Campaign launched seeking corporate sponsors to help attract new doctors to the Kamloops area

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Corporate donors are being sought to help attract new family physicians to the Kamloops-Thompson region.

The Thompson Region Division of Family Practice has launched a new fundraising initiative called Champions for Family Medicine. It’s looking for local, like-minded businesses to fund out-of-province marketing campaigns encouraging doctors to relocate and practice family medicine in the region.

“This is a big thing to ask for,” said Tim Shoults, the division’s executive director. “Thankfully, we live in a community that knows about the power of working together, the power of local solutions. We are a community of champions.”

Shoults notes that Kamloops faces constant competition from communities around the country for family doctors. He says the city can watch from the sidelines or do its best to entice new physicians for local families who desperately need a primary care provider.

While the BC government’s new funding agreement for doctors will go a long way to alleviating the local shortage, the pay model does not specifically draw attention to Kamloops and surrounding communities.

“Champions for Family Medicine will celebrate the outstanding efforts of some of our local physicians, educate local residents on the challenges of family practice, and recognize the support of our media partners and local business sponsors,” Shoults said.

Kamloops family doctor Servaas Swart said, “primary care is the front line of maintaining healthy communities, and right now forty thousand people in our area are absent this basic health necessity.”

The Thompson Region Division of Family Practice represents more than 200 family physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, residents and retired doctors in Kamloops, Barriere, Sun Peaks, Logan Lake, Chase, and North Shuswap.

Businesses that want to fund the campaign can email [email protected].