TIMMINS — Doctors are needed to help Timmins break a record.
So far this year, five physicians have signed on to work in the city. With recruitment efforts attracting four doctors a year for the past five years, 2025 is on pace for a record-setting year.
"In the last six months alone, we’ve surpassed our annual average, which means we’re also on track to meet 10 doctors this year, which is our goal,” said Corey Krupa, Timmins and District Hospital's physician recruiter.
The new doctors include two radiologists, an orthopaedic surgeon, an emergency room doctor, and a family physician, who, Krupa said will be primarily based at the hospital working in the ER as a hospitalist, geriatrics and addictions medicine
Krupa's update on recruitment was at the launch of a new physician recruitment campaign that's been boosted by $77,500 from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Rural Economic Development program.
The money covered the cost for marketing materials, videography and photography for an advertising campaign to bring awareness to Timmins, said Krupa.
Movetotimmins.ca now has a section specifically for physicians. It shares information on the incentive packages available to doctors setting up in town and details on the local health-care scene. The website was created a couple of years ago to attract people to the city. Details on how many people are using the site have not been made available by the economic development department.
The testimonials from local physicians help Krupa highlight how tight-knit the community is.
“I’ve always known that’s one of our strengths, but when it comes to articulating and speaking to that at events it’s hard. It’s one of those things that you know it when you see it. With having testimonials from our local physicians, it really makes a big impact,” he said.
The testimonials are also being leveraged for a marketing campaign.
“We’re going to be targetting regions that have a high population of students, residents and practising physicians, so that just helps to plant the seed for those students to maybe do electives or placements in Timmins. Same thing with residents and practising physicians — we’re encouraging them to do locums here,” he said.
The five doctors starting work this is an achievement, but there's still work to be done.
Right now, the city needs 40 to 45 physicians. That includes 15 to 20 family doctors and 25 specialists.
While there have been new hires, the number of physicians has remained the same because of existing doctors retiring or leaving the area.
“That’s why our goal is 10, to try and surpass what our current state is right now,” he said.
The physician recruitment campaign is a partnership between the Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, which includes the city's economic development department and Timmins and District Hospital.
"Physician recruitment is more than a health-care issue — it's an economic development priority," said Mayor Michelle Boileau in a news release.
"Our campaign reflects the urgent needs to attract new physicians to meet local health-care demands and support broader business and community growth."
