dr. Aziz and Dr. Haider followed up that initial meeting with a visit to the Sault in July and were impressed with the beauty of the area and the practice opportunities here.

Dr. Aziz will arrive in July 2010 and Dr. Haider will follow him in September 2011.

The recruitment of six physicians in the first half of the year alone is testament to the programs’ success in ensuring that quality healthcare providers are available to our citizens.

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