Lessons in rural medicine

Many students were impressed by the responsibilities of family physicians in smaller communities. Some physicians operated their own clinics and took shifts at the local emergency room.

 

“Family residents get to do a lot,” says Pranavi Ravichandran, who visited Strathroy. “I would see them in the hospital and then I would see them in the clinic with their patients. You get to do more than what you think of as just family medicine.”

 

The role family physicians play in the community hit home with Ed Stack in Lucan.

A family doctor retired while he was there and the community collectively celebrated the doctor’s years of service.

 

“When a family doctor retires, it’s kind-of a big deal.”

 

As their first real experience with patients, the students got to see textbook procedures in action and physicians dealing with everything from births to deaths. 

 

“I think this really turned me on to the idea of family medicine,” says Michael Furlong, who was in Listowel, Ont. “The best thing about being in a place like this is there is a lot of flexibility in what you do.”

 

Discovery Week is an opportunity for community partners to recruit future physicians by showcasing all their area has to offer. In addition to being at patients’ bedsides, students went golfing, hiking and visited farms. Some visited local high schools to answer questions about getting into medical school. 

 

“Discovery Week is an opportunity for medical students to experience life and medicine in rural areas,” says Dr. Shamin Tejpar, Assistant Dean of Rural and Regional Medicine, who has been working in Stratford for 22 years. Students discover working in a community hospital is different from a university teaching hospital.
 
“They may find this is the life they want after graduation.”
 
Last year, Discovery Week was awarded the Silver Prix D’Excellence Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education for best community outreach program.