Released on July 27, 2000
The government is expanding training opportunities to get more specialistsworking in the province's health care system.
The 2000-2001 budget included $100,000 to fund two new re-entry residency
positions. These positions allow family physicians to enter a College of
Medicine residency program to train in a specialized area of medicine.
"We need more specialists in areas such as psychiatry, endocrinology, general
surgery, anaesthesia and obstetrics," Health Minister Pat Atkinson said.
"Funding these two residency positions each year will increase the number of
locally trained specialists who can provide vital medical services to
Saskatchewan people."
"The Saskatchewan Medical Association has advocated creation of re-entry
positions for practising physicians and has funded two such positions since
1999,'' Dr. Martin Vogel, president of the SMA said. "We strongly support this
new initiative."
The training positions are open to licensed family physicians who have served
in a Saskatchewan community for at least two years. The positions will also
provide opportunities to qualified foreign-trained physicians who live in
Saskatchewan but need to complete a residency to be licensed in the province.
Physicians who apply must commit to serving in the province after their
speciality training-one year for each year of funding received. In addition,
they must enter a speciality that is identified as a need in the province.
"The College of Medicine is very pleased to see these new re-entry positions
added to its Speciality Training Programs," Dean Dr. David Popkin said. "The
college has had an informal re-entry process available for several years. This
new collaborative endeavour will help us all reach the goal of increasing the
supply of specialists for Saskatchewan."
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown Donna Dawson Dr. David Popkin
Saskatchewan Health SMA Dean, College of Medicine
Regina Saskatoon Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 787-4088 Phone: (306) 244-2196 Phone: (306) 966-2673