St. Joseph’s Hospital has announced that two new physicians are practising in the community.
Dr.Navjot Pannu and Dr. Nihar Desai both started their family medicine practice at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Feb. 1. Their arrival brings the number of family physicians in Estevan to 10.
Pannu and Desai will both be establishing their practices with the Estevan Medical Group in the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Clinic, adjacent to the hospital.
Pannu is originally from India, where she received her medical training and has practised family medicine for 20 years, prior to moving to Canada. She has resided in Milton, Ont., for three years while preparing for her qualifying exams with the goal of working as a family physician in Canada.
Desai, also originally from India, has 10 years of experience as a medical doctor. He has resided in Calgary for several years, working for Alberta Health Services and preparing for his Canadian qualifying examinations.
Both physicians are recent graduates of the Saskatchewan International Physicians Practice Assessment Program (SIPPA). SIPPA is the program offered in Saskatchewan to provide competency assessment of international physicians prior to licensing in Saskatchewan. Both physicians have received their licence from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and have received privileges from the Saskatchewan Health Authority prior to their arrival in Estevan.
St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director Greg Hoffort said Pannu and Desai are welcome
additions to the medical staff in Estevan.
“We believe the arrival of new physicians will allow more residents access to a family physician and improved access.”
Hoffort credits a collaborative effort between the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and St. Joseph’s Hospital for their success in regards to recruitment and retention of physicians.
The next edition of Southeast Lifestyles will have more on this story.
