Media Releases

Media Release
November 25, 2005

Chatham-Kent Physician Recruitment Fundraising Campaign

CHATHAM-KENT: Today, a new joint fundraising campaign was announced in Chatham-Kent – a campaign declaring, Every Life Counts!

The Chatham-Kent Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, the Rotary Club of Wallaceburg and the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance have come together to launch a new Physician Recruitment Campaign for Chatham and surrounding areas.

The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will provide leadership in the design and management of the campaign.

“The Foundation’s involvement indicates the importance that it’s Board of Directors places on ensuring that every person in our community has unrestricted access to medical care”, stated Michele Grzebien, Executive Director for the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

Shae-Lynn Bourne was introduced as the Honourary Chairperson for the campaign, along with Co-Chairs, Greg Hetherington and Dr. Peter MacKinnon. A campaign goal of $2.7 million was announced. This will assist in the recruitment of 19 family physicians and 9 specialists needed for our community, as well as fund the Rosemarie Miller Scholarship Fund, which has been expanded to include applicants from the entire municipality.

“This is one of the most important fundraising endeavors I have chosen to support. What better way to help the people of Chatham-Kent than to ensure that every person has access to a family physician”, stated Shae-Lynn.

Currently, 140 communities in Ontario are designated under-serviced by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Co-Chairs Greg Hetherington and Dr. Peter McKinnon agree that this campaign will ensure that the Physician Recruitment Division has the financial ability to effectively carry out physician recruitment related activities, negotiate incentive packages to potential candidates and to successfully bring new physicians to the area because, Every Life Counts!

Donors representing the entire municipality presented a total of $344,000 to Honourary Co-Chair Shae-Lynn Bourne. Sharon & Uffe Blok-Andersen, from Chatham, donated $20,000; ArvinMeritor from Tilbury presented a cheque for $5, 000; the Rotary Club of Wallaceburg donated $7,000; John Gibbons Ltd, Chatham, presented a cheque for $10,000; the South-Kent Investment Club from Ridgetown gave a cheque of $15,000; the Dr. Jim Richardson Endowment Fund from Tilbury committed $30,000; and Bill & Mary Dorssers from Blenheim, donated $100,000; Additional commitments including a gift from an anonymous donor totaled $157,000.

For more information contact:
Michele Grzebien, Executive Director
Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (519) 380-2859