Medical recruiters are continuing their efforts to show Chatham-Kent as an ideal place to live and practise.<\/p>\n
Published Feb 12, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
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With more doctors about to retire and nearly 18,000 locals with no primary health-care provider, medical recruiters keep pushing Chatham-Kent as an ideal place to live and practise, an official says.<\/p>\n
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Rebecca Smyth, physician recruitment co-ordinator with Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, updated council this week on the latest numbers and efforts to attract and retain family doctors.<\/p>\n
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Currently, 17,877 patients are listed as \u201cunattached.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on the current estimates, we would need an additional 12 physicians,\u201d to handle that many patients, Smyth said. \u201cThat\u2019s given about a 1,500-patient roster (per doctor).\u201d<\/p>\n
But just over 84 per cent of the local population has a provider, she said, adding: \u201cThat is something to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Physician retirements are a concern, with doctors aged 60 and older making up 25 per cent of the current number.<\/p>\n
If those retirements occur in the next five years, Chatham-Kent would need an additional 20 physicians to ensure everyone had a provider.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere still is a need for physician recruitment, attracting new physicians to our community,\u201d Smyth said. \u201cAnd having clear succession planning for physicians . . . looking to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n
With municipal support in recent years, incentives rose to $25,000 for new physicians to come to Chatham-Kent in return for five years of service. A dedicated recruiter position also was created.<\/p>\n
Sustainable recruitment requires net new physicians, Smyth said, referring to how some physicians are shouldering a greater load to serve more patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile that is fantastic and we want to celebrate that, we also want to recognize that that isn\u2019t sustainable,\u201d she said. \u201cThat will continue to put pressures on those physicians.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The team continues to meet with prospective physicians, and those still in school, including outreach through networking and special events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve engaged with over 100 candidates and counting,\u201d Smyth said. \u201cWe\u2019ve hosted 22 medical learners . . . from Chatham-Kent . . . studying abroad, or locally.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to connect with them to offer a token of our appreciation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the doctor shortage is provincewide, Chatham-Kent also faces growing competition and retention challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelationships really do matter. Early engagement works,\u201d Smyth said. \u201cI will argue that our community connection absolutely has a competitive advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n