Queen’s School of Medicine is partnering with a group of Belleville family doctors to provide new opportunities to Family Medicine residents and expand the university’s community-based residency programs.

A new medical centre being built in Belleville will serve as the academic home of several Family Medicine residents starting next July.

“This program builds on Queen’s long-standing tradition of community-based training programs and further solidifies our presence as a regional School of Medicine serving communities from Oshawa to Ottawa,” said David Walker, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. “The Family Medicine residents will spend two years in Belleville and area providing quality health care to local residents. This will mean more doctors, reduced wait times and a focus on preventative care and chronic disease management.”

There was a groundbreaking ceremony today at the site of the new Centre, which is expected to open by Summer 2010.

Queen’s is also expanding its Family Medicine residency programs to Oshawa and Peterborough with funding from the provincial government.