The City of Belleville Welcomes Dr. Toqa Elkashef

The City of Belleville is delighted to announce the signing of Dr. Toqa Elkashef into the Belleville Family Physician Recruitment Program. Dr. Elkashef is currently completing her formal residency at Queen’s University, a prestigious institution known for its excellence in medical training. Following her residency, she'll begin practicing medicine here in Belleville in 2028, bringing her skills, compassion and dedication to the community.

“This signing marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to address the shortage of family physicians in Belleville,” said Mayor Neil Ellis. “Dr. Elkashef and her family are a perfect fit for Belleville and we couldn’t be happier that she has chosen to build her life here. City Council remains committed to attracting top medical talent to provide high-quality healthcare services to our residents.”

“Moving to Belleville feels like coming home,” said Dr. Toqa Elkashef. “From the moment I visited, I was struck by the warmth of the people, the beauty of the Bay of Quinte waterfront, and the genuine sense of community here. As someone who values building lasting relationships with patients and their families, I knew this was exactly where I wanted to practice medicine. I'm not just starting a practice here – I'm joining this community as a neighbour and a friend."

Although healthcare and physician recruitment are not municipal responsibilities, the City of Belleville has recognized the need and implemented one of the most successful physician recruitment programs in the province, recruiting more than 60 physicians and eight nurse practitioners. The program has been mainly funded by the dividends the City receives as a shareholder of Elexicon Energy, and to date, over $9 million has been committed to attracting primary healthcare providers. Learn more about the Belleville Family Physician Recruitment Program at Belleville.ca/Doctor-Recruitment.

For residents in need of a family physician or a nurse practitioner, it is important to register with Health Care Connect (HCC). HCC is a resource used by physicians and government agencies to place patients with physicians and can be relied upon by doctors and nurse practitioners when developing or expanding their roster of patients. Registering with HCC is the key to finding primary health care in Ontario. You can register with HCC by calling 1-800-445-1822 (TTY 1-800-387-5559) or by visiting the HCC website.