Efforts to increase the number of doctors in Windsor-Essex are working and the University of Windsor is taking some of the credit.
In 2003, Windsor-Essex had the second worst doctor per-resident ratio in Ontario with just 109 physicians for every 100,000 people - the national average was 187 doctors per 100,000 residents.
Now Windsor-Essex boasts 154 doctors for every 100,000 residents, thanks in part to the Regional Physician Recruitment Office. But some of the credit is being given to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry's Family Medicine Residency Program.
Associate Dean, Dr. Gerry Cooper tells CTV News the "if we build it, they will come" approach ten years ago has paid off. The program now graduates 38 new family doctors every year and 75% of those graduates remain in Windsor.
"They have found their way to Windsor to be part of the medical school here, 75% of the people that come, end up practicing here afterwards, which is a phenomenal number,” he says.
Cooper says the university doesn't want to take all the credit.
"I think the government of the day recognized that they really had to attend to this issue of physician shortages, this is really a story about community achievement,” he added.
Dr. Sara Axford is an Alberta native. She only intended visit Windsor to complete her focus on family medicine, but the Schulich School and the community reeled her in.
“We first moved to Windsor, thought it was just going to be a stepping stone from along our path and we were going to end up back in Edmonton," she says
Cooper says the school continues to see a boost in educators and researchers as well.
More than 513 physicians have been brought into the region through the Regional Physician Recruitment Office since 2003, according to a report that was brought before Essex County Council in January.
— with files from CTV's Michelle Maluske.