Peterborough County - Find Your Perfect Balance

Discover a fulfilling career where your impact extends beyond the clinic - Peterborough County, also known as "The Kawarthas" offers you the rare blend of close-knit community care, scenic landscapes, and easy access to urban life. Elevate your practice in a region that values connection, well-being, and balance. Elevate your work and your life in a region that allows you to disconnect and find your perfect balance. 

What Makes Us Different?

Our physician recruitment program offers a full suite of assistance for you and your family to ensure you have the best possible experience when relocating to Peterborough County. We are here to assist with housing, banking, daycare, spousal employment and anything else you might need. The help does not stop after you arrive as the Healthcare Advancement Coordinator will continue to support you with a robust onboarding program and continued contact to ensure you have what you need to be successful.

There are a number of differentiating factors that should make Peterborough County your number one choice. They include:

FHO/FHT Model
All practices within Peterborough County are part of the FHO model of care offering you the highest compensation you can receive as a family physician practicing in the province of Ontario. On top of that, you will be part of the Peterborough Family Health Team (Peterborough Family Health Team) and your patients will receive the supports of a team of integrated health professionals such as Mental Health Clinicians, Registered Dietitians, Pharmacists, Nursing and administrative supports.
Community Paramedicine Program 
This program is fully funded by the Provincial Government, and provides additional care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes. The paramedics are an extension of the Primary Care providers. The goal is not to replace specialized services, but to work together to improve care on an individual basis and the best part is Charlie, a therapy dog that accompanies the paramedic when he visits your patients homes.
Indigenous Communities 

Curve Lake First Nation is located approximately 25 kms northeast of Peterborough, Ontario. The First Nation territory consists of a mainland peninsula and large island (Fox Island) on Buckhorn and Chemong Lake. Curve Lake First Nation also co-owns smaller islands located throughout the Trent Severn Waterway system. The total land base of the First Nation is approximately 900 hectares. Curve Lake First Nation has a medical centre on reserve.

Hiawatha First Nation is located on the north shore of Rice Lake east of the Otonabee River. It is found in Otonabee Township approximately 30 kilometres south of Peterborough. The First Nation consists of approximately 2145 acres of land of which 1523 are under certificates of possession.
Peterborough Quacks 
The local medical community has their own hockey team! This team is comprised of male and female primary care physicians and specialists. 
Partners in Pregnancy Clinic (PIPC)  
PIPC is a group of dedicated and experienced family physicians who are passionate about providing safe and patient-centred maternity and newborn care who work alongside integrated health professionals as part of the Peterborough Family Health Team . PIPC physicians attend births at the Peterborough Regional Health Center (PRHC). Learn more about the current physicians: DOCTORS | PIPC

Photo Gallery: Physician Opportunities will appear here on the public site.

 

Peterborough can offer you this — and more!

Incentives

Incentives differ by township, but many of our communities are eligible for the Northern Recruitment & Retention Grant, available for full-time family medicine practitioners and distributed over four years. Peterborough County typically offers lower rent, along with various financial and onboarding support.
Mentorship Opportunities & Strong Support System

Queen’s University has teamed up with the Peterborough medical community to provide medical students with hands-on learning experiences in real-world settings. The Queen’s Peterborough-Kawartha (PK) program allows residents to gain clinical experience in diverse environments, including the emergency department, palliative care unit, and the Partners in Pregnancy Clinic.

Becoming part of Peterborough’s medical community grants access to a strong support network, featuring 90 family physicians and a total of 400 physicians overall.

This community also offers a variety of Continuing Medical Education opportunities, helping physicians stay updated on best practices and expand their knowledge.
Diverse Roles Available including Working with the Medically Underserved

Whether you're looking to combine family practice with emergency department work, assist in the operating room, work in LTC, offer palliative care, MAID or offer subacute care, Peterborough offers an excellent environment to advance your medical career.

There are also opportunities for physicians who wish to work with the underserved and marginalized populations facing health challenges, such as immigrants and refugees, individuals experiencing homelessness, and addiction.

We are here to help and make those connections for you.
State of the Art Hospital and Access to Specialists

Opened in 2008, Peterborough Regional Health Centre offers over 460 beds and is home to one of the busiest Emergency Departments in Ontario. It provides a comprehensive range of services, including specialized programs for mental health and addictions, cardiac care, cancer treatment, and vascular surgery.

Peterborough is home to a variety of specialists, allowing residents to access essential medical care within their community. This local network also facilitates connections between physicians and additional medical experts for referrals, ensuring patients receive thorough and coordinated care.

In early 2023, PRHC was designated as a Level III Trauma Centre site by Critical Care Services of Ontario (CCSO) and the Ontario Trauma Network (OTN).

This means that PRHC now has a designated trauma team that works together and in consultation with other teams across the hospital.
Where Nature Meets Opportunity: A Community Rooted in Care

Nestled in the heart of Eastern Ontario, Peterborough County is the gateway to Ontario’s breathtaking Kawartha Cottage Country, where serene lakes and picturesque landscapes are just moments away. For outdoor enthusiasts, Peterborough County offers an unparalleled playground—hiking, cycling, backcountry camping, and seasonal adventures like kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter are all part of life here.

But Peterborough County is more than nature’s retreat. The surrounding quaint townships of the Kawarthas (Lakefield, Millbrook and Buckhorn) add to the allure, offering year-round recreational activities that cater to a variety of interests. The County and its eight townships gently surround the midsized city of Peterborough. With a thriving urban hub and a vibrant mix of world-class dining, upscale shopping, and a lively arts and nightlife scene it's easy to find your perfect balance.

Peterborough County is home to the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, a renowned water trail that connects you to stunning lakes and waterways, the Canadian Canoe Museum and the worlds highest hydraulic liftlock. It's perfect for boating, kayaking, and exploring the natural beauty of the region.

With an affordable cost of living, significantly lower than nearby metropolitan areas like Toronto and Ottawa, the Peterborough region offers a lifestyle of balances. This is a place where you can not only practice fulfilling medicine but also enjoy a quality of life that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally.
Lifelong Learning meets Family Living 
Peterborough County celebrates, preserves, and respects our diverse landscapes and vibrant beauty. Our communities continue to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming while providing opportunities to grow, prosper, relax, connect and disconnect.
Your Gateway to Hassle-Free Travel 

The Peterborough Regional Airport (YPQ) enhances the convenience of life in our community, offering charter passenger flights to select destinations across Canada and the US throughout the year. Whether for a quick family vacation or professional trips, YPQ provides a stress-free alternative to larger airports, allowing you to travel with ease. bstvacations.

Easily located from any community within Peterborough County, YPQ ensures that adventure and exploration are always within reach - without long lines and congestion of major travel hubs. Enjoy the freedom to travel on your terms. 

In addition to YPQ, Peterborough County is just a 90-minute drive from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's largest international gateway, and within easy reach of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Ottawa International Airport. These nearby hubs provide even more flexibility for domestic and international travel, giving you the best of both worlds - easy access to global destinations with the peace and comfort of Peterborough County living. 

We Would Love To Show You Around!

Arrange a community visit to explore practice opportunities, tour medical facilities, discover the area, and meet local physicians. Your visit will be customized to suit the needs of you and your family.
To request a visit, please fill out the form with your name, email, phone number, and any comments and our HealthCare Advancement Coordinator will be in touch.

Physician Community Visit Request Form