New primary care teaching clinic approved to support family medicine training and primary care capacity in Niagara

McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine is advancing plans for a new four-physician Primary Care Teaching Clinic in Niagara, marking an important step forward in strengthening family medicine training capacity and supporting long-term primary care access in the region. This initiative is part of a broader Ontario government investment of up to $8 million to support planning for 16 new and expanded primary care teaching clinics across the province.

The new Primary Care Teaching Clinic will create additional opportunities for family medicine residents to train in Niagara, while supporting a collaborative model of care that connects medical education, community-based primary care, and local health system planning.

“This is an exciting and meaningful investment in the future of primary care in Niagara,” said Cathy Risdon, professor and chair in McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine. “Training family medicine residents in the communities where they are needed is one of the most effective ways to build long-term physician capacity. This clinic gives Niagara an opportunity to showcase our communities, support learners, and strengthen the pathway from medical education to practice.”

The approved model is expected to include four family physicians and will be designed to support both patient care and teaching. Planning will include consideration of clinical space, learner space, supervision requirements, administrative supports, and the broader infrastructure needed to support a high-quality teaching environment.

The initiative is being advanced by the Department of Family Medicine, with advisory support from Frank Ruberto, executive director of the Niagara Medical Group and Jill Croteau, program manager of Niagara Physician Recruitment, who have been involved in community engagement, primary care planning and regional physician recruitment. Their involvement will help ensure the project is informed by both academic requirements and local community needs.

“This is about more than opening clinical space,” says Ruberto. “It is about creating a sustainable teaching environment where residents can build relationships with patients, physicians, communities, and the broader health system. That connection is what helps turn training placements into long-term practice decisions.”

A community and physician engagement process will be launched as part of the next phase of planning. This will include early communication with key partners, followed by a transparent process for interested physicians or groups to learn more about the model and express interest in participating.

The Primary Care Teaching Clinic is currently in the planning phase, with implementation anticipated to move forward toward a targeted launch in spring 2028.