Dr. Kris Luscombe has been named the new president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.

Luscombe was installed as the new president during the NLMA’s AGM on Saturday.

He replaces outgoing president Dr. Susan MacDonald.

Luscombe is a psychiatrist who has been practicing in Grand Falls-Windsor for 20 years.

Luscombe says his first priority as president will be implementing the NLMA’s new Memorandum of Agreement that was signed on May 3rd, after four years without a contract.

He says during that time most specialties across the province fell below the national average, which impacted recruitment and retention. He says the new contract resulted in many positive programs and established a more level playing field, but more needs to be done to fix the “systemic issues” physicians face daily.

The new contract expires in 2023, and Luscombe says the association plans to meet with doctors over the next 12 months to get their views on how to make the province more attractive to graduates.