Doctors Nova Scotia names new president

Wescott completed his medical degree at the University of Alberta and then spent two years at Dalhousie University in a surgical residency. After returning to Alberta as a family doctor, he went on to complete a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alberta. After 15 years in Alberta, he moved to Antigonish, where he has lived for the past 10 years.

The new president has been participating in advocacy roles for over 20 years, first with the Alberta Medical Association and now with Doctors Nova Scotia. Wescott has extensive experience with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia and was an assistant clinical professor at the University of Calgary.

“By working with our membership, I will begin to address issues surrounding recruitment and retention within the province,” said Wescott. "In the years to come, many physicians will start to retire, cut back their office hours and relocate. The association wants to proactively address this issue."

Doctors throughout the province have also identified the balance between lie and work as a concern.

“My focus will be on improving physician work-life balance while giving the association a renewed advocacy role,” said Wescott. “There are several initiatives that will improve doctors' work-life balance and benefit the health-care system such as improving access to consultants (and) specialists, increasing the number of health-care providers, encouraging collaborative care and improving technology.”