Mayor Glenn George (left) and Dr. Evan Mah (right). (Facebook/City of Melfort)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Local Healthcare

Melfort entices new Doctor to move to community

Oct 20, 2023 | 5:00 PM

It’s safe to say the City of Melfort’s new recruitment program for physicians is already a success.

Despite being approved back in August, it has already enticed one healthcare professional to move to the community.

Doctor Evan Mah took up the city’s offer of a $20,000 bonus in exchange for working in the community for a minimum of two years.

He told northeastNOW it was nice to get the extra funds, but it wasn’t the only reason he and his fiancée decided to move to Melfort.

“We thought the community was quite nice, the medical community seemed nice and supportive as well.”

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Mah was born and raised in Regina. He went to the University of Saskatchewan and ended up training in Regina, Saskatoon, and Meadow Lake.

Mah eventually took part in the Enhanced Surgical Skills training program in Prince Albert which trains physicians to safely provide surgical care in low-resource environments. In other words, he was trained to work in more rural and remote communities that don’t have the same resources and support as places like Saskatoon and Regina.

He has already been in Melfort for about three weeks and noted he definitely wasn’t eased into the role.

“The (emergency department) is quite busy and I’ve started doing a couple of surgeries already,” said Mah.

Along with supporting Melfort’s general surgeon, Mah will provide obstetrical services that focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Meanwhile, the City of Melfort is overjoyed that Mah chose to come to the community.

City Manager Adam Homes said they’re hoping Mah’s decision and their recruitment program will encourage more healthcare professionals to consider moving to the city.

“The Melfort Hospital and SHA are always looking for more doctors, especially ones with specialty services that can help out at the hospital. We’re kind of hub for surgical services in the province.”

Melfort’s city council officially approved Mah’s bonus at their meeting earlier this week.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow