Future doctors impressed with what Orillia has to offer

Orillia Packet and Times

Orillia has “a really good reputation” among future doctors studying in Toronto.

“Orillia is one of the top few cities outside (Toronto) that people are seeking and talking about,” Eva Tan, a 26-year-old resident from North York General Hospital, said Friday. “I think you guys have a really good reputation.”

On Thursday and Friday, the Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee hosted 28 North York General Hospital first- and second-year family medicine residents.

Tan is a second-year resident and plans to do an extra year in emergency training before settling somewhere.

She’s considering Orillia for its lifestyle and practice opportunities.

Tan wants to practise hospital medicine, emergency and family medicine.

“I think (a small community like Orillia is) probably the way to go so I can practise all three,” Tan said.

In Toronto, family doctors choose a niche and stick with it, said Ramy Kamal, 29, from Toronto.

“Here, you can practise however you want and you really have an opportunity to take care of patients from the cradle to the grave,” he said.

Kamal is completing his second year of residency at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.

He was also in Orillia for his first and third years as a medical student.

“The learning opportunities of starting a career in a place like this are just so much more vast and so much more rewarding than working in a big centre,” he said. “There’s a huge opportunity to balance lifestyle with very gratifying public services.”

Kamal bought a bicycle and kayak within a month of moving to Orillia.

“It’s just a beautiful place to live,” he said. “It’s everything you could ever want.”

Victoria Archer, 25, is from Orillia and will move back next year to complete her second year of residency.

“There is a push now for younger doctors for that work/life balance,” she said. “In smaller communities, you have the option to do that because you’re close to your work and close to outdoors.”

In the next three to five years, the Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee will need to recruit 15 family physicians and 15 specialists due to those retiring.

From 2010 to 2012, the committee recruited 13 family physicians and 16 specialists.

Marci Csumrik, chair of the committee, said the committee took the residents on tours of Orillia and of the hospital.

“(Otherwise) we might not have had them even know about Orillia,” she said. “We hope they tell their friends Orillia’s a great place.”

Kamal said most residents are surprised when they learn how sought after they are in communities outside of Toronto.

“It’s really lovely to see,” he said. “You’ve got to fight for a spot in Toronto and (fight) to do what you want to do.”

Photo:

Dr. Kim McIntosh speaks to 28 family medicine residents from North York General Hospital inside the Orillia City Centre on Friday. The residents are in the city for two days to experience what it might be like to practise in Orillia. SARA ROSS - THE PACKET & TIMES