Five new family physicians are practicing in Chatham-Kent and most of them are accepting new patients.<\/p>\n
Published May 09, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0days ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
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Five new family doctors are practicing in Chatham-Kent and most are accepting new patients. (File photo)Article content<\/p>\n
Five new family physicians are practising in Chatham-Kent and most are accepting new patients, the municipality says.<\/p>\n
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The new physicians are:<\/p>\n
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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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess 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,\u201d Mayor Darrin Canniff said in a release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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,\u201d he added. \u00a0\u201cWelcoming five new family physicians to our community is a major accomplishment and an important step toward connecting more residents with the care they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecruitment of new family physicians takes a coordinated effort across many organizations and individuals,\u201d said Rebecca Smyth, physician recruitment co-ordinator with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeing the benefits of communities, health-care providers, and municipal leadership working together . . . ,\u201d she added. \u201cWe are excited to welcome these physicians and support them as they establish long-term practices in Chatham-Kent.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u201cCouncil recognized that improving access to primary care required a collaborative and proactive approach,\u201d said Audrey Ansell, Chatham-Kent\u2019s community culture and connections director.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d she added. \u201cWe are encouraged by the momentum we are seeing and remain committed to supporting health-care recruitment efforts across Chatham-Kent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents without a family physician are encouraged to register through Healthcare Connect<\/a>,\u00a0 a provincial program that helps Ontarians find a family health-care provider.\u00a0Residents also can register by phone at 1-800-445-1822.<\/p>\n