ZURICH — The Zurich Medical Centre recently welcomed a new doctor and a physician assistant to its roster.

Dr. Alicia Schreader joined the Bluewater Area Family Health Team (BAFHT) in December, while physician assistant Susanne Schoeley arrived in Zurich in November.

Schreader, who was most recently working in family practice in Toronto, joins the Zurich Medical Centre full time and according to a press release by the BAFHT she will also provide clinic hours Tuesday nights starting in February. The press release states that Schreader will be assuming some of Dr. Lori Teeple's patients as Teeple moves to part-time hours starting in February due to health issues.

Schreader will also take over some of Dr. Michael Hurley's patients. After practicing medicine for more than 40 years, Hurley has decided to slow down and spend some more time with his family.

The BAFHT will be sending letters to patients explaining the changes.

Schreader, in addition to working the last three years in Toronto, has medical experience in a variety of locations, practicing in Ethiopia, India and the Northwest Territories.

“It doesn't get much more remote than Ethiopia,” she said.

Schreader said she decided to join the BAFHT in Zurich because she enjoys practicing medicine in a “team” setting and likes the area, calling it “a beautiful part of the province.”

She was complimentary towards her co-workers, saying she loves the group of people in Zurich and likes the fact that everyone is working in the same direction.

In addition to her work overseas, Schreader has a special interest in infectious diseases and studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom. She graduated from medical school at McMaster University and did her post-grad work at the University of Ottawa.

As a physician assistant, Schoeley brings not only a new position to the Zurich Medical Centre, but one that is new to Canada. A recent graduate of McMaster University's Physician Assistant (PA) program, Schoeley hails from the Thedford area and attended high school in Forest.

PAs can perform a number of medical duties including physicals, patient interviews, patient histories, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions or procedures, diagnoses and treatment of illnesses, ordering tests and counseling patients about health care, according to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

Schoeley can also write prescription renewals and a PA's role can vary depending on his or her relationship with the supervising physician.

Schreader describes Schoeley's role as “vitally important” to health care.

Schoeley's schooling lasted eight years and the CMA describes PAs as “academically prepared and highly skilled health professionals who support physicians in all health care settings.” PAs complete medical schooling but unlike doctors do not complete a postgraduate residency.

In hiring Schoeley, the BAFHT was successful in receiving a two-year grant through Health Force Ontario and the Ministry of Health. Schoeley will work under Dr. Teeple and the other physicians on the BAFHT team.

While there are over 70,000 PAs in the U.S., the position is new in Canada with only about 200, primarily in Manitoba and Ontario.

Schoeley says she always wanted to work in a rural medicine setting and feels fortunate to be working so close to home. She said the PA position is something that will become a booming profession in Canada. There is one PA in Goderich, but Schoeley is otherwise the first person in that position in the area.

Schreader added the PA position allows the doctor to work and focus on more complex issues.

According to a press release from the BAFHT, the area is still classified as an official underserviced area and the BAFHT is “constantly recruiting new physicians to meet the needs of our community and surrounding area.”