Menzies Medical Centre has recently welcomed another new physician, and his recruitment came with the assistance of the Morden Area Foundation.
Dr. Chiedozie Okoye has started practicing in Morden, and the foundation last week presented a $15,000 grant as part of its commitment to help support physician recruitment.
“We’re super excited for Morden Area Foundation partnering with us on more than one occasion to support the good work of recruitment and hopefully retention in our community, build our system, to be a stronger support for our community,” said clinic executive director Nicole Walske.
“In order to recruit physicians, we need to provide incentives so that they come and stay,” said Yvonne Stoesz, a foundation board member and grant committee chairperson. “It feels good having another physician provide the needs for health care for our community.
Stoesz noted they presented a $15,000 grant in support of a new physician last year as well, so it is not only encouraging to see it making a difference but also to hear that Okoye wants to settle here.
“That’s so awesome,” she said. “I think that’s the biggest hurdle is to recruit, and once people move here, they feel what a great community Morden is for themselves … we hope they stay.”
And she was pleased to hear that the recruitment efforts here are paying off in providing so many people with a consistent family doctor.
“This means a lot to those people … it’s adding to the team here.”
“I’m here to stay,” said Okoye. “I’m thinking it’s easier day by day … I do hope to enjoy my stay here. I intend to make it a home for my family.”
Okoye was born in Nigeria, where he completed his undergraduate medical training with University of Nigeria. He then worked as a senior medical officer for a few years before moving to the United Kingdom to complete his postgraduate training in general practice family medicine. He worked as a family doctor in the United Kingdom until moving to Canada with his family.
“Relocation wasn’t easy, especially when you’ve got family,” he said. “It was a big challenge in terms of the unknown.”
A big difference for him was that he had a classmate who had previously relocated here and had good things to say, so some of his fears were eased because it was coming from “someone I’ve known for 20 years, and I trust his judgement.
“He couldn’t stop praising his time here,” said Okoye. “I would have had a soft landing because I’ve got someone here showing me what to do.”
He hasn’t been here very long yet, but he very much likes what he has seen and experienced.
“So far, it’s been very good … nice community, nice patients. I’m enjoying my time here so far,” he said. “I’m getting use to things day by day. I suppose it’s a journey. We’ll take it as it comes.”
He also noted another factor in choosing Morden:
“Personally, I like a quiet life. I’m not a city boy. I like it here; the quietness, a small community. You get to know your patients,” he said, emphasizing how he appreciates having more time to really work with his patients and establish a relationship with them.
Walske noted they very much appreciate the impact of their recruitment efforts, noting how different it is now even from four years ago when it seemed so hard to both retain and recruit physicians.
“It’s a huge impact,” she said.
“We’ve had a few weeks now where our walk-in is not at capacity on a more regular basis because people have family doctors,” she noted. “We’re depleting that list on Family Doctor Finder, and patients are feeling supported and connected again in their health care, which is the ultimate goal.”
And Walske stressed as well how vital it is that someone like Okoye can be welcomed and integrated into the community.
“Our community does that so very well … and just overall the community within our clinic, our physicians do work very hard to stay connected,” she said. “They really do work hard at building that connection, and I think that is a key component for us retaining our current physicians and recruiting more.”
