Northumberland County says it’s stepping up efforts to address the local shortage of family doctors with the hiring of Paula Mason, RPR, as its first Physician Recruitment Specialist and the launch of a new Physician Recruitment Advisory Committee.
Together, these initiatives form part of a two-year pilot project to improve access to primary health care across all seven municipalities.
Mason will begin her role September 22. Since 2018, she has served as Manager of Physician Recruitment and Retention for Docs by the Bay in Brighton and Trenton, where she built strong networks and achieved results in attracting and retaining doctors. She is a nationally recognized leader in her field, holding a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society of Physician Recruitment and serving as Vice-Chair of the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance.
In Northumberland, Mason will design and implement a recruitment action plan with health sector partners and local communities while facilitating the newly established advisory committee. Membership includes representatives from local health teams, municipal councils and the business community, ensuring recruitment efforts reflect both community health needs and the economic importance of primary care access.
According to the county, an estimated 8,000 Northumberland residents currently lack a family doctor, with that number expected to grow. County Warden Brian Ostrander says hiring Mason and launching the committee signal a united, county-wide approach to one of the region’s most pressing issues.
The committee’s first meeting will take place in October, with updates to be shared publicly as the pilot progresses.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)