Healthcare is always a trending topic in Morden and the Pembina Valley. Although some have voiced concerns about its state, behind the scenes, there has been a great deal of work to address gaps that many community members encounter.
Two significant updates have brought some of those efforts to fruition. One is a new doctor, born and raised in Morden, who will return to the city to practice.
The other is a donation to Menzies Medical Centre to recruit even more doctors.
The new physician in town
The new doctor who will provide care to the community is fourth-year medical student Josh Sawatsky.
Sawatsky says he was recently matched to the residency program at Boundary Trails Health Centre for family medicine.
He’s pleased with the placement.
“I'm from the area — I grew up in Morden. Both my wife and I are from here, and we're looking to stick around, so it's really exciting to be able to come back here and do my training,” he says.
“We both love the area. There’s a good sense of community and a lot of great services and ... activities out here."
A dream early on
Sawatsky's desire to become a doctor began early in life. He didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do, but he says he knew he was interested in a career in healthcare.
“I kind of figured out that I like [finding out] what's going on with people as well as getting to know people, [and] really making that connection,” he says.
“I figured that being a doctor would be the right fit for all that, and then early on in medical school, I really found that again — that connection. Chatting with people, getting to know them, and helping them with all their healthcare problems is super important to me.”
Sawatsky says that as he progressed through his education, family medicine was "the big goal,” which he has now achieved.
‘He’s been a joy to have as a medical student’
Just as Sawatsky has enthusiasm for medicine, the community has the same sentiment toward his decision to stay in Morden.
“They've all sounded very excited. I think that people like to have someone who kind of knows the community and knows some of the culture out here,” he says.
“It’s a little bit different from Winnipeg and just having some of those connections in the community is super helpful to get to know people. People are a little more comfortable with you sometimes if you’re from the area.”
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Nicole Walske, the executive director of Menzies Medical Centre where Sawatsky has been a medical student for several years, says he's a "great addition" to the team.
“He's just starting his residency with us in July and will be ready to practice in 2027," she says. "He's been a joy to have as a medical student."
According to Walske, Sawatsky understands the clinic’s culture well.
“He knows how the doctors feel about our community and what we want to give back to our community. He knows the culture of our community and what it has to offer.”
The cheque for $15,000
Sawatsky was among those present when Menzies Medical Centre received a $15,000 cheque from the Morden Area Foundation.
The donation was made to help recruit more doctors to the area.
As a new doctor who sees the need for more healthcare workers in Morden, Sawatsky believes the donation will help ease some of the barriers to the career.
“It's a big commitment to work in healthcare,” he says. “The donation is super helpful for kind of helping people move back and getting things set up here to practice in the future.”
Sue Nelson, the chair of the organization that made the donation, says the gesture demonstrates Morden Area Foundation's interest in helping meet the need of more physicians.
“It's incredible the number of people ... that are waiting for doctors,” she says. “The Morden Area Foundation strives to improve the well-being of citizens in the Morden area, and this is, of course, a huge need, so we are really excited to be able to be part of it.”
Nelson notes that the sum earmarked for physician recruitment differs from the foundation's Learn and Return Bursary, which is aimed at medical training.
Promising days ahead for recruitment
After a particularly challenging stretch in the landscape of medical care in Morden, Walske is heartened by the progress that both Sawatsky and the donation represent.
“I think overall, it’s important to note that recruitment is looking positive,” she says. “We do have some indications of some doctors joining us in the next year as well, so I think that’s important for people to hear.”
Walske says there are currently 16 family practice physicians, one pediatrician, and two nurse practitioners at Menzies. Ideally, the centre would have ten additional doctors to begin shouldering the need for family doctors in the area.
According to Walske, approval has also been given for an additional nurse practitioner, so the centre is searching for someone to fill the role.
The approval offers yet another glimmer of hope in the area's ongoing mission of securing sufficient healthcare.
With files from Robyn Wiebe