Two new physicians are joining the Cornwall community, thanks to a city program that helps cover moving costs for doctors who commit to practicing here. The announcement, made July 31, 2026, comes as roughly 21,000 local residents remain without a primary care provider.
City of Cornwall‘s Medical Recruitment and Relocation Program provides up to $25,000 in relocation expense reimbursement for physicians who agree to work in the city for at least three years. Since 2006, the effort has helped 46 physicians and specialists move to Cornwall.
Dr. Paul Ojedbo, a family physician who relocated from the United Kingdom, is already seeing patients at McConnell Medical Centre. Dr. Anissa Chirico, an anesthesiologist who completed her residency at McGill University, will soon join Cornwall Community Hospital.
These hires come during a tough time for local healthcare. Erin Killoran, executive director of the Seaway Valley Community Health Centre, recently told CBC News that about 21,000 people in the Cornwall area don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. The problem stretches across Ontario, where roughly 1.98 million residents were without a primary care provider as of June 2025, according to the Ontario government’s Primary Care Action Plan. The Ontario Medical Association reported that more than 2.5 million Ontarians lacked a family physician as of late 2025.
Mayor Justin Towndale created the Mayor’s Task Force on Medical Recruitment in May 2024, which led to 18 recommendations unanimously endorsed by City Council on September 22, 2025. Those recommendations aim to strengthen healthcare access in Cornwall. Residents still looking for a family doctor are encouraged to register with the provincial Health Care Connect program by calling 1-800-445-1822.
