Addressing the Gaps
Rural Physicians Fill Gaps in Gender-Affirming Care
A trio of physicians are stepping up to fill major gaps in the health-care system and improve access to gender-affirming care in Northern Ontario. Gender-affirming care can be difficult to access anywhere in Canada, but in rural Northwestern Ontario, patients may travel long distances for even routine health checks. Blazing a trail in health care for trans and gender-diverse patients are physicians Dr. Alexa Lesperance in Fort Frances, Dr. François Doiron in Dryden, and Dr. Justin Bell in Sioux Lookout—all NOSM University alumni and faculty, as well as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community themselves. “Gender-affirming care is lif...
Read more about physicians who provide gender-affirming care.
Recruitment event for NOSM University medical learners aligns education with local needs
Physician recruiters from communities across Northern Ontario met with NOSM University medical learners on the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, at an event designed to support physician recruitment in the North. The Northern Ontario Community Concierge and Connection Event, hosted in Sudbury, featured physician recruiters from more than 30 communities across Northern Ontario—from Hearst to Kenora. The inaugural event responded to community recruiters’ requests for a Northern Ontario–based forum to connect with NOSM University learners, providing space for communities to engage directly with the next generation of phys...
Read more about Recruitment Event.
Meet Bobbi Derkson, a Site Administrative Coordinator Who Connects Learners to Community in Kenora
Site Administrative Coordinators (SACs) are vital to NOSM University, ensuring medical learners not only succeed during their placements, but thrive in the Northern communities where they learn. In Kenora, Bobbi Derkson is doing just that, and much more. A Kenora resident for over twenty years, Derkson is more than a site administrator. She’s a mentor, cultural guide, and community connector, with deep roots in both the community and the health-care world. “I make sure our students feel supported and welcome,” says Derkson. “My favourite part of my job is when a student rushes into my office, excited to share something new ...
Read more about Site Administrative Coordinators