Sunrise Health Region has welcomed three physicians to its region.
Dr. Morteza Shahrestani will begin practice on February 16 as a general practitioner in Preeceville, said a release from the Health Region. Dr. Shahrestani will be joining Dawn Kennedy, the nurse practitioner, at the Preeceville and District Health Centre.
Dr. Sirous Jafarian began practice on February 1 as a general practitioner in Canora, the release said. Dr. Jafarian is joining the primary health care team at the Canora Health and Wellness Centre in the Canora Hospital.
Dr. Aryo Rohani began practice on January 18 as a general practitioner in Esterhazy, joining the physicians and staff at the Esterhazy Medical Clinic.
“The communities of Preeceville, Canora and Esterhazy are sure to welcome Dr. Shahrestani, Dr. Jafarian, and Dr. Rohani,” said Roberta Wiwcharuk, vice-president of integrated health services for Sunrise Health Region.
“Preeceville has been without a permanent physician since December,” Wiwcharuk said. “Having Dr. Shahrestani join Dawn Kennedy, the nurse practitioner, is welcome news to the community.”
Sunrise Health Region continues to actively recruit for Preeceville and has recruited a fourth physician for Canora, the release said. The physician is currently enrolled in the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) and pending successful completion will join the Canora primary health care team in June.
People in communities across Saskatchewan are benefiting from better access to physician services, said a release from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine. The new family doctors practicing in Canora, Esterhazy and Preeceville is thanks to the most recent results of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.
Dr. Sirous Jafarian in Canora, Dr. Aryo Rohani in Esterhazy and Dr. Morteza Shahrestani in Preeceville join many other International Medical Graduate (IMG) colleagues already practicing in Saskatchewan, the release said. SIPPA is a unique made-in-Saskatchewan program that assesses IMGs on their education and clinical ability before allowing them to practice medicine.
Since the program began in 2011, almost 190 new family physicians have completed the assessment and are currently practicing in the province.
“Internationally trained physicians play a vital role in our health system, and we welcome them and their families to our growing province,” Greg Ottenbreit, minister of Rural and Remote Health, said. “SIPPA is one way we’re making sure Saskatchewan residents continue to have improved access to physician care.”
