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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

the doctor will see you now!

Stettler area overjoyed with surge of doctors

Oct 27, 2025 | 1:03 PM

The Health Professionals Attraction & Retention Committee (HPA&R) is sharing details about its success in bringing new doctors to the Stettler region.

In spring 2024, there were just six doctors practising in Stettler, less than half the necessary 14 to properly meet the community’s needs.

Today, there are 13 doctors, which the committee notes reflects the power of collaboration, creativity and commitment.

“What we’ve learned through this doctor shortage process is that we have an amazing and welcoming community who is not afraid to think and work outside of the box. And also, that doctors bring doctors,” said Dean Lovell, chair of the HPA&R Committee.

“The medical community’s willingness to support recruitment, refer colleagues, and welcome new practitioners has been extraordinary. Our success belongs to everyone who leaned in, stayed patient, and believed in a community-driven approach.”

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The success has been a collaboration between representatives from the Town and County of Stettler, the Stettler Needs Doctors group, Heartland Medical Clinic, Stettler Medical Clinic, the Stettler Hospital, and RhPAP (Rural Health Professions Action Plan), along with an HPA& R Coordinator, Byron Geddes from the Stettler Regional Board of Trade, and the Stettler Health Services Foundation.

As an added benefit, Stettler has not experienced any Emergency Room closures for several months.

“We are not aware of another community of our size that has achieved this level of recruitment success in just 12 months,” added Lovell. “The Stettler region rose to the challenge and in our opinion, knocked it out of the park.”

The HPA&R Committee continues to meet regularly to plan and prepare for the future, it adds in a release.