“I am extremely pleased with the work that has been done to recruit physicians to the Island,” said Minister of Health, Doug Currie. “Our government’s priority is to provide top quality health care to all Islanders; ensuring that the physician complement on PEI is filled is a major step in providing that care. The addition of these 17 physicians brings us very close to reaching that complement province-wide.”

A number of new physicians have started practising over the past few months, while others are due to arrive on the Island soon. The new physicians are helping to relieve pressure in many areas, both in family medicine and specialities.

Family Medicine:

Dr. Ambrose Kennedy began his practice in Souris in August, filling the complement of four. In Montague, Dr. Scott Campbell began his practice at the Kings County Medical Centre in July. Dr. Tewogbola Ajisebutu began a permanent full-time practice in October after having provided locum coverage in Montague during the months of July and August.

In Charlottetown, Dr. Robbie Coull began his practice at the Four Neighborhoods Family Health Centre in October. He will be joined by Dr. Zahra Jamal who is anticipated to arrive within a few weeks and will also be working at the Four Neighborhoods Family Health Centre. Dr. Wayne Cox will begin his practice in Cornwall in mid-December. These three new physicians will fill the family physician complement in the Charlottetown area.

In Summerside, Dr. Tatiana Slivko and Dr. Wasam Al-Shaar began family practices at the Harbourside Family Health Centre in August and September respectively. In O’Leary, Dr. Gil Grimes took up his practice at the Beechwood Professional Centre in September.

Emergency Medicine:

In July, Dr. Kate Ellis Ghiz began providing services at the Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and locums in Family Medicine in Charlottetown. Dr. Trevor Jain provided locum services at the QEH Emergency Department over the summer and accepted a permanent position in September. In Summerside at the Prince County Hospital (PCH), Dr. Zaid Jaber had been providing locum services in the Emergency Department and accepted a permanent position in September.

Specialists:

Dr. Lynn Bowler began a permanent position at the Pathology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in September. Dr. Anne Moore, an Anaesthetist, began by providing locum services, but recently accepted a permanent position in Anaesthesia at the QEH as of September. Dr. Lenley Adams accepted a position in Internal Medicine at the QEH in August. In Psychiatry, Dr. Mary Ann Ross began a full-time position for the province in August, and Dr. Abraham Popoola will begin a permanent position at the QEH starting next week.

“We are extremely pleased at our progress in filling the physician complement. Our collaborative efforts with local physicians and Department of Health staff, coupled with a very competitive package of recruitment incentives and compensation are key to this success,” said Patti Devine, Director of the Recruitment and Retention Secretariat.