The annual University of Manitoba medical student Rural Interest Group (RIG) is set to roll into western Manitoba and the educational road ahead is lined with good intentions and even better opportunities. Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) will host first and second-year medical students for a weekend workshop (January 27/28th) aimed at promoting the benefits of practicing medicine in rural communities. Forty-eight U of M medical students from the Max Rady College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences will participate in the event —split this year between the communities of Brandon and Virden.
PMH Director of Medical Services Administration, Michelle McKay, says the region appreciates all opportunities to engage medical students early in their training and this event helps students build career skills with an added emphasis on having fun.
“These weekend workshops offer an excellent preview of working in rural Manitoba and allows us to shift gears to work-life balance aspects, which are a key part of recruiting health-care professionals today,” McKay stated.
Clinical workstations will be located throughout Brandon Regional Health Centre and Virden Health Centre where students will put their skills to the test, doing everything from sutures to putting casts on their colleaguesand starting IVs.
“The event also provides for an opportunity for existing rural physicians to share their experience with medical students. This is something the students really appreciate,” McKay added.
Student RIG co-President Alexander McKinnon says fellow students are all looking forward to the weekend event.
“Much of our day-to-day school work in our first two years of medical school is focused on the individual specialized areas of medicine, so it will be refreshing to have the opportunity to learn more about the broad scope of practice in rural medicine,” McKinnon said.
“We hope the weekend in Brandon and Virden will encourage classmates to consider rural health care for future employment, both as family physicians and even as other specialists down the line.”
Manitoba’s Office of Rural and Northern Health (ORNH) partners with PMH to host the event.
“Student RIG trips are an excellent opportunity for host sites to connect with future physicians and demonstrate the exciting career opportunities that exist in rural communities,” stated Wayne Heide, ORNH Administrative Director.
Both the ORNH and Prairie Mountain Health sincerely appreciate the support of PMH physicians, staff and volunteers who help make the workshop a success.
