County seeking business leaders for new Physician Recruitment Advisory Committee

Cobourg, ON – July 11, 2025 – Northumberland County is inviting local business leaders to apply for two volunteer positions on a new Physician Recruitment Advisory Committee. This committee will help guide efforts to attract and keep family doctors in our community.

About this initiative

This committee is part of a larger initiative approved by County Council in June 2025 to improve access to primary health care for residents. As part of a two-year pilot project, the County will:

• Hire a Physician Recruitment Specialist, focused on results
• Form an advisory committee to guide and support this work

The committee will bring together a variety of voices, including doctors, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners, local municipalities, County staff, and members of the business community.

The committee’s structure was developed with input from health partners such as the OHT-N and the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN).

Why this matters

Northumberland County is facing a serious shortage of family doctors — a challenge seen across Ontario and Canada. Some of the reasons include:

• An aging population
• More people needing complex or chronic care
• Physician burnout and retirements
• Not enough medical school/training spaces
• Regulatory barriers
• Uneven distribution of health care resources

Committee role

The committee will provide leadership and coordination across the region for efforts to recruit family doctors. It will bring together doctors, health care providers, local government, and community leaders to work together on solutions.

The committee will: 

• Give advice on recruitment strategies
• Help coordinate efforts across the region
• Support collaboration between sectors
• Promote the use of local data to guide decisions

Business representative role

We are looking for two business leaders to join this committee. These members will help make sure the impact of access to family doctors on our local economy and workforce is part of the conversation.

Ideal candidates will:

• Be active and well-connected in the business community
• Care about improving health care access
• Be willing to support and promote recruitment efforts
• Bring positive, solution-focused ideas to the table

How to apply

Interested applicants are asked to submit the following:

• A cover letter explaining your interest and how you can contribute through your business connections, community involvement, and commitment to collaborative problem-solving.
• A resume outlining your background and community involvement.

Submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel, and shortlisted candidates may be invited to participate in an interview as part of the appointment process.

Application Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025

Send applications to: DocRecruitment@Northumberland.ca

More about the committee’s mandate and structure can be found in the staff report to County Council.