New doctors could be headed to Uxbridge

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For Uxbridge residents who do not have a family physician, relief could be on the way. Beginning in July, two medical school graduates will be coming to Uxbridge to begin their residency. Residency provides them with training which would lead to their certification as family doctors.

Dr. Aisha Husain of Uxbridge Health Centre said the training will last two years and will be provided and supervised by local doctors at the health clinic. She said the training will give the medical school graduates preparedness in handling patients.

"This hones their skills," she said.

"A group of family doctors are committed to support the unit," she said.

Husain said about 2,000 people in Uxbridge are on a waiting list for family doctors and the residents would have about 250 patients each. She said two more will join the Family Medicine Training Unit in 2026.

"We hope they stay in Uxbridge," she said. "This is an amazing opportunity. I want everyone to have access to a family doctor."

The cost of running the program will be covered by the University of Toronto and the provincial health ministry.

Husain said the U of T first approached a clinic in Markham but they didn't have space for new residents. That led to talks with the local clinic in December.

The residents will spend three days week at the Uxbridge hospital and other training days will be at Markham Stouffville Hospital.

CLARIFICATION (Updated Feb. 11, 2025): The Family Medicine Teaching Unit expansion into Uxbridge is a partnership with University of Toronto and Oak Valley Health specifically (Uxbridge Hospital is part of Oak Valley Health, along with Markham Stouffville Hospital). Dr. Aisha Husain is also a doctor with Oak Valley Health, and residents will work alongside dedicated Oak Valley Health physicians and staff, providing care at both Uxbridge Hospital and Markham Stouffville Hospital, in addition to managing their own family medicine clinics in the Uxbridge Health Centre three times a week.