A $20,500 donation from the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund will help purchase new equipment for the Port Carling Health Hub.
The Fund, administered by the Muskoka Community Foundation, made the donation to support the purchase of new medical equipment for Dr. Brenda Martin, a new physician who is opening up a clinic at the Port Carling Health Hub.
On December 10, The Township of Muskoka Lakes council approved the purchase of essential medical equipment for Dr. Martin’s clinic. Using the donation, the township will purchase various items including diagnostic sets, an examination table, a vaccine fridge and carrier, desktop computers, a pulmonary function unit, and an autoclave. The procurement of this equipment will facilitate two fully operational exam rooms, which will help increase access to medical care in the community.
“This support will not only help us move more quickly toward restoring primary care in Muskoka Lakes, but it also ensures that the investment stays within our community, supporting residents today and long into the future,” said Mayor of Muskoka Lakes, Peter Kelley.
The Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund was established in 2023 by Kate Monk, in honour of her late father, and aims to “attract, retain and develop health care workers in Muskoka.” Since its inception, the fund has granted over $150,000 to not-for-profit agencies, post-secondary training programs, and local municipalities.
“I am extremely pleased to support the Township of Muskoka Lakes in establishing a primary care physician practice in the Port Carling Health Hub,” said Monk. “This grant fulfils a commitment I made to Council and residents in 2023 following the retirement of the municipality’s only doctor. I hope that by funding the office setup, this space will continue to serve as the home of a much-needed medical practice for many years to come.”
