If they learn here, they will practice here.
That is the philosophy behind the Rural Ontario Medical Program, which places resident doctors in under serviced communities.
ROMP is partnered with McMaster University — and Grey Bruce Health Services in Owen Sound is now a Rural Stream Residency site.
Doctor Peter Wells is the head of the ROMP program — he helped introduce the newest doctor taking up residence in Owen Sound at a press conference on Friday.
Doctor Wells tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that in the past decade, 85 per cent of doctors who took a residence position in Collingwood continue to practice medicine there — making the program very successful.
The latest doctors learning on the job in Owen Sound are Doctor David Diodati — who is practicing now — and Doctor Siobhan Conway-Hicks who starts in January.
Doctor Diodati says he is looking forward to the challenges of his two year residency, and feels Grey-Bruce is a great place to practice.
Diodati says the learning process has been great so far, and he feels the best way to become a full fledged family doctor is to get hands on experience.
Doctor Peter Wells founded ROMP back in 1988.
The program is funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health.
