FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2024 – Patients of the Sicamous Community Health Centre (SCHC) will meet a new face this fall when Dr. Ebikabowei (Lucky) Kotingo joins the primary healthcare team as a full-time physician.

Dr. Kotingo was recruited through the Practice-Ready Assessment – British Columbia (PRA-BC) program for internationally trained family physicians who have completed residencies in family medicine outside of Canada.

“I feel excited to make Sicamous my place of primary assignment for my Return of Service (ROS) and the Shuswap my new home,” says Dr. Kotingo, who is committing three years of service in the community. During his ROS, he will complete a 12-week clinical assessment in Salmon Arm.

On behalf of the District of Sicamous council, Mayor Colleen Anderson offers a warm welcome to Dr. Kotingo, who is relocating to the Shuswap with his family and will begin his role at the SCHC in September.

“We look forward to Dr. Kotingo and his family living, working and being part of our community,” says Mayor Anderson. “Thank you for choosing Sicamous.”

In December, patients of Dr. Saad Alam were notified he would be leaving the SCHC on March 1, 2024. Dr. Alam joined the SCHC in July of 2021 through the International Medical Graduate (IMG) program. The District of Sicamous thanks him for his commitment to patients and the community during his tenure.

“We want to assure patients that their healthcare needs will be met during this transition,” says SCHC manager Karen Eastland. “Ensuring residents have reliable access to primary healthcare is our priority.”

Eastland confirms that current patients of Dr. Alam will continue to be supported by Dr. Vicki Edmondson and nurse practitioner Jennifer Post-Balfour. In addition, locum placements will offer coverage until Dr. Kotingo’s arrival.

Last week, Dr. Kotingo visited Sicamous to tour the Sicamous Community Health Centre and Municipal Hall. He was accompanied by Eastland, Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice executive director Tracey Kirkman and Sicamous council members Pam Beech and Malcolm Makayev.

“The Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice is thrilled that Sicamous has a successful match with Dr. Kotingo from the PRA-BC program,” says Kirkman. “We look forward to working with Sicamous council and the Sicamous Community Health Centre to ensure that Dr. Kotingo and his family are well-supported and fully integrated into the community professionally and socially.”

During his stay, Dr. Kotingo also visited the Sicamous Interior Health Unit and attended an education session in Vernon.

“Dr. Kotingo was very moved by the warm reception he received and was gobsmacked by the beauty of the area,” Eastland commented. “He said, ‘I have found our new home!’’”

-30-

View as PDF