‘We are a part of something really transformative,’ says medical resident at new Family Medicine and Teaching Unit in Orillia

Four new family medical residents have moved to the Sunshine City and are now working at Orillia’s new Family Medicine and Teaching Unit (FMTU).

While the FMTU opened last week at 300 Peter St. N., the four young doctors started their two-year residency program in July.

Doctors Daniel Marinescu, Abdi Abdullahi, Stella Sabbatini and Blessy Joy are all graduates of the University of Toronto’s medical school, which has partnered with the FMTU.

Marinescu is the lead resident with the inaugural class of the Orillia FMTU.

“As someone new to this community, I’ve already felt the warmth, support and dedication that defines health care in Orillia,” he told those gathered for the opening of the facility in the former YMCA building.

“I’ve had the opportunity to train in many communities across Canada and the United States and I can confidently say the care, desire to teach and level of commitment to education in the community that I have found here is second to none. This new teaching unit offers an incredible environment for learners,” he said.

“With the support of the University of Toronto and many partners across Couchiching, we are a part of something really transformative,” he said. 

Abdullahi echoed those sentiments and applauded the program. 

“Being in a smaller community as a resident, you are exposed to a lot of specialties and we get a lot more hands-on whereas in Toronto, there is a lot of residents, so there is a pecking order in terms of procedure and seeing complex patients,” said Abdullahi.

Stella Sabbatini moved to Orillia with her husband and two children to join the new unit.

“Everyone is so nice and welcoming to us. It’s really the best thing I can say about this town. My kids are loving this city and the schools are good. It’s a great experience,” said Sabbatini.

Blessy Joy picked Orillia as both a personal and professional choice for her family of four.

“I’ve lived in Toronto before and we used to go to cottages on Lake Muskoka so we always stopped at Orillia and looked at the Couchiching viewpoint here,” she said.

“I like the life here. It’s not far from Toronto if you want to go to town but it’s a small town surrounded by water. I like the peace and quiet in the town and during the summer when I brought my kids here,” said Joy.

“My daughter kept asking me if we could go to the Orillia parks. She always wanted to come here. When I got matched into the Orillia program, I was so happy that we can finally settle down here.”

Joy said she likes how the FMTU is structured. Residents can build a mini patient roster and then take over those patients once they open a practice in Orillia.

Dr. Stuart Murdoch, a family doctor and program director at the University of Toronto’s department of family and community medicine, works out of the Barrie Family Medicine Teaching Unit.

He said the department is now one of the largest programs in the world. It trains more than 400 medical residents per year, four of whom are now in Orillia.

The first cohort of residents will graduate in July 2027. They can then choose to stay in Orillia or set up practice in another community.