Kitchener-Waterloo offered us a future. The recruitment program turned a
weekend visit into a lifelong decision to plant roots here.
Because of the program, we didn’t just establish a clinic - we found a permanent home, a
supportive group of colleagues, and the opportunity to teach the next generation of doctors.
When you support this program, you aren’t just recruiting physicians; you are helping us build
a stable, long-term circle of care for every family in our community.
Dr. Sarah MacDonald (family physician) and Dr. Rutik Patel (ED physician)
Physician Recruitment Program: by the numbers
100,000+
people in our community don't have family doctors
25-30%
of family doctors nearing retirement
350
new primary care doctors recruited from this program
19
emergency physicians recruited to WRHN since 2024, including four who trained internationally
Imagine needing medical care – but having no family doctor to call.
For more than 100,000 people in Waterloo Region, this is not hypothetical. It is a daily reality.
When that many residents go without a primary care provider, our emergency departments (ED’s) bear the brunt. At Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), nearly one-third of patients who visit the ED don’t have a family doctor.
Together, we can change that.
By giving today, you are helping the Physician Recruitment Program continue to grow; bringing timely, high-quality care closer to home;
and ensuring that families in Waterloo Region have access to the physicians and specialists they need.
Need some help? Call 519.749.6797, Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WRHN Staff Spotlight
Dr. Harjinderpal Singh, ED physician
WRHN Foundation sat down with Dr. Singh to learn more about him, his career path, and his reasons for choosing Waterloo Region.
How your gift helps
Through WRHN Foundation’s partnership with the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Physician Recruitment Program, our community has welcomed 350 new family doctors – plus more hospital specialists. With continued community support, we can build on that success by:
1. Recruiting family doctors
So more residents have a trusted medical partner who knows their health history and can care for them before problems escalate – and reduce stress on our emergency departments.
2. Recruiting hospital specialists
Including neurologists, anesthesiologists, emergency specialists and other critical experts — ensuring that the more than 1.4 million people like you, who rely on WRHN, can receive care close to home.
Specialists our community needs
- Neurologists: Focus on conditions like stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease, which will grow more prevalent as our community ages.
- Anesthesiologists: Keep our operating rooms running. Without them, OR hours will decrease, leaving more people waiting longer for the treatment they need.
- Reconstructive surgeons: A service currently missing in our region. When injury or illness leaves a patient needing reconstructive plastic surgery, they shouldn’t have to leave home.
- Emergency physicians: To further alleviate stress on our EDs and reduce wait times.
Health Care Connect
Need help finding a family doctor? Visit Health Care Connect to learn more and get started.
Help us recruit more family doctors and specialists to Waterloo Region.
With your help, we can bring even more physicians and specialists to our community to serve families like yours.
With the Chamber and business community already leading the way, your gift will help leverage their support and
match their commitment to recruit more doctors and specialists in our region.
There are many ways to continue making an impact—give online, call 519.749.6797 direct, and more!
Every gift matters. Every donor counts. And together, we are shaping a healthier tomorrow.
