Choosing Orillia easy decision for new doctor and family

 At the kitchen table in their small townhome that had a postage-stamp-sized patch of grass in a crowded London neighbourhood, Joel Runk and his wife, Kate, pored over a map of Ontario, circling cities sporting a population of 20,000 to 30,000 people.

“At first, we picked more than 20 different communities,” said Runk, who was looking for a place to establish a family medicine practice. “Then, we found out Kate was pregnant and we narrowed our search to central Ontario where most of our friends and family are. Then, we looked at the hospitals and then we started contacting recruiters.”

In the end, the young couple set up day-long excursions to Alliston, Huntsville and Orillia. The Sunshine City was second on the itinerary but finished a resounding first in their hearts, said Runk, who noted Pat Thor, community physician recruitment liaison for the Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, was instrumental in their ultimate decision to come to Orillia.

“We basically spent the day with (Thor), who had all these appointments lined up like clockwork,” said Runk, who hails from Lindsay. “She had set up a meeting with various doctors in town, she took us on a tour of the hospital, we had lunch with the recruitment committee, she took us on a drive around town and a tour of the neighbourhoods … it was a great way to get a sense of the community.”

Ironically, the couple then attended a friends’ wedding in Orillia that weekend. “We met a lot of people at the wedding – a lot of them were local and everybody we talked to said Orillia is amazing. There were a lot of young people there, too – people our age that came back here and settled down … they all said it was a great place to raise kids.”

Before making a final decision, the Runks decided to give the city a test drive. In February, in the midst of one of the harshest winters in memory, they took up residence in Orillia for a six-week locum at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).

“I tell people it’s sort of like substitute doctoring,” says Runk. “I filled in for family physicians while they were on holidays. I spent four weeks between two different doctors’ offices, which is a great opportunity to see the services available, to see what kind of patients are here, learn about local issues… I was also a hospitalist for a week and I also did a bunch of shifts (in the emergency department at OSMH) and got a sense of the hospital … it was all very positive.”

Their stint in Orillia wasn’t all about work. In addition to helping the Runks find a home to rent, Thor introduced Kate to some other young moms.

“Pat helped me connect with some other young moms, which is something that was difficult to do in London. It was great,” said Kate, bouncing Ella, nearing her first birthday, on her lap. “We went to Mariposa Market and I felt like I was in heaven. I love the downtown and the library is just amazing. It was a big selling point. I felt sad when I was leaving Orillia to go back to London.”

She wasn’t sad for long. The six weeks in Orillia cemented their decision; they recently moved to town and found a nice home in a pastoral neighbourhood – with a spacious yard that backs onto a forest. And Dr. Runk is in the process of setting up his new office with the Couchiching Family Health Team at its state-of-the-art facility on Memorial Avenue – another key factor in the decision to move north.

“There’s a real advantage in joining something that’s up and running,” said Runk. “There is so much to think about. The people here have provided lots of advice and I am able to tap into their experience, which is part of why I came here and joined the team. And, within the building we have X-ray (services), a pharmacy, diabetes educators, dietitians, mental health services … that’s all very valuable.”

Just as valuable, they noted, is the quality of life here. Joel is an avid cyclist and is looking forward to exploring the many miles of trails in the region.

“Like most people of my generation, we’re looking for balance,” says Runk. “So, recreation opportunities are important to us … cycling is the biggest thing, but we also like to hike and golf and, with kids, the idea of being near forests, lakes and pools is very appealing.”

Kate, who met Runk when the two were students at the University of Waterloo, agrees. While their experience in southwestern Ontario was a good one – Runk went to medical school and did his family residency at the University of Western Ontario – they felt London was “too big, too busy, and had too much traffic.”

“That’s why we spent so much time looking into this … we were looking for a place to live the rest of our lives,” said Kate, a hydro-geologist who, at least for now, is staying home to care for Ella. “This is a great place for us to start our family.”

And while his medical practice is also just starting, Runk said he relishes the opportunity to build relationships with his patients.

“I’d love to be able to walk into the exam room – and this has never happened yet because I’ve always been a resident or doing a locum – where I actually walk in and I know the patient and I don’t really need to look at the chart,” he said. “I can’t wait for that day.”

With the addition of Runk, the Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee has successfully recruited 14 family physicians since November 2010. It’s estimated 15 more family doctors are needed in the next three to five years thanks to impending retirements and unmet need (vacancies).

If you are in need of a local family doctor, contact Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822 or visit ontario.ca/healthcareconnect.