A shortage of family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador has been well documented over the years, but according to the Dean of MUN’s School of Medicine, there’s no one cause or solution to that dilemma.

Dr. Margaret Steele calls the situation “multi-factorial.”

She says that earlier this year, a retreat was held on physician recruitment and retention in the province to look at ways to improve the situation.

A report has been submitted to the province.

She says one of the things the province could be doing better is understanding where the needs are, noting that there needs to be a good recruitment and retention plan in place.

That way, she says, when they are educating students they can better tailor the programming to students’ experiences.