Rural medicine day held for 44 U of T medical students
The Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI) hosted the third annual Rural Medicine Community Experience Day recently. Forty-four University of Toronto medical students were in attendance.
The first-and-second year students participated in hands-on workshops in suturing and intubation and were actively involved in group discussions regarding rural mental health.
The students also engaged in a question-and-answer session led by a panel of local family physicians regarding work and life in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
As this group of students has already expressed interest in practicing rural medicine upon completion of their training, KLHCI is hopeful that this one-day event will encourage many of them to consider more extensive training and eventual practice set-up in this community.
KLHCI announced earlier this year that, in conjunction with Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH), City of Kawartha Lakes family doctors and the Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP), Kawartha Lakes has been approved as a University of Toronto (UofT) Family Medicine Clerkship training site.
Training to become a doctor includes four years of medical school, prior to completing a specialty residency. The third and fourth years of medical school are known as ‘clerkship’. During these years, five to six weeks of training in many specialties, including family medicine.
“The more opportunities we can provide medical students to experience life in the City of Kawartha Lakes, the more young doctors will be encouraged to practice here,” said Dr. Bharat Chawla, RMH Chief of Medical Staff, in an earlier press release. “We’re proud to support efforts to mentor these talented young people, and to showcase this community and this hospital as welcoming places to build a career and a home.”
KLHCI thanks Dr. Knox, Dr. Nicholson, Dr. Young, Dr. Sahans, Dr. Berlin (family medicine resident), and Desmond Meenan, RN for volunteering their expertise and passion for the day. Further thanks are extended to KLHCI board members, the City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development Department, Stewart Morrison Insurance, and The Olympia Restaurant,” says Barb van der Veen, KLHCI president.
“On behalf of the medical students, we wish to express our appreciation to the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Alumni Relations Team and Medical Society for the grant received to provide transportation and accommodations for the Rural Medicine Community Experience Day,” states Erik Friesen and Emily Evans, Co-Chairs of the UofT Rural Medicine Interest Group.
KLHCI is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mandate is to recruit and retain family doctors for the City of Kawartha Lakes. KLHCI is directed through the work of a volunteer Board of Directors that is actively engaged in attracting new Board members from the community.
Should you wish to support its efforts of ongoing recruitment and retention of family doctors in this manner, or through a financial donation, contact Cindy Snider, Recruitment & Retention Coordinator at 705-328-6098 or , or visit the KLHCI website.
