Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is extending its family medicine residency program into the Sarnia-Lambton area and Oxford County.
Starting in 2027, the new locations will each take in two residents, resulting in four additional family medicine residency spots throughout the region.
In Sarnia, residents will train at Bluewater Health and Rapids Family Health Team.
With local communities facing shortages of family doctors, these new sites are expected to improve training for rural and regional healthcare while supporting the future of primary care in southwestern Ontario.
Residents will gain experience across hospital, clinic, and community care environments, allowing them to develop a wide range of clinical skills.
Their training will cover emergency medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, internal medicine, palliative care, along with comprehensive family medicine.
https://sarnianewstoday. ca/sarnia/news/2026/09/16/rapids-fht-celebrates-20-years-with-expansion-announcement-new-physician
Bluewater Health mentioned that this builds on a solid education partnership that includes Schulich’s immersive clerkship program.
The Regional Academic Director for Lambton and Chief of Staff and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Bluewater Health Dr. Michel Haddad expressed his support for the initiative.
“Expanding family medicine training in Sarnia-Lambton is an important investment in the future of primary care locally and will help strengthen access to care for patients and families,” said Haddad. “Our community offers an exceptional learning environment, with experienced physicians, broad clinical exposure and strong connections across primary care, hospital and specialty services, community organizations and other health-care providers.”
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey praised this as fantastic news for the local community.
“The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University and its ongoing partnership with Bluewater Health has been a vital resource for meeting the health-care needs of our region. The new family medicine residency program at Bluewater Health is going to have a huge impact on health care access in our community for generations to come.”
The school’s network covers over 60 communities throughout southwestern Ontario from Windsor to Tobermory, supported by more than 110 health-care partner sites and nearly 1,000 clinical faculty members.
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