Dr. Madura Sundareswaran is feeling energized in her quest to attract more family physicians like herself to Peterborough following a new collaboration with the municipality.
The City of Peterborough is partnering with the Peterborough Family Doctors’ Think Tank, which Sundareswaran founded, in support of the city’s new approach to physician recruitment and retention.
The think tank, a consulting and brainstorming group of independent family physicians, focuses on local advocacy and the grassroots-level changes needed to support doctor recruitment and retention from the perspective of family physicians.
“We are excited,” Dr. Sundareswaran told kawarthaNOW. “We have hit the ground running and are already starting to see action items outlined in our report. I am feeling optimistic about the direction that the City of Peterborough is taking.”
“Our most recent report on recruitment and retention is helping to provide guidance on future priorities. All of this is definitely instilling confidence in what is to come.”
She said the think tank is providing guidance and making recommendations to the city’s new physician recruitment coordinator, Chantal Van Parys, and is partnering with the city on joint projects that support primary care in Peterborough.
According to a media release from the City of Peterborough, the think tank’s advice “will be a critical part of the city’s efforts to highlight Peterborough as an ideal place to have a primary care career.”
“Peterborough has a great deal to offer prospective physicians so they can contribute meaningfully to various types of patient care while also living in a community in which they are valued as leaders,” said Mayor Jeff Leal in the release. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with local doctors through this partnership to understand the diverse practice types and evolving careers of family doctors.”
Dr. Sundareswaran emphasized the importance of this partnership.
“Peterborough is a fantastic place to live and work, and the think tank is excited about the city’s innovative and unique new family physician recruitment and retention strategy,” she said, referring to the city’s multi-pronged “Whole of Village” recruitment program that city council approved in April with a $580,000 budget until the end of 2025.
“Family physicians should be part of the recruitment effort and, as such, we are proud to be working with the city to leverage the strengths of Peterborough and its local physicians,” Dr. Sundareswaran said. “We all share the common goal of ensuring that everyone in this community has access to a primary care provider, and we look forward to working together to achieve this goal.”
According to the release, the goal of the city’s physician recruitment efforts is to work towards fair and equitable access to primary care, a challenge faced by many communities across the province. As retirements and administrative burdens increase, “it is vital to not only expand access for new patients, but also to maintain care for those already with a family doctor.”
Van Parys, as the city’s new physician recruitment coordinator, is centralizing resources and now serves as the main contact for prospective physicians.
“We will be working closely with (Van Parys) and most often reporting to her directly,” Dr. Sundareswaran said. “This partnership is about leveraging the strengths of the city and its local physicians, but of course each is most familiar with our own unique portfolios. To have a dedicated person liaise between both groups helps is critical.”
The doctor said the partnership came together collaboratively.
“Both the city and local physicians were looking for better ways to work together and ensure that an effective recruitment strategy was in place,” she explained.
“All of us recognize the importance of attachment to a primary care provider for all, so there was a real desire to find a way to work together towards achieving this goal. It truly was a collaborative effort.”
Over the coming months, the city will showcase what Peterborough can offer recent graduates and family physicians who have yet to settle into a practice.
