The support of the Morden Area Foundation is having an impact on the recruitment of more physicians in the community.
Foundation representatives Friday presented a $15,000 cheque to the Menzies Medical Centre to go towards physician recruitment, and a medical student who is working towards settling here was on hand for the occasion.
Josh Sawatzky, who is a fourth year medical student and who has been matched up with the residency program at Boundary Trails Health Centre, will be ready to start his practice in 2027, and he welcomes the support to make it possible for him to come back to where he and his wife grew up.
“We’re going to stick around, so it’s really exciting to be able to come back here and do my training,” he said.
“It’s a very generous donation,” said Sawatzky. “It’s super helpful for recruiting health care workers and physicians as the area really does need more health care workers, and I think just those donations like that are super helpful for getting people to come back and practice in the area.
“It’s a big commitment,” he said, noting though his love for the area and how it matters to have that feeling for the community and the culture here in the area.
“The dream to become a doctor I think started late high school, early university. I always knew I wanted to do health care … early on, in medical school, I really found again that connection,” he said. “Having some of those connections in the community is super helpful.”
“We are super excited to be making some good progress in our recruitment efforts,” said Nicole Walske, executive director of the Menzies Medical Centre in Morden. “He’s been a joy to have as a med student in our clinic for the last number of years … being from the area, it’s just a great add to our community, to this clinic and to our team.”
She noted how there are better chances for retention as well to have someone with a connection to the community.
“I think overall it’s important to know that recruitment is looking positive,” she said. “We do have some good indications of some doctors joining us in the next year as well, so I think that’s important for people to hear.”
The clinic currently has 16 family practice physicians, one pediatrician and two nurse practitioners, and it has just been approved for another nurse practitioner position.
It would ideally have room to add 10 more family physicians, noted Walske.
“It is going to still take a really long time. There’s lots of patients still on that list … we have hope for getting there.”
Foundation chairperson Sue Nelson said they are happy to be involved in supporting the health care sector in Morden.
“It’s great to see that we’re working towards more physicians for the area because that’s certainly a huge, huge need,” she said, citing how the foundation strives to help improve the well-being of residents in Morden.
“The need for physicians in this area is incredible,” she said. “So the Morden Area Foundation is very excited and happy to be part of supporting the Menzies Medical Centre in their physician recruitment.”
