The Physician Recruitment Taskforce of Sarnia-Lambton has landed another family physician.
Dr. Laura Silvestri will begin practicing part-time on March 28 with Dr. Patrick Boyle at Rapids Family Health Team on Pontiac Drive.
Having young children, she will share the practice with Dr. Boyle who is nearing retirement and ease into taking on the full practice.
Recruitment Coordinator Carly Cox said Dr. Silvestri and her husband both grew up in the Sarnia area and their families still live here.
"A lot of our physicians that we recruit do have some sort of connection to Sarnia, but some of them have no idea about the area," said Cox. "As soon as we bring them down and expose them to Lambton County, they're blown away."
Dr. Silvestri completed her undergraduate degree at Queen's University, entered medical school in Missouri at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and did her residency at Michigan State University.
After graduating she practiced at the Bluewater Area Family Health Team in Zurich, Ontario for a few years.
Cox said Dr. Silvestri is the 31st family physician recruited by the task force, but many more are needed.
"According to the ministry, we have a need for 11 more family physicians, and that does not include the expected number of retirees that are coming up," said Cox.
Cox said two more female family doctors will be announced in the coming months.
-With files from Josh Boyce.