Five new family medicine residents coming to the Sault

For a change, here is some good news on the local healthcare front.

The city today announced a “significant milestone” in its ongoing efforts to recruit physicians to the Sault: all five of our community’s family medicine residency positions have been filled.

"While we have endured weeks of difficult news in the healthcare sector, the filling of family medicine residency openings in Sault Ste. Marie, at a time when many spots went unfilled nationwide, represents a glimmer of hope for the future of our community's health needs," Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said in a news release. 

Since its inception, the Sault's Physician Recruitment and Retention program has lured 207 highly skilled physicians to the city.

Below is the full news release from the City of Sault Ste. Marie:

Sault Ste. Marie, ON (2024 03 26) – The Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment and Retention program announces a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare provision within the community. As part of the broader NOSM University campus, there are five dedicated family medicine residency positions in Sault Ste. Marie. The Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) process has recently announced the successful match of all five local family medicine positions. 

"While we have endured weeks of difficult news in the healthcare sector, the filling of family medicine residency openings in Sault Ste. Marie, at a time when many spots went unfilled nationwide, represents a glimmer of hope for the future of our community's health needs," says Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

Since its inception, the program has been instrumental in recruiting 207 highly skilled physicians to the City. The program has showcased Sault Ste. Marie as a destination for healthcare professional advancement and an enriching personal lifestyle. A large part of this success is its relationship with NOSM University with half of the recruited physician having completed part of their medical education and training in Sault Ste. Marie.

“The matched candidates are well known to our program, have completed educational rotations with us throughout medical school and are excited to be moving to our community to start residency training this summer,” says Carrie Stewart, Manager, Physician Recruitment and Retention. “Despite national trends veering towards specialty practices, 55% of NOSM University medical students have matched to family medicine programs. This achievement reaffirms our shared vision and the investment these learners have in our community’s well-being.”

To learn more about the Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment & Retention Program, visit welcometossm.com. 

About Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment & Retention program:

The Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment & Retention Program is dedicated to advancing healthcare excellence through innovative recruitment strategies and community collaborations. By attracting and retaining top-tier medical professionals, the Program strives to cultivate a thriving medical ecosystem for the betterment of the community and its residents. For more information visit welcometossm.com.