The Listowel Ag Society made a huge cheque presentation to the North Perth Family Health team at the Fisher Family Primary Care Centre on November 29.
Following a very successful Field of Dreams auction event on Saturday, November 23, the Ag Society presented a cheque for $120,000 to go toward the Doctor Recruitment Campaign in North Perth.
Listowel Ag Society President Carolyn van der Hieden says they had the idea of supporting the Doctor Recruitment Campaign back in January, and she says they're thrilled with how the auction went.
"We are elated. Our community is so supportive, and it takes a whole slew of people, our board, the community, everyone, to do this. Everyone knows it's such a great cause, and it's something that we need to support," van der Hieden enthused.
The planning into making this cheque presentation possible was well over a year in the making, according to van der Hieden. She says the turnout at the auction event was upwards of 270 people. Dr. Barb Warren, a community legend who is the longest serving member at the North Perth Family Health Team, served as the MC at the event.
All the donated money will all be used to help bring more family physicians, doctors and other critical medical professionals to North Perth. Robin Spence Haffner, Executive Director of the North Perth Family Health Team, says she's overwhelmed by the incredible showing of support from the Listowel Ag Society and the community.
"So grateful to this community and to the Ag Society and it means so much. Both to the physician recruitment activities that we do to recruit physicians, and also to the medical community here, to know that the community really is behind them," Spence Haffner shared excitedly.
With respect to recruitment, Spence Haffner notes that that involves many different aspects. It could mean supporting a physician who wants to come practice in the area to see what it's all about, especially those who maybe aren't used to being in a more rural setting. It can also go towards getting young, recent graduates to come be a part of the team.
"A lot of the money will go towards supporting medical learners. So if you have someone who's in third year of medical school, for example, and you can have them come and work with our physicians here and see what that's like, that's huge. Also, just to have them come experience our communities, that's really key, and that's also some of what will happen with this new funding," added Spence Haffner.
Learn more about physician recruitment in North Perth here: https://listowelclinic.ca/physician-recruitment/