Premier Pat Binns along with Health Minister Chester Gillan and Department of Health recruitment staff will travel to Dalhousie University to meet with Prince Edward Island medical students and residents tomorrow as part of government’s on-going recruitment strategy effort.
The purpose of the visit is to meet with 20 Islanders including 16 students and four residents who are currently attending Dalhousie Medical School to encourage them to consider PEI as a potential place to practice as physicians.
The students and residents as well as Department of Health recruitment staff are especially pleased by the Premier’s effort to attend the meetings and his commitment to recruitment.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity and look forward to having face-to-face discussions with these medical students,” says Premier Binns. “As potential prospective physicians for PEI, it’s extremely important that they are aware of what we offer as recruitment incentives and also that they have a chance to express their future professional and lifestyle considerations to us.”
Studies show that recruitment and retention of physicians is affected by two major categories – professional and lifestyle issues. Multifaceted recruitment programs appear more successful than those relying on financial incentives alone. Site visits to medical schools have been part of Government’s on-going recruitment efforts for the past five years and are one of the many initiatives that make up the province’s overall Physician Recruitment and Retention Strategy.
“Attracting and keeping physicians on PEI is a continuing challenge,” said Minister Gillan. “These types of meetings allow us to provide medical students and residents with a good understanding of the practice and lifestyle opportunities PEI can offer.”