Physician Recruitment will be taking the spotlight this Friday, thanks to the help of local businesses.

Friday, June 13 is the third-annual Today I’m Working for Physician Recruitment Day. Organized by the Southern Georgian Bay Physician Recruitment Task Group, the campaign is designed to raise awareness of the need for family physicians in the Southern Georgian Bay area and raise funds that will be used in the recruitment of family physicians.  

“The idea behind it is that smaller businesses who get asked to do stuff all the time can still participate and do something for the campaign,” Lisa Belcourt, a local lawyer and campaign organizer tells The Mirror.

“They can still participate, but it’s not as much as a hardship for them.”

The goal is to raise $5,000 from the day-long campaign.

“All of the proceeds go to paying for the costs of doctors visits. Many physicians who are interested in coming to our area are from out of province, so this helps to fund those trips, as well as relocation costs and incentives.”

With close to 8,000 people in the community without a family doctor, it’s more important than ever to work to recruit new physicians to the area, she says.

Stephen and Lori Woods own Native Woods Nurseries and are just one of many local businesses that will be taking part. They will be donating $1 from every hanging basket sold towards the campaign.

A survivor of throat cancer, he credits his successful recovery to his own family physician, who caught the cancer before it spread, and refers to taking part in the campaign as a “no-brainer.”

“I think this is one of the ways for us to payback, to help out. It’s a way for us to help promote (the campaign) and for the staff to feel like they’re contributing. We can all feel enriched by it.”

Like many residents, the Woods family recently found themselves scrambling to find a new family doctor after their longtime GP retired. They were able to find a new doctor, but know first-hand how difficult it can be and just how important it is to have a doctor.

“You get to have a relationship with a family doctor. It’s very comfortable to be able to talk to someone you know.”

The Physician Recruitment Group has successfully recruited four new doctors in the past year.

While that news is encouraging in the same time two of our family doctors retired and more are starting to make their retirement plans.

“We should not forget the importance of family physicians in our community. Everyone in our community deserves to have access to a family doctor and I am happy to see the community working together to ensure that this happens,” says Belcourt.

For more information about how your business can get involved in Today I’m Working for Physician Recruitment, contact Belcourt at 526-1471.