With everyone pitching in – homemade quilts, a plumber’s contacts, house hunting, office space and staff, kids’ school registration, arranging Canadian citizenship tests and more – the combined work of the MidValley Region PhysicianRecruitment and RetentionCommittee could be seen in its recognition of welcoming four new doctors over the past year.
“We’re glad to be able to provide the venue for this important event,” said 14 Wing Greenwood Commander Colonel Jeff Davis, welcoming health care professionals, their families and all the community partners working on local recruitment and retention of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and others; to the base’s Annapolis Mess.
“The committee’s work touches us here at the wing, as it’s great to have the services doctors provide to pour families. When our members come to work, they’re not focused on priority lists, access, waits their family members may have to deal with: it’s great to be part of this committee and have our needs met.
“And, we can be a help making the local care area more amenable to have people come join us.”
The wing hosts a shared primary care clinic, with spaces available for both military dependents and community members. It has also been able to host fun events for potential and decided health professionals and their families – including pool parties and learn-to-curl activities; and open some programs and facilities.
The Mid Valley recruitment and retention hosted the November 4 celebration as a way to bring current health care professionals together with newcomers, and community volunteers and organizations who support all of them.
“This committee is all about building partnerships,” said Anne Crowell, the Mid Valley committee’s vice-chair. “We take care of four health clinics and we help with the staff of Soldiers Memorial Hospital as well.”
Events to link everything and everyone have included whale-watching, a celebration of Family Doctor Week and National Nurses Week, a movie night with local Special Olympics athletes and families, a multi-cultural food event and more.
“As much as we do events, that’s not all we do: when newcomers come to our area, we can ‘find, go, get, do;’ 24 hours a day. You will never find another group of volunteers as dedicated as this Mid Valley group.”
Kings West MLA Chris Palmer, left, with Nova Scotia Health Authority Western Zone physician recruitment consultant
Karma Chickoski, chat with Dr. Adebola Ayenia, a new-to-Middleton physician being recognized at the November 4
Mid Valley Region Physician
Recruitment and Retention Committee event at 14 Wing Greenwood.
Mid Valley Region Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee community navigator Don Hyslop, left, stands by as Dr. Luke Burke thanks everyone he’s met since undertaking his first year of residency at the Middleton Collaborative Practice.
