12/14/2023
I'm happy to see another successful family physician landed by Paula Mason & Docs By The Bay Physician Recruitment and Retention. Paula and her student ambassadors actively recruit from both North American and overseas undergrad and medical schools. Paula even scouts Canadian high-schoolers whom plan to follow a med school path.
She does a great job within a challenging system: Ontario has a chronic family physician shortage - especially in rural areas. This has left municipalities like Quinte West to fund recruitment staff and offer monetary incentives for the services of family doctors.
Though delivering/funding healthcare is not a municipal responsibility, the community's medical needs have lead us to be aggressive in our recruiting efforts: purchasing a medical building in 2022 to provide more space for docs, and providing a competitive cash incentive to compete with other rural municipalities, locally and across the province.
If you lack a family doctor, please sign up on the Health Care Connect list. It has a lengthy wait period but it is the only tool the province provides to those lacking a doctor to queue for one ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner
Docs by the Bay Physician Recruitment and Retention is pleased to announce that Dr. Maka Shoniwa has signed Medical Service Agreements with both the City of Quinte West and the Municipality of Brighton. Dr. Shoniwa will begin practicing family medicine in both communities starting in late 2024.Originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Dr. Shoniwa is currently completing her final year of residency in Syracuse, NY. She obtained her Medical Degree from St. George’s University in Grenada W.I. and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry with a Minor in Classical Languages from Ave Maria University, in Ave Maria, FL and a Masters of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from SUNY Upstate Medical University, in Syracuse NY."Joining Docs by the Bay is an incredible opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the health and well-being of Quinte West and Brighton residents," said Dr. Shoniwa. "I am eager to work alongside this exceptional team and serve the community with personalized and comprehensive family medicine."In her free time, Dr. Shoniwa enjoys yoga, running, tennis and hiking. “We chose Quinte West because my partner and I were looking for a town we could call home and a clinic in which I could feel at home. Additionally, Presqu’ile Provincial Park is a plus,” she remarked.Dr. Shoniwa's recruitment marks the 17th family physician that Docs by the Bay have secured since its inception in late 2017, highlighting its ongoing commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the region. “Special thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Evans and Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Kaladeen for their hospitality and assistance during the recruitment process,” commented Paula Mason, Manager of Recruitment and Retention for Docs by the Bay."We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Shoniwa to our family at Docs by the Bay," said Phil Wild, Committee Chair, "Her passion for family medicine and commitment to patient-centered care perfectly align with our values, and we're confident that her presence will significantly benefit our communities."More information about Dr. Shoniwa’s practice will be forthcoming later next year.
