Council Approves Physician Sponsorship Grant Pilot Program

Council Approves Physician Sponsorship Grant Pilot Program 

Pilot Program Aims to Help Ease Physician Shortages 

STRATHMORE, ALBERTA | May 24, 2024

Council approved the Physician Sponsorship Grant pilot program at the Wednesday, May 15, Town Council meeting.

The one-year pilot program will offer three (3) grants, each worth up to $30,000, to support local medical offices in their efforts to attract physicians to Strathmore, should they choose to take on the role of Sponsor through the established College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) program. After the one-year term, the program will be reviewed and brought back to Council for consideration.

“Sponsorships are a way to bring internationally trained physicians into Alberta. This pilot program is an innovative initiative that may assist in the recruitment of physicians to Strathmore, easing the physician shortage,” shared Mayor Pat Fule.

To be eligible for the grant, applicants must have signed a sponsorship contract with CPSA before applying, agree to commit to sponsoring the internationally trained physician for up to six (6) years, including financially supporting the sponsored physician throughout the registration process, practice readiness assessment, and into independent practice, and agree to pay the grant back to the Town should the sponsored physician practice in the Town for less than five years.

The Town will start accepting applications on June 1, 2024, and will allocate them on a first-come, first-served basis.