Key Points
- Five new family physicians have been announced in Chatham-Kent.
- Four of the five are accepting new patients, according to the municipality’s release.
- The doctors are practicing with two local Family Health Teams in Blenheim, Wallaceburg, Wheatley, and Chatham.
- The announcement was made by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in partnership with several local healthcare organizations.
- Municipal officials said the recruitment effort reflects continued progress in improving access to primary care.
- Mayor Darrin Canniff said the new arrivals are the result of collaboration among municipal and healthcare partners.
- Rebecca Smyth of the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team said coordinated recruitment efforts are producing results.
- Audrey Ansell said the municipality has supported recruitment through funding, incentives, and clinical-space expansion efforts.
- Residents without a family physician are encouraged to register through Healthcare Connect or by phone.
- More information is available through the municipality’s physician recruitment website.
Chatham-Kent (King County Insider) May 9, 2026 – Five new family physicians have been welcomed to Chatham-Kent as part of an ongoing effort to improve access to primary care in the region, according to a municipal release.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said the doctors were announced in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Family Physician Recruitment & Retention Task Force, the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, local Family Health Teams, and healthcare partners across the community. The municipality said the additions represent continued progress in strengthening primary care access for residents.
The new physicians are Dr. Kaelan Harwood, who is practicing with the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in Blenheim; Dr. Adebisi Ogundipe, with the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in Wallaceburg; Dr. Paige Parent, with the Thamesview Family Health Team in Wheatley; Dr. Syed Shah, with the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team in Chatham; and Dr. Adib Shamsuddin, with the Thamesview Family Health Team in Chatham.
According to the municipal release, most of the new physicians are accepting new patients. The announcement was presented as part of a broader recruitment and retention effort involving municipal leaders, health teams, and community organizations.
What did Mayor Darrin Canniff say about the new doctors?
As reported by the municipality, Mayor Darrin Canniff said access to family healthcare remains a major issue across Ontario and described the new physician arrivals as an important development for Chatham-Kent.
“Access to family healthcare is one of the most important issues facing communities across Ontario, and we are proud to see real progress being made here in Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said, according to the release. He added that the result came from “strong partnerships between the municipality, healthcare organizations, the Physician Recruitment Task Force, and the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team.”
Canniff said welcoming five new family physicians is “a major accomplishment and an important step toward connecting more residents with the care they need.”
What role did the health team say collaboration played?
Rebecca Smyth, physician recruitment coordinator with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, said the recruitment of physicians depends on coordination among many groups.
“The recruitment of new family physicians takes a coordinated effort across many organizations and individuals,” Smyth said, according to the municipal release. She said the community is seeing benefits from “communities, healthcare providers, and municipal leadership working together toward a common goal.”
Smyth added that the region is excited to welcome the physicians and support them as they establish long-term practices in Chatham-Kent.
How has the municipality supported recruitment?
Municipal officials said Chatham-Kent has continued supporting physician recruitment through funding, incentives, and community partnership initiatives approved by council.
The release said that in 2025, the municipality provided funding to support recruitment efforts across Chatham-Kent, including incentive programs intended to attract new family physicians to local communities. Officials also said the municipality has worked with healthcare partners to support expansion opportunities for clinical space and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts.
Audrey Ansell, director of Community Culture & Connections for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, said council recognized the need for a collaborative and proactive approach to primary care access.
“The partnerships that have been built between the municipality, the Ontario Health Team, Family Health Teams, and healthcare organizations have created a strong foundation for success,” Ansell said, according to the release. “We are encouraged by the momentum we are seeing and remain committed to supporting healthcare recruitment efforts across Chatham-Kent.”
How can residents without a family doctor register?
The municipality said residents who do not have a family physician are encouraged to register through Healthcare Connect, a provincial program that helps Ontarians find a family healthcare provider.
Residents can also register by phone at 1-800-445-1822, according to the release.
The municipality also directed residents to more information about physician recruitment efforts at www.physicianswantedck.com.
What is the background of this development?
Chatham-Kent has been working to improve access to primary care through a local recruitment and retention strategy involving municipal government, health teams, and community partners. The latest announcement continues that effort by adding five physicians to practices in different communities across the municipality.
The release framed the development as part of a broader local response to physician shortages and access concerns affecting residents who need family healthcare. It also pointed to funding support, incentive programs, and space expansion as part of the local approach.
How could this affect residents?
The new physicians could help some residents connect with a family doctor more quickly, especially those already searching through provincial registration systems. For people in Blenheim, Wallaceburg, Wheatley, and Chatham, the additional doctors may improve appointment access and reduce pressure on existing primary care providers.
For residents who still do not have a physician, the announcement does not guarantee immediate placement, but it does signal ongoing recruitment progress that may gradually expand access over time.
