Town approves physician sponsorship grant pilot program

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore council approved the Physician Sponsorship Grant pilot program during the May 15 regular meeting, which aims to attract more doctors to the local community. 

The one-year pilot program will offer three grants, each worth up to $30,000 to support local medical offices in their efforts to attract new physicians to Strathmore, should they choose to take on the role of ‘sponsor’ through the established College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) program. 

“Sponsorships are a way to bring internationally trained physicians into Alberta. This pilot program is an innovative initiative that may assist in the recruitment of physicians to Strathmore, easing the physician shortage,” said Mayor Pat Fule, via a statement. 

Following the year of the program term, the matter will be reviewed and brought back before council for consideration.

In order to be eligible for the grant, an applicant must have a signed sponsorship contract with CPSA prior to their application, agree to commit to sponsoring the internationally trained physician for up to six years, including financially supporting the sponsored physician throughout the registration process, practice readiness assessment, and into independent practice, and agree to pay the grant back to the town should the sponsored physician practice in the town for less than five years.

“This is fantastic, I am just so pleased with Coun. (Denise) Peterson in promoting this with our administration in bringing together this policy. This is going to be a competitive advantage for our municipality that potentially will bring in doctors to this town and so this is something that I have heard loud and clear from residents whether it be door knocking or running into at the grocery store that we have a doctor shortage, and this policy has a potential to make a difference,” said Coun. Brent Wiley. 

“When I hear about how hard other municipalities are working at attracting doctors and how much they are spending – this amount of money at $90,000 is very reasonable, again with the payoff potentially being three doctors.”

Coun. Richard Wegener suggested approaching the county and other municipalities to potentially also get other municipal governments in on the sponsorship.

“I think this is a good example of council putting money where our mouth is. We have all sat here … and spoken about how we understand that the shortage of doctors in our community is dire, and you have heard us all say that, and now you are hearing us commit some money behind that to try and make a difference here and to bring additional medical services to our community,” said Coun. Melissa Langmaid. 

“I am really grateful to the doctors in the community who expend a huge amount of their own resources and their own energies to taking new doctors on, and prior to this, doing it at their own costs. I am very proud of a council that will help to share that burden and bring added value to our community,” said Coun. Peterson.

The town opened the application window for the program beginning June 1, and will allocate the grants on a first come, first served basis.