Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is expanding its family medicine residency program into Sarnia-Lambton and Oxford County.
Beginning in 2027, the new sites will each welcome two residents, creating four new family medicine residency positions across the region.
In Sarnia, residents will train at Bluewater Health and Rapids Family Health Team.
With communities facing family physician shortages, the new sites are expected to strengthen rural and regional training and support the future of primary care in southwestern Ontario.
Residents will learn across hospital, clinic and community care settings, gaining a broad range of clinical experience.
Their training will include emergency medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, internal medicine and palliative care, alongside comprehensive family medicine.
Bluewater Health said it builds on a well-established education partnership that includes Schulich's immersive clerkship program.
Regional Academic Director for Lambton and Chief of Staff and Vice President of Medical Mffairs at Bluewater Health Dr. Michel Haddad welcomes the news.
“Expanding family medicine training in Sarnia-Lambton is an important investment in the future of primary care locally and will help strengthen access to care for patients and families,” said Haddad. “Our community offers an exceptional learning environment, with experienced physicians, broad clinical exposure and strong connections across primary care, hospital and specialty services, community organizations and other health-care providers.”
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey called it outstanding news for the community.
“The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University and its ongoing partnership with Bluewater Health has been a vital resource for meeting the health-care needs of our region. The new family medicine residency program at Bluewater Health is going to have a huge impact on health care access in our community for generations to come.”
The school's network spans more than 60 communities across southwestern Ontario, from Windsor to Tobermory, supported by more than 110 health-care partner sites and nearly 1,000 clinical faculty members.
