Target Audience: HPA-OHT member organization leaders, Huron and Perth Physicians and Nurse Practitioners | Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Why it Matters
By strengthening pathways between experienced clinicians and emerging medical learners, we’re building a sustainable foundation for the future of healthcare in Huron and Perth. Nurturing preceptors and supporting new talent not only addresses the immediate need for accessible primary care, but also cultivates innovation, resilience, and leadership within our health workforce. When seasoned professionals invest in mentorship, they help foster a culture of growth and shared learning, ensuring our communities benefit from skilled, engaged providers now and in the years to come. These efforts ultimately enhance patient care, improve recruitment and retention of health workers, and empower the entire system to adapt and thrive.
Dig Deeper
The Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) is implementing a robust strategy to enhance health workforce integration throughout the region. Central to this initiative is the newly established Health Workforce Integration Lead (HWIL) role, which supports a vision of a connected, equitable, and learner-supported healthcare system. The strategy prioritizes collaboration among preceptors, educators, healthcare organizations, and providers, while also addressing regional equity by tailoring recruitment and retention efforts to the unique challenges faced by different communities. Strategic partnerships with institutions such as NOSM, the Rural Ontario Medical Program, and Toronto Metropolitan University are key to strengthening rural training pathways and aligning educational efforts with workforce needs.
A foundational element of the strategy is the mapping of Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, and Specialists who mentor medical learners. This mapping exercise will identify current engagement levels, uncover gaps, and highlight opportunities for growth, ultimately guiding targeted recruitment and retention initiatives. To further support learning and mentorship, the strategy includes the creation of a regional Training and Learning Table. This platform will connect learners with experienced preceptors, facilitate the sharing of educational resources and mentorship tools, and foster peer networks to elevate preceptor expertise. It will also streamline access to training materials and administrative support, ensuring a more efficient and supportive learning environment.
To sustain long-term impact, the strategy incorporates operational supports such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for primary care residency programs and administrative assistance for both preceptors and learners. Revitalized HR roundtables will help align workforce efforts across sectors. This initiative is part of a broader Regional Human Health Resource Strategy that addresses recruitment, retention, training, and performance management, while promoting workforce diversification and the integration of technologies such as AI. Ultimately, the strategy aims to strengthen clinician well-being, improve work-life satisfaction, and foster leadership development and community resilience across the healthcare system.
“In my opinion, having medical learners in our practices has huge mutual benefit. The learners keep us engaged, sharp, and hopeful. They grow from seeing first-hand how healthcare is delivered outside of the tertiary care, academic centres.” – Derek Gateman, Family Physician in Listowel
“By teaching and mentoring Nurse Practitioner students, we’re not only helping to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce, but we’re also increasing the public’s understanding of the important role NPs play in providing primary healthcare.” – Kate Godwin, Nurse Practitioner in Wingham
“Recruiting the next generation of dynamic health care professionals to our area is a strategic priority for our OHT and member organizations. It is increasingly apparent that, just as upstream primary interventions such as diet and exercise are cornerstone to advancing good personal health, engaging upstream to directly mentor medical learner early in their training is critical to the sustainability of good health systems for our next generation of children and grandchildren.
There is also a strong body of knowledge which tells us that participating in activities with a ‘future focus’ builds optimism within the teams that engage here. Teaching junior learner has a second advantage of adding resilience to the culture of those who work in this space and countering the ‘burnout’ that is all too common in health care.” – Dr. Shanil Narayan, Internal Medicine Specialist at Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
Next Steps
As this foundational work progresses, the next steps will focus on deepening regional engagement and ensuring comprehensive input from clinicians across Huron and Perth. Through targeted surveys and ongoing collaboration, the team will continuing collect valuable feedback to refine strategies and shape effective, inclusive workforce initiatives.