Alberta Health Services (AHS) has recruited seven new physicians for Fort McMurray.
To help meet the growing needs for the city, two new pediatricians, a psychiatrist, two anesthesiologists and two family medicine physicians have been recruited.
“It can be challenging to recruit to the more remote areas of Alberta, and that is certainly true of Fort McMurray. But we are committed to ensuring the community has the resources it needs and deserves.” Said Dr. Kevin Worry, Medical Director in the North Zone of AHS.
Pediatricians
Dr. Rajeev Peeka and Dr. Ngozika Okoye have both accepted pediatric positions and are expected to start seeing patients sometime this spring-summer.
“Fort McMurray is a young, growing community that requires maternity and pediatric services to support that growth,” said Dr. Worry. “I am very pleased that Dr. Peeka and Dr. Okoye have made the decision to practice and live here in Fort McMurray.”
Dr. Peeka has more than 20 years of experience. He completed his pediatric educated in the United Kingdom where he worked in both community and hospital pediatric settings.He also has experience in neonatology, ADHD and audiology.
Dr. Okoye completed her pediatric education in the United States and has worked mostly in hospitals.
Fort McMurray now has a total of five pediatricians with the addition of Dr. Peeka and Dr. Okoye.
This is the most the city has had since 2012.
Alberta Health Services will be continuously recruiting for additional pediatricians for the city.
Psychiatrist
Dr. Kishore Sindhi has been practicing psychiatry for many years, most recently in Canada. He will be seeing both children and adult patients around the middle of summer.
In addition to Dr. Kishore Sindhi, AHS will be actively recruiting for more psychiatrists for Fort McMurray.
AHS has schedules for two additional psychiatrists, for sites visits soon, one for adults and another for children.
Anesthesiologists
Dr. Danielle Joubert and Dr. Saeed Labbaf are both anesthesiologists who have been recruited and are expected to join Fort McMurray’s local surgical team this fall.
This will bring essential support for the OR program at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.
Dr. Joubert, along with her husband and young daughter are excited to be moving to Fort McMurray from South Africa.
Dr. Saeed Labbaf already has some experience in Fort McMurray. For the last couple of years he has been providing locum support to the city. He will now be joining the team on a full-time basis.
Family Medicine Physicians
Both Dr. Tina Tom and Dr. Asra Segok are Family Medicine physicians with experience in low-risk obstetrics and are expected to start seeing patients before early fall.
“Fort McMurray is well-served by an excellent team of physicians already practicing in the city but we are very excited to be able to add to that team and provide further healthcare resources to the community,” said Dr. Worry.
Dr. Tom recently move to Fort McMurray from South Africa with her husband and is exciting to be able to provide family medicine services while continuing her passion for delivering babies.
Dr. Segok received her medical training in Libya. She is bringing her family and passion for medicine with obstetrics to the city.
Fort McMurray now has a total number of seven physicians committed to delivering babies.
