[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/price_david.jpg” caption=”Dr. David Price, chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Photo courtesy of FHS.”]New family physicians will be trained at William Osler Health Centre (WOHC) as it becomes a family medicine teaching site of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

On July 1, seven residents, including two who are internationally-trained doctors, begin their two-year program based at WOHC's Brampton Civic Hospital. The program will grow to a total of 18 residents by 2010. Residents will provide medical care at the hospital under the supervision of physician faculty members.

“The William Osler Health Centre has the most up-to-date facilities and state-of-the-art technology, excellent medical staff and a welcoming multicultural community,” said Dr. David Price, chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. “The residents will not only have a wonderful two-year residency training experience, but they may well be enticed to subsequently practice in the community.”

Through the new partnership, the McMaster medical school provides funding, curriculum and administration for the teaching program while WOHC provides training facilities, family physicians and specialists as faculty members and hands-on experience in a family medicine clinical setting.

Residents will gain hospital experience primarily at Brampton Civic Hospital with some specialized training at the Etobicoke General site. Specialty rotations include time in pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, palliative care, and rural community family medicine.

Dr. Judy Maynard, the new director of the McMaster/WOHC Family Medicine Teaching Centre, is a long-time Brampton family physician.

“Residents will receive a combination of educational opportunities ranging from traditional classroom training from Osler affiliated physicians to practical experience working alongside our community family physicians,” she said. The first-year residents will be placed with family medicine practices throughout the community, six in Brampton and one in Woodbridge.

Upon completion of the program and exams, these physicians will be fully accredited members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

“Almost half of all medical residents choose to stay in the communities in which they trained,” said Dr. Frank Martino, chief of WOHC Family Medicine. “This is one way Osler can give back to our community and help address the family physician shortage in the area, now and in the future.”

Joe McReynolds, chair of the Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) said: “This initiative will provide the opportunity to increase our primary care capacity for our community throughout the Central West LHIN. This is a prime example of how integration partnerships will benefit us all and strengthens our health care system.”

This new initiative is possible through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's initiative to increase the training of new physicians in the province.