In 2020, Hospitals of Regina Foundation launched a Fellowship Funding Program to help with Regina’s significant deficit in medical specialists.  Doctors with an interest in a particular specialized area may apply for a Foundation fellowship to help with their specialty training.  In 2021, the Foundation agreed to fund the Child Psychiatry Fellowship for Dr. Fiyin Peluola, a trained psychiatrist with an interest in specializing in children’s mental health. 

Born in England, and then moved to Saskatchewan at the age of 11, Dr. Peluola is excited to have begun his professional career in Regina. As one of two Child Psychiatrists supported by the Foundation through our Fellowship Program, Dr. Peluola is thankful to be able to give back to the community he calls home. Without the support of our donors for the Fellowship Program, this may not have been possible.

“Being able to complete my residency with the support and assistance of the Fellowship Program is extremely satisfying. It would have been a truly challenging time in my education if not for this program.” Dr. Peluola explains. “Knowing that the Foundation and the donors supported me gives me an extra sense of local pride, and the drive to give back to the community that helped me.”

Dr. Peluola is one of eight Child Psychiatrists currently practicing in Regina. With a nationwide shortage of specialists in the field of Child Psychiatry, his services could not have come at a better time. With healthcare systems seeing increased wait times for children to receive the care they need and specialists seeing increased workloads, the investment in local medical specialists and programs has never been more important.

“We need to look at the big picture as a whole and realize the ripple effects these delays in care can have on an individual.” Dr. Peluola says. “Being able to increase the number of specialists available and the level of care that can be provided, can in turn reduce the impact and load on other areas of the medical system. It allows patients to receive the care they need when they need it.”

With the recent addition of Dr. Peluola to Regina’s complement of child psychiatrists, the team is already seeing decreased wait times for kids to receive the care they need.

“Investing in these programs and in homegrown medical specialists can make a huge difference, and goes a long way for the community.” Dr. Peluola explains. “When you have the support and are able to practice your specialty in the place you call home, it gives you that extra bit of drive to want to be able to give back more. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been given this chance and want to express my deepest thank you to all the donors and to the community who have supported me.”

“Investing in the Fellowship Program to help train and retain healthcare specialists such as Dr. Peluola has never been more vital.” says Dino Sophocleous, President and CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “Our donors’ support enabled the Foundation to create the Fellowship Program which allows us to support and retain medical specialists so they can provide our community with the care they deserve, right here at home.”