Newly recruited physicians to set up practice this summer

Two new arrivals bring total number of doctors recruited in past six months to nine

FORT McMURRAY — Residents of Fort McMurray and surrounding communities will soon have increased access to mental health and obstetrical services with the arrival of another full-time psychiatrist and a new family medicine physician who delivers babies. 

Dr. Stella Ogunsona, a family physician who provides both family medicine and low-risk obstetric services, and her husband, psychiatrist Dr. Adeoluwa (Ade) Ogunsona, have recently signed contracts with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and are expected to begin practising this summer.

There are now five more family physicians signed to practise in Fort McMurray than there were before last year’s wildfire.

“This is very exciting news for Fort McMurray,” says Dr. Kevin Worry, Medical Director of AHS North Zone. “AHS knows that recruitment of physicians is something that is on the minds of residents and we are committed to supporting the growing needs of this community.

“Dr. Ade Ogunsona will help us support the mental health needs of Fort McMurray as everyone continues to recover from the wildfire last May, and Dr. Stella Ogunsona’s experience will allow her to support young, growing families in the region.”

Dr. Ade Ogunsona will be accepting both adult and adolescent patients by mid-summer. Dr. Stella Ogunsona is expected to open her practice at the end of the summer. 

The two physicians are originally from Nigeria where they received their medical degrees at Obafemi Awolowo University. Dr. Ade Ogunsona conducted his psychiatry postgraduate education in Ireland; Dr. Stella Ogunson studied for her master’s degree in the U.K. and completed her postgraduate training in Scotland.

After several years working in the U.K., Dr. Ade Ogunsona moved to Canada, where he worked in Nova Scotia before moving to Battleford, Sask. He has previously worked with Fort McMurray residents who were displaced during the wildfire last May. Dr. Stella Ogunson moved to Canada last year.

The Ogunsonas have two children: a 10-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. They will be moving their family from Battleford to Fort McMurray at the end of this school year.

The arrival of the Ogunsonas brings the total number of physicians recruited to Fort McMurray over the past six months to nine. 

• Pediatricians Dr. Rajeev Peeka and Dr. Ngozika Okoye have accepted positions and are expected to begin seeing patients this spring or summer.
• Dr. Kishore Sindhi, who will be seeing both children and adults, has been practising psychiatry for many years. He and his family will be moving to Fort McMurray from New Brunswick by mid-summer.
• Dr. Danielle Joubert and Dr. Saeed Labbaf, two anesthesiologists, are expected to join the local surgical team this fall.
• Dr. Tina Tom and Dr. Asra Segok, two family medicine physicians practising low-risk obstetrics, are expected to be seeing patients before early fall. This brings the number of physicians committed to delivering babies in Fort McMurray to eight.

“Physician recruitment is very much a team effort and the process takes time,” says Dr. Worry. 

“While it can often be a challenge to recruit to certain areas, our efforts are always ongoing and these recent announcements further demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible healthcare for the residents of Fort McMurray. We look forward to seeing these new physicians fit in with the already excellent team of medical professionals in Fort McMurray.”

There are currently 18 family physicians accepting new patients in Fort McMurray. For a list of physicians accepting new patients in the Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo area, see: http://wbpcn.ca/Clinics/Pages/acceptingpatients.aspx 
 
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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