The Upper Ottawa Valley Medical Recruitment Committee (UOVMRC) has announced the signing of another family doctor.

Dr. Rachelle Denis will begin her practice in Petawawa at the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre in the fall of 2014. She is presently in her first year of a two-year family medicine residency program at the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Denis received her doctorate in medicine at the University of Ottawa this spring, after completing her Baccalaureate in Science, with honours in biochemistry.

She is the ninth physician to be recruited by the committee, which represents the residents of Bonnechere Valley, Whitewater Region, Laurentian Valley, North Algona Wilberforce, the city of Pembroke, the town of Petawawa and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.

“The recruitment committee has worked very hard to try and alleviate the family physician shortage in our area and Dr. Denis will be a valuable addition to our community when she arrives,” said Debbie Robinson, committee chair.

“We realize there are still many people from our communities who do not have a family doctor, and our goal is to bring enough doctors to this area so all residents can access quality health care,” continued Mrs. Robinson, a councillor in Laurentian Valley township.

Dr. Denis was extremely impressed with the health centre in Petawawa and is looking forward to making the area her home.

“I knew right away that I would enjoy working at the health centre. The staff and physicians have created an excellent work environment,” Dr. Denis said, “and the support I received from the recruitment committee was invaluable in helping me make the decision to move to Renfrew County.”

When Dr. Denis begins her practice, she will take 1,000 patients from the recruitment committee’s orphaned patient wait list. Anyone without a family physician who lives in one of the municipalities represented by the recruitment committee, can place their name on the wait list.

To register online go to www.uovmedicalrecruit.ca or pick up a registration form at area pharmacies, Pembroke Regional Hospital, or municipal offices.

“The recent announcement that the walk-in clinic in the city of Pembroke is closing puts more pressure on us,” Ms. Robinson said. “I assure residents that our recruiter, Alyson Olsheski, along with members of the committee, are working very hard and will continue to do so in our efforts to bring more doctors to the area.”

In the past two months, Dr. Jennifer Thomas, Dr. Lynsay Lane and Dr. Katie Forfar, have been taking names from the committee’s wait list.

“The recruitment committee appreciates the continued support of the municipal councils and the Pembroke Regional Hospital,” Ms. Robinson said. “While there are still thousands of names on the list, we are gaining ground.”

According to Ms. Robinson, there are people who have found a family doctor on their own. Those people are asked to contact the recruiter at (613) 732-6337 to have their name removed from the wait list.

stephen.uhler@sunmedia.ca