GUYSBOROUGH – One year after The Journal reported that Guysborough and Sherbrooke were poised to welcome new physicians, Nova Scotia Health (NSH) says the first of those recruits is now in place and another is scheduled to begin practising this summer.
In March 2025, provincial physician recruitment officials said a candidate from the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program could be placed in Sherbrooke upon successful completion of the program, while a North Nova Family Medicine resident had committed to begin practising in Guysborough in 2026.
In a statement last week, Katrina Philopolous, the province’s director of physician recruitment, confirmed that practice ready assessment candidate Dr. Jai Singh began practising in Sherbrooke in early December 2025.
She also said NSH has confirmed a July start date for the North Nova Family Medicine resident previously expected to begin practising in Guysborough in 2026.
The Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program is designed to recruit internationally trained physicians who already practise medicine in other countries but must complete a supervised clinical assessment before receiving a licence to practise in this province.
Meanwhile, the North Nova Family Medicine residency program, based through Dalhousie University, places family medicine residents in rural communities across northeastern Nova Scotia – including Guysborough County – with the goal of encouraging them to establish long-term practices in underserved areas.
“We’re pleased to share practice ready assessment candidate, Dr. Jai Singh, started practising in Sherbrooke in early December 2025 and we have confirmed a July start date for the North Nova Family Medicine resident,” Philopolous said.
She added that the authority is also working toward a commitment from a graduating resident to cover occasional weekend emergency department shifts in the region starting this fall.
Philopolous said NSH “remains committed to filling all opportunities in the Guysborough area,” noting that recruitment teams continue to connect with medical learners and physicians across the Maritimes and beyond to promote rural practice opportunities.
In October 2024, volunteers with the Guysborough Memorial Hospital Foundation hosted 17 medical residents from Dalhousie University’s North Nova teaching program for a two-day recruitment visit while they were completing rural family medicine placements across northern Nova Scotia. The visit highlighted both the professional environment and quality of life in Guysborough County.
“I think we certainly opened minds as to what we have available here, and I think we’ll be given due consideration,” foundation chair Bill Innes told The Journal at the time.
Meanwhile, last week, Andrew Heighton, NSH’s director of integrated rural health, said emergency department coverage across the region has stabilized significantly over the past 12 months.
“This has been done through physician scheduling and clinical adjustments, consistent locum physician coverage and the addition of new care provider roles like physician assistants and nurse practitioners,” Heighton said in a statement.
He added that virtual urgent care services are also helping expand access to care in local emergency departments.
“Having virtual urgent care in our EDs also gives residents access to care through a combination of on-site and virtual options.”
