Cobourg, ON – May 21, 2026 – Following last month’s announcement of the first physician recruited through the Primary Care Recruitment Initiative, Northumberland County is pleased to share that a second family physician has committed to opening a local practice. This development continues the momentum of the consolidated, community-wide effort launched last fall to strengthen access to primary care for residents across Northumberland.
Dr. Jane Iyobebe (Eye-O-Bee-Bee) will begin practicing with the Lakeview Family Health Team as of June 1, 2026. Based primarily out of their Colborne offices, her practice will expand access to primary care services in east Northumberland, helping to address a growing local need. Dr. Iyobebe will be building her roster from local patients registered with the provincial Health Care Connect list, with her office contacting eligible residents directly.
“Recruiting a second physician within months of launching this coordinated initiative demonstrates the value of approaching primary care recruitment as a cross-community effort,” says County Physician Recruitment Specialist Paula Mason. “There is growing interest in Northumberland from physicians and nurse practitioners seeking communities where they can build rewarding practices while enjoying a strong quality of life. I want to thank the Recruitment Advisory Committee for their continued efforts to advance meaningful partnerships that help position our region as an attractive and supportive place for primary care providers to practice. Dr. Iyobebe’s decision to establish her practice here reflects that welcoming environment and the collaborative support that exists across our municipalities and health care partners.”
Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Iyobebe brings more than 10 years of experience practicing family medicine. She was first introduced to Northumberland during her clinical field assessment placement. She and her husband – a Personal Support Worker also looking forward to contributing to the local health care community – along with their two children, were drawn to the area’s welcoming atmosphere, family-oriented lifestyle, and balance between professional opportunity and small-town living.
“I immediately felt a connection with the community,” says Dr. Iyobebe. “The kindness here, the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients, and the chance to raise my family in such a supportive environment were all factors in this decision. I am looking forward to providing excellent care for my patients and becoming part of the community.”
Warden Bob Crate comments on this new, important milestone as part of efforts to improve local access to health care services:
“Every new physician recruited to Northumberland represents meaningful progress for residents waiting to access care close to home,” he says. “This announcement builds on the momentum we have seen since the launch of the Primary Care Recruitment Initiative and reflects the strong partnerships that continue to support this work across the region. County Council remains committed to supporting sustainable, long-term access to primary care for our community.”
Since the launch of the Primary Care Recruitment Initiative in September 2025, the County and its partners have continued to expand outreach and recruitment efforts through provincial partnerships, medical education opportunities, recruitment fairs, and community engagement initiatives. Interest from prospective primary care providers continues to grow, supported by coordinated local efforts to showcase the community as an attractive place to live, work, and practice medicine.
Northumberland County is improving access to primary health care for residents across all seven municipalities through the Primary Care Recruitment Initiative. As this work progresses, residents who are currently without a local family doctor or nurse practitioner are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect, a provincial program that helps connect individuals to available primary care providers. Registration can be completed online (ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner) or by phone (8-1-1). Patients on this list will be prioritized as new primary care providers establish their practices locally.
Please note: You can now be on the Health Care Connect List and still be attached to an existing family doctor elsewhere, until you have been matched with a local provider.
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