GORE BAY—Gore Bay’s healthcare community is proud to be welcoming a new addition to its esteemed team of physicians. Dr. Zeshan Talib will be joining the Gore Bay medical team in the fall of 2024.
“The town is incredibly fortunate that Dr. Talib has chosen Gore Bay as his practice location, considering the ongoing physician shortage crisis across the province, particularly in Northern Ontario,” a press release states.
“Dr. Talib was drawn to the unique charm of the rural municipality and surrounding area. After an extensive tour across Western Manitoulin, meeting with representatives from each community and experiencing the exceptional amenities such as the local public school, he has eagerly accepted the offer to join the Gore Bay medical team.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the Gore Bay community and to have the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated healthcare professionals,” says Dr. Talib. “My goal is to build strong relationships with my patients and provide them personalized care that meets their unique needs.”
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Talib to the Gore Bay Medical Centre,” said Dr. Robert Hamilton, long-time physician at the Gore Bay Medical Centre. “His passion for patient care and depth of experience make him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to his positive impact on the health and wellness of our community.”
Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane said, “the successful recruitment of Dr. Talib was a collective effort showcasing the strength and unity of our community. Our dedicated physicians (Drs. Robert Hamilton, Shelagh McRae and Chantelle Wilson), committed volunteers, and the unwavering support of the Town of Gore Bay all played a crucial role. Thank you to the Ministry of Health for their vision to support the Foreign Trained Family Physicians (program). We are thrilled to have Dr. Talib join the local practice and are truly thankful to the ministry of affording us this opportunity.”
“Dr. Talib is originally from Pakistan and has been working on and off in Canada for a couple of years,” Mayor Lane told The Expositor. “He is currently working in a couple of medical centres in southern Ontario. He has been a licenced physician in Pakistan for 10 years.”
“The Ministry of Health has a program in place to try to recruit foreign doctors. They have to go through training, and supervision working under a physician (in Canada) and then take exams to become licenced in Canada,” continued Mayor Lane. “Dr. Talib will be spending 12 weeks in Sault Ste. Marie as a practicing physician under a licenced doctor and then will write his formal exams to be licenced in Canada.”
“We expect Dr. Talib (who is in his 40s) will be here in the late summer or early fall,” continued Mayor Lane. “When he joins the Gore Bay Medical Team he will work under the current physician’s supervision for two years.”
Under the program, Dr. Talib will have to stay in Gore Bay for a minimum of three years. “Dr. Talib will definitely be staying three years at the medical centre. We have provided a few incentives for him to come here, and to stay here. It is very important to get new doctors here, but it is equally important to have them stay here.”
Mayor Lane pointed out, “two of our doctors (Dr. McRae and Dr. Hamilton) would like to retire or semi-retire at some point.”
Dr. Talib signed a contract with the Ministry of Health and the Gore Bay Medical Centre. “He has been to the Island; in early March we held a video conference with him. He then visited for three days in April where the met the doctors, mayor and reeves of Western Manitoulin (from Billings Township west) and First Nation representatives,” said Mayor Lane. “Dr. Talib had a real good tour of Western Manitoulin and he said afterward, ‘I definitely want to come here if you want me to.’ We are very pleased he will be coming here.”
