COVID-19 – Finding Opportunity in a Time of Challenges

This past year has been extremely difficult. The pandemic has affected all sectors of business, including healthcare. But it is has also proven to be a time of opportunity. A time to reflect, adapt, and change how we do things.

Last year, for our Annual Family Medicine Resident Event, we shifted to an online programme engaging with family medicine residents from across the province, country and beyond. As a result of expanding our reach in this new virtual world, we found great success recruiting from outside our traditional borders. We have been fortunate enough to have recruited a number of physicians from outside Ontario who are now calling Kitchener-Waterloo home.

Though traditional recruitment efforts have not been possible this year, we look forward to a time when we can connect, network and engage with physicians in person again.

23rd Annual Family Medicine Resident Event – Staying Virtual

This year we will be welcoming back family medicine residents virtually. On Saturday, November 6th, we will invite family medicine residents to engage with local family physicians, emergency physicians, business and community leaders for our 23nd Annual Family Medicine Resident Event.

During their virtual visit, family medicine residents and their partners will have the opportunity to see what life in Kitchener-Waterloo would be like. They will have the opportunity to hear from community leaders, meet with local physicians, learn about the practice opportunities, and tour Kitchener Waterloo (virtually). When time permits, we are excited invite our guests to join us at a later date (hopeful for spring) in person to give them the full in-person experience.

In addition to the Annual Family Medicine Resident Event, we will continue to participate/attend virtual medical recruitment fairs across Canada to continue to identify and connect with future family physicians.

Our successes and efforts would not be possible if it wasn’t for our generous corporate, municipal and personal sponsors and volunteers of this program. We sincerely thank our partners for their generous and continued support as we continue to strive to bring physicians to our community.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jenna Petker

Jenna is Physician Recruitment Lead for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.