Family Medicine Teaching Unit
The Family Medicine Teaching Unit (FMTU) is academic primary care health clinic affiliated with Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH), the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, the Couchiching Family Health Team (CFHT) and the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT).
OSMH Family Medicine Teaching Unit
The Family Medicine Teaching Unit (FMTU) is an academic primary care health clinic affiliated with Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH), the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, the Couchiching Family Health Team (CFHT) and the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT).
The FMTU clinic will provide patients high quality primary care from both experienced staff physicians and resident physicians, ensuring a wide range of expertise and perspectives.
In our 2-year program, residents will have the unique opportunity to engage in a comprehensive management curriculum, learn to teach effectively, and manage their own mini-practice. They will gain extensive experience in emergency medicine and acute care through several dedicated rotations.
Curriculum rotations will include:
PGY-1: One block each in Family Medicine Orientation, Internal Medicine, Hospitalist, Paediatrics, OB/Women’s Health, Mental Health, Indigenous Health and Social Accountability, Musculoskeletal, and Surgery. Two blocks of Emergency Medicine and Electives.
PGY-2: One block each in Internal Medicine, Hospitalist, Paediatrics, OB/Women’s Health, Care of the Elderly, Palliative Care, Emergency Medicine. One block of selective and three blocks of electives.
Benefits for the Community
Improved Access to Care:
Providing access to family medicine for unattached patients in our catchment area which includes: Orillia, Severn, Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
Diverse Expertise:
Different healthcare professionals bring unique skills and perspectives, enhancing the quality of care and addressing a wider range of patient needs.
Improved Patient Outcomes:
Collaboration among healthcare professionals leads to more accurate diagnoses, comprehensive treatment plans, and better management of chronic conditions.
Comprehensive Care:
Comprehensive care allows for a holistic approach, where different specialists contribute their expertise to address all aspects of a patient’s health.
Interested in Becoming a Patient?
The Orillia FMTU will work closely with the Couchiching Ontario Health Team to attach patients to physicians and learners within our community. Orillia and area residents without a family doctor are encouraged to register through the COHT Waitlist.
Co-Site Directors
We are absolutely thrilled to announce Dr. Erika Catford and Dr. Heather Laakso as our new Co-Site Directors at OSMH FMTU! Their combined expertise, passion, and dedication to excellence make them the perfect leaders to guide our team. We look forward to the innovative ideas and positive energy they will bring to our community.
Dr. Erika CatfordCo-Site Director
Dr. Heather Laakso Co-Site Director
Co-Site Director Dr. Erika Catford is a highly respected family physician based in Orillia, Ontario. She has been an active member of the medical community since 2005, after earning her medical degree from the University of Toronto. Dr. Catford specializes in family medicine and has been recognized for her exemplary care and dedication to her patients.
In 2018, Dr. Catford was honored with the Ontario College of Family Physicians Regional Family Physician of the Year Award for Central East and North Simcoe Muskoka. This award highlights her leadership in the community, her commitment to rural medical practice, and her role as an inspirational teacher.
Dr. Catford’s practice encompasses a wide range of services, including prenatal and birthing care, inpatient medical care, home visits, and palliative care. She has also been instrumental in developing and improving rural teaching sites, benefiting over 40 family medicine residents through her role as Director of the Rural Teaching Practice Program at the University of Toronto.
Her passion for palliative care led her to co-found the Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia, where she played a crucial role in obtaining provincial funding and land approvals. Dr. Catford’s dedication to her patients and her community has made her a central figure in Orillia’s medical landscape.
FMTU Co-Site Director Dr. Heather Laakso is a dedicated family physician based in Orillia, Ontario. She earned her medical degree from McMaster University in 2015, and completed her family medicine residency through the University of Toronto in 2017. Dr. Laakso is known for her compassionate care and commitment to her patients; her dedication to patient care was recognized by the Ontario College of Family Physicians in February 2025, and she was awarded a patient-nominated Certificate of Recognition for her unwavering support and commitment to patient care.
Dr. Laakso holds holds hospital privileges at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and is passionate about promoting comprehensive family medicine. She has served as the Orillia director for the rural clerkship family medicine program through Temerty school of medicine since 2021, and has served in leadership for medical education at the hospital. She is passionate about family medicine, and the profound significance it holds in promoting the health and wellbeing of a community. She is dedicated to the work of medical education, and exposing all medical learners to the rewarding career of being a comprehensive family physician.
Orillia…Where Medicine Meets Life Style.
Orillia is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, families, retirees, and independent individuals, offering natural beauty and a variety of activities.
The Rail Trail and well-maintained parks provide scenic views and safe enjoyment. Cyclists can explore numerous paved roads with culinary and boutique stops.
Oro-Medonte features popular alpine ski areas like Horseshoe Resort and Mount St. Louis Moonstone, as well as Hardwood Ski and Bike for Nordic skiing, mountain biking, and hiking.
The area caters to both small city and rural living, with picturesque waterfront parks, a new library, a world-class entertainment center, a new recreation facility, and a vibrant arts and culture scene with many festivals.
Learn more about Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment and Opportunities HERE
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Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Family Teaching Unit