Mayor's Report
There are doctors here, and they are accepting patients
By Marolyn Morrison

"Calling all patients"

It is certainly no secret that there is a shortage of family physicians, not only in our community, but across the province and the country. To deal with this ever-growing problem, physician recruitment efforts, which were initiated in the last term of council, continue in the Town of Caledon.

I'm happy to report that we are seeing considerable results and they are very positive for Caledon residents.

In December of 2005, council adopted a policy to support the recruitment of family physicians. This policy was renewed in May of 2007 and sparked renewed interest in our physician-recruitment committee. Acting as an advisory committee of council, the committee voluntarily takes an active role to support and facilitate the recruitment and retention of family physicians and appropriate specialists in Caledon.

Since the inception of the physician recruitment program, eight family physicians and one specialist (a pediatrician) have opened practices in Caledon.

If you are looking for a family physician, a list of those accepting new patients is maintained on the Town's Web site at www.caledon.ca/edc/econo micdevelopment/physician _ recruitment/asp

Currently there are seven doctors accepting new patients: Dr. Nihal El Khouly at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 951-7525; Dr. Michael Gagnon at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 951-7525; Dr. Fariha Kahn at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 857-2356; Dr. Sarah Rizk at the at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 951-6293; Dr. Arina Romanescu at the at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 857-8508; Dr. Farhan Siddiqui at the at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 857-2356; Dr. Amira Francis at the Caledon East Medical Clinic Caledon East - (905) 584-9377; and the specialist (pediatrician) is Dr. Tejpreet Kanwal at the Goodfellow Professional Building in Bolton - (905) 857-2356.

The physician recruitment program is a prime example of community building. Staff, council, local health professionals and agencies working together to promote the Town of Caledon as a healthy community in which to live, work, play and raise our families. Our efforts have been rewarded, and we will continue to seek family physicians and specialists to serve the needs of our ever changing and growing community.

I will always be available to help with this excellent initiative, as I have in the past, and I thank our Economic Development and Communications Department and the family physicians who have taken a lead on this great and successful initiative. A huge "thank you" from the Caledon community.