Transform Health Human Resources Planning
One of NOSM University’s primary efforts to address the health inequities in Northern Ontario is our transformative approach to the planning and delivery of workforce supply to reduce the gaps in Northern Ontario Health human resources. A total of 902 MD students have graduated since NOSM University’s first convocation ceremony in 2009 (73 Indigenous and 179 Francophone) as well as 827 residents from nine residency programs. Considering NOSM University graduates have only been practising for 12 years or less, the impact in Northern Ontario has been impressive with 50 per cent of graduates choosing family medicine (compared to 23 per cent in Canada) and a majority staying in Northern Ontario to practise after certification.
Despite our efforts, we continue to struggle with physician shortages in Northern Ontario—a major issue as communities face Emergency Room shortages and closures, government cutbacks, burnout, and a high percentage of impending retirements.
There is no question, health care in Northern Ontario is in danger. You can read more about it in the call for action by the OMA and Ontario College of Family Physicians: Immediate Action is Needed to Support Northern Ontario Family Doctors Working to Keep Emergency Rooms on the Brink of Closure Open.
At NOSM University, we continue to do our part with laser focus. We train people in the North, for the North, and we have a successful model of recruitment of physicians from other parts of Canada.