Brightshores Health System recently welcomed 14 new physicians to the area.
The hospital corporation said the hires will help more patients and families access specialized care close to home while strengthening healthcare services across Grey Bruce.
“Physician recruitment is an ongoing priority for our Medical Affairs team, who leads this work. This activity naturally fluctuates over time in response to factors such as residency graduation cycles, retirements, population growth, evolving healthcare needs, and service expansion. The 2026 recruitments reflect multi-year efforts and these circumstances,” said Brightshores president and CEO Ann Ford in a statement to The Sun Times.
Ford said there’s no set bar to reach or number to hit when recruiting physicians to the area.
“There is no single number that defines a fully staffed physician complement across Brightshores. We regularly assess community and patient care needs and continue to recruit, retain, and support physicians to help ensure patients have access to high-quality care close to home. Brightshores works alongside community partners and local leaders to build long‑term relationships that contribute to a resilient rural healthcare workforce.”
Representing a range of specialties, the recent recruitment includes physicians in medical oncology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, critical care, neurology, psychiatry, surgery and anesthesiology.
Twelve physicians have joined Brightshores so far in 2026, with two more preparing to begin practising early this fall. Several of them are also family doctors who recently set up practices in addition to the care they provide at Brightshores hospitals. More than 250 physicians, 2,100 staff and 500 volunteers provide care and service at Brightshores.
“Physicians tell us that Brightshores offers a unique and rewarding place to practise. In a community healthcare setting like ours, they have the opportunity to work across a broad scope of practice, develop meaningful relationships with patients and colleagues, and shape a career that aligns with their professional interests and goals. We are committed to ongoing investments in innovation, advanced technology, modern clinical equipment, and physician well-being, ensuring physicians have the resources, support, and practice environment needed to deliver exceptional care and build fulfilling careers,” Ford said.
Brightshores serves one of Ontario’s largest geographic regions and delivers care at six hospitals across the predominantly rural Grey and Bruce counties.
Each hospital provides local services, with regional programs like cancer care connecting patients to specialized expertise and treatment across the system, creating a more coordinated care experience. In addition, mental health and addiction services are provided to individuals across the region at a standalone centre located in Owen Sound.
“Physician recruitment is a highly competitive, relationship-driven process that requires time, coordination, and sustained effort. Success depends not only on addressing the needs of a community, but also on finding the right fit for both the physician and the organization. Factors such as specialty, practice opportunities, community needs, and lifestyle considerations all play an important role,” Ford said.
“This recruitment momentum reflects the kind of health system we’re building for Grey Bruce: strong, connected and ready to meet the needs of our communities,” said Dr. Michael Williams, vice president of medical affairs at Brightshores, in a media release. “These physicians will make an immediate difference for patients and families while helping strengthen programs and services that will benefit the region for years to come.”
The physicians who have joined Brightshores so far this year are:
Dr. Wael Ahmed (Internal Medicine and Critical Care – regional program)
Dr. Nasrin Alavi (Family Medicine, Emergency and Inpatient Care in Wiarton)
Dr. Marwan Altikriti (Family Medicine, Emergency and Inpatient Care in Meaford)
Dr. Adnan Amin (Emergency Medicine in Southampton)
Dr. Farin Rashid Farohki (Internal Medicine – regional program)
Dr. Victoria Reedman (Neurology – regional program)
Dr. Badar Saleem (Psychiatry – regional program)
Dr. Sydney Selznick (General Surgery – Owen Sound)
Dr. Fawad Shamsher (Psychiatry – regional program)
Dr. Kathleen Walsh (Hospital Medicine – Owen Sound)
Dr. Shima Bagherzadeh (Family Medicine, Emergency and Inpatient Care in Lion’s Head)
Dr. Maed Osili (Medical Oncology at the regional Brightshores Cancer Centre)
Physicians joining Brightshores early this fall are:
Dr. Harpreet Grover (Family Medicine, Surgery in Owen Sound)
Dr. Theunis Van Zyl (Anesthesiology – Owen Sound)