LOOKING TO PRACTICE IN CAMBRIDGE? We have immediate openings for Physicians in a Family Health Team as well full and part time Locums. For more information, please contact Donna Gravelle.

Cambridge & North Dumfries Doctor Recruitment Committee

Established in 1999, the committee is committed to the recruitment and retention of family doctors for Cambridge and North Dumfries. Since its inception, the committee has successfully recruited over 35 doctors to meet the health-care needs of our residents.

As is the case in many Ontario communities, a doctor shortage continues to leave some residents of our community without a family physician. We encourage you to browse our website, learn about our great community, and contact us with your questions.

The Cambridge Doctor Recruitment Committee welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate to doctors why our community is the perfect place to work and raise a family. We are proud of our community and encourage any physician to come for a visit and tour our scenic community. We are in close proximity to Toronto and Pearson Airport, offer all of the amenities of a mid-sized city, yet are just steps away from outdoor activities, including hiking and biking trails and access to two rivers for canoeing and rowing.

Values (or Guiding Principles):

• A whole community approach to developing excellent relationships with new, existing and retired physicians; medical schools; our community partners; and Cambridge Memorial Hospital
• Making visiting physicians and their families feel welcome and informed
• Understanding the needs of physicians and various primary care models
• Creating a welcoming community to support new doctors with a smooth integration
• Giving equal consideration to all clients and clinics when promoting placements and maintaining confidentiality
• Honouring our community and respecting our health care providers

Strategic Issues / Directions:

1. Clarify our Mandate through Research and Development
   • Collect better information to allow for more accurate assessment of the current situation and provide for the ability to make projections about  future needs, e.g. match the data on doctor retirement, attrition and population growth with the demand for new doctors.
   • Develop models for retirement/succession planning to ensure seamless transition.


2. Work Collaboratively
   • Build relationships by strengthening partnerships and fostering more collaboration, e.g. WWLHIN, the Region of Waterloo, local clinics, doctors and other health care providers.
   • Determine the scope of partnership with Cambridge Memorial Hospital in regards to specialist recruitment.


3. Strengthen and Resource the Capacity of the Task Force
   • Proactively plan to resource the Task Force (human and economic) to enable us to meet our mandate. (e.g. more representatives from the medical community involved in committee work).
   • Define the Governance model of the Task Force so we can address leadership, accountability, decision making, representation, roles & responsibilities and reporting mechanisms.


4. Promotion and Visibility
   • Promote awareness of the Task Force to key stakeholders, the medical community and the public (as part of everything we do).


5. Programs and Education
   • Evaluate the merits of our current programs, e.g. Rural Medicine Week, MedCamp, doctor appreciation events.
   • Enhance what we do through opportunities with learners and residents, i.e. recruitment fairs, assisting with electives, CARMS match.