With the shortage of family doctors being one of Northumberland County’s “most pressing” issues, the county announced on Friday (September 12) that it has hired its first-ever physician recruitment specialist and has formally launched a related advisory committee.
The county is hoping to make headway when it comes to the growing local shortage of family doctors with the hiring of veteran recruiter Paula Mason and establishing the new physician recruitment advisory committee. These initiatives are part of a two-year Northumberland County-led pilot project to improve access to primary healthcare for residents across all seven municipalities of the county.
“Council has heard clearly from residents and partners that the shortage of family doctors is one of the most pressing issues facing our community,” said county warden Brian Ostrander in a statement.
“With (Mason’s) expertise and the launch of the new advisory committee, this pilot represents a united county-wide approach, bringing healthcare partners, community members, business leaders, and municipalities together to find solutions that will strengthen access to primary care for all Northumberland residents.”
Since 2018, Mason has served as manager of physician recruitment and retention for Docs by the Bay, a physician recruitment organization serving the Municipality of Brighton and the City of Quinte West.
She has a reputation for creating strong networks and achieving results in physician attraction and retention. With more than 30 years of client service expertise across healthcare, retail, and banking, she is known as a skilled communicator and collaborative leader, a media release noted.
A long-standing member of the Canadian Society of Physician Recruitment, she served two years as chair of its board of directors and, in 2023, received the organization’s lifetime achievement award. She is currently vice-chair of the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance.
“I’m excited to join Northumberland County as physician recruitment specialist and to lead the effort to attract and retain exceptional physicians for our communities,” Mason told kawarthaNOW. “Northumberland is a wonderful place to live and practise, and I look forward to working with our healthcare partners to help meet local healthcare needs.”
Mason will lead the design and implementation of a recruitment action plan, working closely with health sector partners and local communities to attract and retain physicians to Northumberland, the county said.
Mason will also facilitate the doctor recruitment advisory committee, which will be charged with providing strategic guidance and co-ordination to support the county’s recruitment efforts.
The committee comprises the members listed below who represent healthcare provider, municipal, community, and business perspectives, with the goal of ensuring that physician recruitment efforts reflect both community health needs and the economic importance of primary care access.
- Ed Gannon, executive director, Lakeview Family Health Team – OHT-N Collaboration Council
- Delayne Donald, executive director, Trent Hills Family Health Team – OHT-N Collaboration Council
- Dr. Michelle Cohen, primary care physician, Lakeview Family Health Team – OHT-N Primary Care Network
- Dr. Michelle Long, primary care physician, Ganaraska Family Health Organization – OHT-N Primary Care Network
- Councillor Greg Booth from the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand
- Councillor Anne Butwell from the Municipality of Brighton
- Councillor Randy Barber from the Town of Cobourg
- Spencer Cobourn of the Township of Cramahe
- Robert Gibson from the Township of Hamilton
- Councillor Les Andrews for the Municipality of Port Hope
- Councillor Daniel Giddings from the Municipality of Trent Hills
- Olinda Casimiro, executive director, Art Gallery of Northumberland
- Robert Seguin, managing partner, Thrive Partnership Group, Inc.
The Ontario Medical Association estimates there are 2.5 million people in the province who are without a family doctor. In Northumberland County, more than 8,000 residents do not have a primary care provider and this number could rise to more than 20,000 by 2026, according to information from the county.
“Hiring Paula and launching the advisory committee are important first steps,” said Glenn Dees, Northumberland County director of health and human services.
“This pilot project is about collaboration — aligning efforts to ensure Northumberland is recognized as a place where physicians want to practise and families can count on reliable access to primary care.”
Dees spoke with kawarthaNOW earlier this year about the physician shortage.
As another strategy aimed at increasing access to primary care, the county reopened in 2024 the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic in Port Hope, in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland. The initiative is a one-year pilot project, and Dees said the county would evaluate the feasibility of providing the walk-in clinic services on a permanent basis.
Mason will begin her role with Northumberland County next Monday (September 22). Meanwhile, the physician recruitment advisory committee will hold its first meeting in October.
