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Five new family physicians are practicing in Chatham-Kent and most of them are accepting new patients.
Published May 09, 2026 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read
Five new family doctors are practicing in Chatham-Kent and most are accepting new patients. (File photo)Article content
Five new family physicians are practising in Chatham-Kent and most are accepting new patients, the municipality says.
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The new physicians are:
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Kaelan Harwood, at the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in BlenheimAdebisi Ogundipe, at the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in WallaceburgPaige Parent, at the Thamesview Family Health Team in WheatleySyed Shah, at the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in ChathamAdib Shamsuddin, at the Thamesview Family Health Team in Chatham
Their arrival was announced by the municipality, in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Family Physician Recruitment & Retention Task Force, the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, local family health teams, and other community health partners.
“Access to family health care is one of the most important issues facing communities across Ontario, and we are proud to see real progress being made here in Chatham-Kent,” Mayor Darrin Canniff said in a release.
“This success is the result of strong partnerships between the municipality, health care organizations, the physician recruitment task forc, and the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team,” he added. “Welcoming five new family physicians to our community is a major accomplishment and an important step toward connecting more residents with the care they need.”
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The municipality has continued to support physician recruitment through funding, incentives, and community partnership initiatives approved by council, municipal officials said. In 2025, the municipality provided funding to support physician recruiting across Chatham-Kent, including incentive programs designed to help attract new family physicians to local communities.
“Recruitment of new family physicians takes a coordinated effort across many organizations and individuals,” said Rebecca Smyth, physician recruitment co-ordinator with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team.
“We are seeing the benefits of communities, health-care providers, and municipal leadership working together . . . ,” she added. “We are excited to welcome these physicians and support them as they establish long-term practices in Chatham-Kent.”
The municipality also has worked with health-care partners to support clinical space expansion opportunities for clinical space and strengthen physician retention efforts, officials said.
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“Council recognized that improving access to primary care required a collaborative and proactive approach,” said Audrey Ansell, Chatham-Kent’s community culture and connections director.
“The partnerships that have been built between the municipality, the Ontario . . . (and) family health teams, and health-care organizations have created a strong foundation for success,” she added. “We are encouraged by the momentum we are seeing and remain committed to supporting health-care recruitment efforts across Chatham-Kent.”
Residents without a family physician are encouraged to register through Healthcare Connect, a provincial program that helps Ontarians find a family health-care provider. Residents also can register by phone at 1-800-445-1822.
For more on Chatham-Kent physician recruitment efforts, visit physicianswantedck.com.
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