Addressing physician shortage with dedicated day aimed at inspiring next generation
A Medical Career Day was held on Friday at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, welcoming high school students from around the region to learn from the experiences of various medical professionals.
"We wanted to re-engage students within Simcoe County and talk about what a career in medicine looks like," said Melanie Delion from Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment.
Forty high school students from Barrie, Innisfil and Orillia were on hand to learn about the many different opportunities, and to gain insight about pursuing careers in the field.
With the ongoing shortage of medical practitioners in the region and province, getting younger doctors in all areas of practice is key.
Delion estimates around 25 per cent of family physicians in Simcoe-Muskoka are 55 or older.
"It's exciting to be able to talk to students to say a doctor's not just a doctor," added Delion. "There can be different pathways, many different specialties."
The presenters who shared their experiences with the high school students included physicians, psychiatrists and admissions representatives.
One of those presenters was Dr. Jessica Green, an OBGYN at the Orillia hospital.
"Medicine is a fabulous career," said Green. "It's a great way to give back to the community."
The students also learned about different options for their post-secondary education, including whether to pursue medical school within the province or internationally, where to for residency, and how to return closer to home to begin practicing.
Ontario's Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop, took the opportunity to meet with those who could one day be a solution to the ongoing shortage of health care professionals.
"In this province, we've had the largest increase in medical needs in over 10 years," said Dunlop. "It's great to see a rural hospital like this putting this presentation on for students and to see all these local students come together."
The Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee says family physicians are the most-needed medical position in the region.
The committee is currently recruiting six to eight new family physicians within the next 18 months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
WATCH Why today's inflation numbers are good if you have a mortgage
New inflation data is 'welcome news' for consumers and an economist says it could signal the possibility for a interest rate cut as several core measures also continue to ease.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.