The Deep River and District Hospital (DRDH) is welcoming a new physician to the community.

In a statement Wednesday morning, the hospital announced that Dr. Robert Suttie has been successfully recruited to work in the DRDH Emergency Department under the Emergency Department Recruitment Program.

The program helps to increase physician staffing in emergency departments across Ontario.

The Deep River and District Hospital formed a “Medical Recruitment Team” last year, primarily looking at physician recruitment and retention for the entire North Renfrew Health Campus – including the hospital, Four Seasons Lodge, and Family Health Team.

“The three municipalities of Laurentian Hills, Deep River, and Head, Clara & Maria recognize that recruiting and retaining physicians in North Renfrew is crucial to the physical and economic health of our communities,” the hospital said.

“The four-party partnership with the North Renfrew Health Campus enables recruitment and retention activities to be supported.”

DRDH president and CEO Richard Bedard said that Dr. Suttie “will be a great addition to our care team and we look forward to him joining our medical staff.”

“We are excited to have Dr. Suttie in a full-time position in the Emergency Department,” added Dr. Kathryn Kipp, the hospital’s chief of staff. “We welcome Dr. Suttie to our hospital and to our community.”

Dr. Suttie began working at DRDH in early July. He lives in Ottawa, and completed his medical training through the University of Ottawa as well as Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

The hospital said that in addition to welcoming Dr. Suttie, the Medical Recruitment Team remains active with recruitment efforts underway for a role within the Family Health Team, as well as additional roles in the Emergency Department, and future planning.

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