It's good news for Sarnia area residents who need a family doctor.
Two new family physicians have opened practices in the city over the past month.
Blue Coast Recruitment Coordinator Carly Cox said Dr. Adedotun Alade is from Nigeria, and he lived in London, Ontario prior to completing his residency training in the UK. Alade, located at 494 Christina Street, began accepting patients on August 4.
Cox said Dr. Duncan Innes completed his residency training in Michigan, and he was born and raised in Sarnia.
"And he is now a father and his wife resides here, so it was a natural fit for him to come back," she said. "It was really just me coordinating a position that worked for him and what he was looking for."
Innes, who's located at 239 George Street, began accepting new patients on July 25. Cox said both of these recruits are unique in the sense that they are internationally trained physicians.
"And I have been in conversations with both of them for more than two years before they were ready to commit to Sarnia-Lambton," she said. Cox said in the past, the organization has mainly focused its recruitment efforts in Ontario, but they are now focusing on international recruitment.
"And it has certainly really paid off," said Cox.
Blue Coast has now recruited three new family doctors to the area over the past 60 days, which will result in around 6,000 patients being able to receive care.
"We've had very successful years like this in the past, but it's important to note that recruitment doesn't happen overnight," said Cox. "These are long term relationships that I have built over the past few years that are just paying off now." Cox said the goal is to continue to provide robust primary care to the community. Her hope is to continue to grow the program with participation and funding from municipalities across Sarnia-Lambton.
Blue Coast has now recruited a total of 46 family physicians to the area since launching in 2001.
With files from Melanie Irwin