City of Cornwall takes proactive approach to doctor recruitment

“The City of Cornwall continues to address the doctor shortage challenge by supporting its volunteer medical recruitment team, and this medical scholarship is one more step in the process,” said Mayor Bob Kilger.

PHOTO CREDIT - City of Cornwall

Cornwall - Jun. 2, 2011 - The City of Cornwall is taking a proactive approach to doctor recruitment. The City is now accepting applications for its annual medical scholarship program.

Each year, the City offers an annual scholarship of $25,000 for up to six years to a local resident who has been accepted into medical studies or is currently studying medicine at a Canadian University. The focus is on students planning to enter a Family Practice.

The deadline to submit an application is July 15, 2011.

“The City continues to address the doctor shortage challenge by supporting its volunteer medical recruitment team, and this medical scholarship is one more step in the process,” said Mayor Bob Kilger.

In order to apply, candidates must be permanent residents of Cornwall and S, D and G. Upon earning accreditation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the chosen candidate will be required to open and carry out a family medicine practice in the City for a minimum of five years. The scholarship will be granted in the form of a forgivable loan.

Dr. Michael Cox, a member of the medical recruitment team, fully supports the medical scholarship initiative.

“The success of our recruitment team has meant the community’s complement of specialists is in relatively good shape. However, we continue to experience an acute shortage of family physicians and the medical scholarship will help to alleviate the problem,” he added.

The first recipient of the medical scholarship is Vanessa Carter, a lifelong resident of the Cornwall area. Ms. Carter is pursuing her medical studies at the University of Ottawa and is a graduate of Castleton State in Poultney, Vermont, earning degrees in Biology and Health Sciences. Once she has completed her Family Medicine studies and earns her College of Physicians & Surgeons certification, Ms. Carter will be setting up a full-time Family Practice in Cornwall