The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

,,New Milton surgeon is impressed with town. and work environment Recent moves to open up possibilities for foreign-trained doctors are a wise choice, says Dr. Hossam Makar, the first doctor in HÎalton to graduate from the fast-track asSessment prograin and Milton District Hospital's newest general surgeon. "This program is a good asset to Canada. 1 know we are extremely short of doctors," he told The Champion as he praised the prograin that reduces traininsg required for qualifled foreign trained doctors from five years to one. "There are many doctors here who have to wait so long (to be able to practice)." Laat month, the Province announced it was mncreasing acceas to certification pro- grams for foreign-trained doctors. The increaaed access consisss of creating 110 new postgraduate training positions, geared toward international medical gradu- ates (IMGs) and a new fast track assess- ment pilot programn for IMGs practicing outside Ontario. With eight years of training under his heit - five years in Egypt where he earned a masters degree and doctorate in general surgery, foilowed by three years of training in England - Dr. Makar became eligible for thse pilot fast track programn after suc- cestfully completing a series of medical and English exams. The programt then led hlm through addi- tional testing and a six-month period of supervision, which he completed in Toronto. "The final note they (Medical Council of Canada) gave me sald 1 had exceeded ail their expectations," he sald. Those who successfuily complote the fast-track programt must commit to serving at least five years in an under serviced community - which Milton was at the titre. Selecting Milton over several other potential communîties boiled down to thse samne reason that brought Dr. Makar to Canada -famuly. Saturday A Sunday 11 m - 4pr CCHIMLL ESTATUS BrookvlIe Guelph Lino (5 mis. north of Hwyi 401) $ 412,900 all 1 1/2 acre lots UI GARY THOMAS on attescance W4N RefMax Blue Springs '~r 905-878-7777 S.rnday .Janry 12t 2 -4 p.m. 6O6 Weau Ave. JOYCE HAGEV1K in attendance Royal LePage Meadowtowne Reahty 905-878-8101 Sunday January 12Ui 2-4pm 153 Rlverwalk Place, Rockwood PAT RIDEOUT in attendance Royal LePage Meadowtowne Really 905-878-8101 Sunday Januury 12Ui 2-4pm 2 Robata Drive AMY FENNER An attendance Royal LePage Meadowtowne Reatty 905-878-101 Sunday January I 2th 2-4pnt 878 Peare Ave. BARB CROWE An attendance Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty 905-878-8101 Sunday ,Ianiuaay iRili 2-4pm SM4 Cedar 8~.g Bd. JACK MOCRUDOEN In attendance REMAX BLUE SPRINGS 905-878-77M Dr. Makar's wife has family in Mississauga and Milton is a short com- mute from there, he sald. "We were look- ing so live near her family. It was very con- veient to me." In the meantime, Dr Makar is working solely out of the hospital, where he is one of two general surgeons on staff. If ail goco according to plan, Dr. Makar wiIl open an office in the Commercial Street Medical Building ianuary 20, to be used for consultations and follow-up appointments. Since joining the hospital staff December 2, Dr. Makar said he has seen he made the right choice in coming to Milton. "I'm very happy with the city and the people and thse hospital,' he said. "People in Toronto are nice, but the peo- pIe here are abnormaily friendly. They're always smiliosg, trying to help. This is new to me." Thse Canadien Champion, Fniday, January 10, 2003-11l If you breaking news, please ca/i our 878- Dr. Hossamn Maker 1- M .ILTON DENTU CUNIC. Laboratory in Rear m Repaîrs i hour e Same Day Relines e Immediate Dentures F a Complete Dentures e Soft Rubber Linersm fil Partial Dentures e Temporary Relines CONSULTATION