He hasn't had much time to unpack, but Dr. Yusuf Kasim is already making a difference for women in the region. The obstetrician and gynecologist has recently opened a practice in the city.
Kasim has been practicing in Canada for a year, starting in New Brunswick for a three-month locum before moving to Manitoba, and making his way to Estevan and then Yorkton. Before moving to Canada, he worked in Ireland for six years and was a practicing obstetrician in Nigeria.
"I felt I belonged in Saskachewan... I have friends who have been working in Saskatchewan who have spoke well of the province, of a good family life... Coming to Yorkton, it's a much bigger center than where I was before. I'll be able to practice more, and my colleagues have spoken well of the place," Kasim says.
He says that he has been seeing an increasing number of patients, and a third gynecologist was necessary for the area, just due to patient workload. Some of his early patients have been waiting to see a specialist for a long time, Kasim says, and he's proud that he has been able to help women get the care they need quickly. He says that he can see more people in his field coming to the area as the region grows.
"I think the province and the region are working towards reducing waiting times, so that patients don't have to travel a long time to get their obstetrics and gynecological help," Kasim says.
Kasim says that the growth in the region has influenced how patients find their way to his office. He notes that while patients are normally referred to his office by a family physician, many of his patients so far have arrived in the city recently, and they don't have a family physician yet, but know they need to see a gynecologist. He says he wants to work collaboratively with family physicians to ensure the best care for his patients.
He says he has seen patients from throughout the region, from as far away as Dauphin, MB. He says there's a real need for people to visit a specialist relatively nearby.
"They don't have a gynecologist there, so they prefer to come to Yorkton rather than going south to Brandon," Kasim says.
Kasim says that he is open to receiving new patients and hopes to continue to grow his practice as he works in the area. People can contact his office at 782-2332.
