As municipalities across Ontario struggle to attract enough family physicians, the City of Belleville just secured its 44th physician candidate through a city-run recruitment program.
“Belleville offers a unique combination of small-town charm and big-city amenities, meaning you can create the balanced life you're looking for,” says the Family Physician Recruitment Program's online brochure. Yes,” it says.
For Mike Dinn, a medical student at Western University, it was the perfect pitch.
“It was mainly a combination of the city's own support and, to be honest, Belleville's geographic location,” Ding said.
The extra money helped too.
Under the program, family physicians who agree to relocate to Belleville will receive a $150,000 stipend paid at $25,000 per year for a minimum five-year contract period.
Mr Ding said this would be a great stimulus for doctors who have avoided family medicine due to relatively low salaries.
“These kinds of factors play a big role in why students are currently hesitant to go into primary care,” Professor Ding said.
After graduating in 2028, Ding said he plans to open his own family practice in Belleville. He said his classmates were also supportive and he was surprised to hear that a city the size of Belleville was making such an offer.
“For most of us, I think we have heard of some incentive programs related to remote communities,” Ding said.
safe and affordable living
With a population of approximately 55,000 and located on the 401 Freeway between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, Belleville is a highly accessible community without some of the challenges faced by larger cities.
“We are a safe, affordable community,” said Karen Poste, the city's recruitment program manager. “It has everything everyone needs, but still has a small-town feel.”
Belleville City Hall is visible in the foreground in this drone image taken on February 23, 2024. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
Poste said the local physician community is participating in the recruitment program and stands ready to welcome new physicians and provide support as needed.
“They’re where Mike is when he starts practice, and they all understand that and are very supportive,” she said.
The Belleville City Council made Poste's position permanent last year, which she said shows the city's commitment to providing continued support for new doctors.
“I think it's very reassuring for people who are considering location,” she says.
Physicians who accept the offer must set up an office in Belleville and enroll patients there. However, the program does not specify how many patients each doctor must serve, nor does it require proof that all patients reside within city limits.
Work-life balance is important
Poste advises other municipalities considering their own physician recruitment programs to think about what makes them different.
“What can you offer that other communities can't?” she asked. “Work-life balance is very important for students who have been in school for many years.”
“So figure out what your unique advantage is and market it to get the attention of the right students.”
According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, 2.3 million residents currently do not have a primary care physician. That number is expected to double by 2026.
Last week, the state government announced it would invest an additional $446 million over three years in its primary care expansion strategy. The strategy aims to connect approximately 600,000 patients to team-based primary care.
As part of an ongoing effort to increase the number of family physicians in Ontario, the province is also investing in a new medical school at York University that will focus on primary care.
