Sault Ste. Marie recruits six new docs

The Sault Ste. Marie Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee has recruited six new physicians to the community.

All six physicians will be practicing in critical areas of need.

"Ensuring quality health care in this community is one of the most important issues of the day," said Debbie Amaroso, chair, Sault Ste.

Marie Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee. "Welcoming these new physicians into our community will assist in addressing this ongoing concern for our citizens. We need to be persistent in our efforts regarding our recruitment and retention activities so that we can continue to be a leader in attracting the expertise the community requires."

"The shortage of physicians and specialists is common to many communities across the province and, indeed, across Canada. Notwithstanding this fact, the Sault Ste. Marie Physician and Recruitment & Retention Committee, with the support of the City, Sault Area Hospital, the Group Health Centre and our local doctors continues to enjoy amazing success in attracting physicians to our community", said Joe Fratesi, CAO of the City and executive member of the committee.

Dr. Malcolm Brigden is an oncologist who was recruited from Saskatchewan. Since locating in Sault Ste. Marie, Dr. Brigden has assumed the role of Medical Director for the Algoma District Cancer Program.

Dr. Damian Micomonaco, an otolaryngologist, will join the Sault Ste. Marie medical community in September 2010. Dr. Micomonaco is from Sault Ste. Marie and is looking forward to returning home to practice.

He completed his otolaryngology residency this year and is currently doing a rhinology fellowship, which will bring added skills to the community.

Dr. Jeffrey Jenkin, a radiologist, who has been coming to the Sault as a locum for a number of years, has committed to the community on a full-time basis. Dr. Jenkin provides a full range of radiology services, including interventional radiology, and is now the chief of diagnostic imaging for Sault Area Hospital.

Dr. Melissa Hemy, a family physician, opened her practice at the Group Health Centre. Dr. Hemy, who is also from Sault Ste. Marie, completed her family medicine residency in Hamilton and is a previous participant in the city's Summer Studentship Program.

Dr. Anis Aziz and Dr. Nadim Haider are two urologists in training who were recruited at an event held in Montreal in February.

Dr. Aziz and Dr. Haider followed up that initial meeting with a visit to the Sault in July and were impressed with the beauty of the area and the practice opportunities in the city. Dr. Aziz will arrive in July 2010 and Dr. Haider will follow him in September 2011.