HISTORY
OF THE OSHAWA CLINIC
For over 80 years the Oshawa Clinic has
been providing quality health services to families in the
Durham Region and over this period, the group has grown
into the largest medical group practice in Canada
(currently 110+ doctors). The Oshawa Clinic originated from
a partnership formed in 1927 by Dr. Grant Bird and Dr.
Oscar G. Mills who had graduated together from the
University of Toronto in 1921. Dr. Bird made many
visits to the Mayo Clinic in the United States bringing
back new surgical techniques along with a vision of
establishing a medical group practice in Oshawa. In
1930 they were joined by Dr. W.S. Millman who specialized
in Diagnostic Radiology and in 1934 by Dr. James R. Bayne
who developed the specialty of
Paediatrics.
During the busy
years of 1939 to 1945 when there was a severe shortage of
doctors in Oshawa, this medical group became known as the
Oshawa Clinic and plans were made for a new building.
The "new" Clinic opened at the corner of King Street and
Charles Street in Oshawa on December 1, 1948.
In 1948 the population of Oshawa was
25,000 and the Oshawa General Hospital had about 150
beds. In response to the rapidly increasing
population, the Clinic continued to add medical staff,
hired a business administrator and developed improved
facilities for laboratory, X-ray, physiotherapy, pharmacy
and medical records. In 1962, a 30,000 square foot
wing was added at the south side of the original
property. With continuing growth in the area, the
Oshawa Clinic partners decided to embark on a major
expansion and on May 19, 1971, opened the eight storey
tower to allow the group to grow to approximately 40
doctors and establish the urgent care clinic. In 1985
the laboratory, front lobby and urgent care clinic were
enlarged and in 1987 the three storey west wing building
was added to the complex.
The Oshawa Clinic has continued to expand
to over 110 physicians. During this period, the group
recognized that much of the residential growth in the
Durham Region was east of Oshawa in the Courtice area. This
area was highly underserviced by doctors and they wanted to
better serve the needs of the Courtice residents. In
doing so, they built a first class medical facility called
the Courtice Health Centre, which opened on April 12, 1999,
and which is home to 22 family physicians, diagnostic
imaging and laboratory services, dental centre, hearing
testing, rehab services and a number of programs operated
by Lakeridge Health Corporation.
With the success
of the Courtice Health Centre, the group decided to build
an identical facility on 2 acres of land in North Oshawa,
close to the new University (University of Ontario
Institute of Technology). The new Taunton Health
Centre opened in May 2006 and is home to 16 family doctors,
walk-in clinic, plus a wide range of diagnostic and
treatment services.