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| Medical school on the horizon at UOIT | |
| September 16, 2009 | |
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| Bob Duignan City Manager |
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By Lindsey Cole The Oshawa Express A new partnership that could change the face of Oshawa and make the university a medical school are just some of the goals highlighted at a recent city committee meeting. If the matter passes at council, Oshawa’s Physician Recruitment Taskforce could be partnering with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). The idea was recently discussed at a Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting, after a number of recommendations were put forth to make Oshawa a little more physician friendly. But it will come at a cost to the city. According to a committee report, it was recommended that council endorse UOIT as the new community partner to provide administrative assistance and financial oversight, as well as be the conduit to the Strategic Initiatives Committee and city council, for the Oshawa Physician Recruitment Task Force. It was also put forth that the task force continue to fulfill the city’s mandate to recruit, relocate and retain family doctors and hire a part-time recruiter to fulfill this very task. “I see this as helping to fulfill a grand image,” says Mayor John Gray, adding he knows UOIT has intentions to become a medical school eventually.“I realize this isn’t a mandated service for us. (But) the pressure (to find doctors) is not off. It’s in their (UOIT’s) interest.” But one bone of contention for committee member Councillor Nester Pidwerbecki was the amount of money going into this initiative from the city versus the amount that was coming from the four clinics involved with the taskforce.“Is it a good financial plan? I am just looking to see if there is a better way,” he explains. In the 2009 budget, council approved a corporate grant of $122,000 for the task force. The money was to go towards recruiting and incentives for prospective doctors. The report states the city will continue to provide funding for the project, as the unexpended funds from the 2009 budget will be rolled over to the 2010 budget for the taskforce. Over the past four years the city has spent more than $500,000 to help the taskforce. However, it was also stipulated in the recommendation to council that the clinics involved continue to contribute $2,000 towards the incentive cost of each recruited family doctor locating to their clinic.“Ten thousand towards $122,000, I don’t know that that’s fair,” Councillor Pidwerbecki says. “I find that a little insignificant.” But City Manager Bob Duignan says it is tough for the taskforce to find any additional funding, therefore the amount from the city is justified.“I think we shouldn’t lose sight that the Physician Recruitment Taskforce has been successful,” says Councillor Robert Lutczyk. |
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| “I believe it (the partnership) will elevate the profile of the community.” In a previous interview with The Oshawa Express, Dr. Adrian Pettyan, on behalf of the force, said Oshawa needs about 20 to 25 more doctors in the area to fill the patient load. As of June 2008, 31 doctors decided to make Oshawa the place to start their practice. | ||
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©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
