McMaster University and Guelph Family Health Team partner to launch new family medicine residency training site

McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine and the Guelph Family Health Team (FHT) are announcing a new residency training site, signalling a partnership that supports the future of primary care in Guelph.  

Located at the Guelph Executive Family Health Team, the new training site will provide high-quality, community-based medical education in a collaborative, team-based care environment. Residents will gain hands-on clinical experience while working alongside interprofessional teams that reflect modern models of primary care.  

On June 10, leaders, educators, staff and community partners from McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine and Guelph FHT were joined by Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, in advance of the July 1 program start. 

“This site launch marks an exciting and meaningful milestone for McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine and the communities we serve,” says Cathy Risdon, professor and chair of McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine. “We are proud to welcome a new generation of residents who will train, grow, and make lasting contributions right here in Guelph and across Wellington County. This is more than a new program—it’s an investment in healthier communities for years to come.” 

The launch builds on the success of more than a dozen resident placements in Guelph since 2011, which were previously coordinated through McMaster’s Waterloo training site. Guelph is now positioned to welcome four learners each year into the two-year program and will serve as a hub for academic programming for rural-stream residents training in Fergus. 

Led by co-site directors Joan Chan and Katherine Miller, both active family physicians in Guelph with extensive experience in clinical practice and academic leadership, the new site will offer a training environment rooted in strong community relationships, sustainable learning, and innovative approaches to medical education. This includes a focus on learner well-being, collaborative practice, and preparing residents for the evolving demands of family medicine.   

“By embedding medical learners directly within the community, we are creating stronger pathways for physician recruitment, supporting continuity of care, and investing in the long-term sustainability of primary care across Guelph and Wellington County,” says Lee Kapuscinski, CEO of Guelph FHT. “This program provides meaningful opportunities for new graduates to foster lasting connections within the physician community, while also improving the health and lives of people across the Guelph area.” 

This educational and community partnership represents an important investment in the future of primary care in Guelph and Wellington County, helping to both strengthen the local healthcare workforce and improve access to care.