Rural Medicine Weeks (RMW) 2008

This year, the Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP) helped coordinate Rural Medicine Week 2008 (RMW 2008) during four separate weeks throughout the summer.  These different blocks of time allowed for more learners to participate in the experience than in previous years and were also scheduled to incorporate the curriculum of each school.  Overall, ninety learners visited fourteen communities during the summer of 2008!  Each community organized clinical experiences for the learners, pairing them with preceptors in many different facets of hospital work; some communities showed the students a different side of health care by arranging time with other health professionals.  Through months of planning and community involvement, each community organized a memorable week of unparalleled experiences.

The first week of RMW 2008 was held from May 20th - May 23rd in Cobourg, Lindsay and Port Colborne.  Eleven medical students from Queen's and Ottawa Universities enjoyed their first hands-on experiences through many scheduled shifts with preceptors as well as several different and unique social outings.  A three part sequence by Global TV on healthcare had been underway for the previous month and the students in Cobourg were interviewed and featured on the third segment as part of the recruitment and retention focused conclusion.   The students in LIndsay were scheduled into many hospital shifts and social events; however, nothing beats being treated to the beauty of the region with their suturing clinic held at a preceptor's cottage! Highlights from Port Colborne's RMW 2008 included a tour of historic Wainfleet  The high school students in Port Colborne were taught about the process and lifestyle of becoming a medical student from these RMW participants.

Sixty-four medical trainees from Ottawa University and the University of Toronto flooded the communities of Barrie, Brantford, Georgina, Midland, Niagara Falls, Orangeville, Orillia, Trent Hills and Simcoe during the second Rural Medicine Week of 2008 that occurred from June 2nd - June 6th.  Learners in Barrie participated in an introductory ATV rescue course, while the learners in Brantford were treated to fitness classes and tours of local attractions.  Gerogina highlighted their landscape by treating the medical students to many fun water activities, including a boat excursion with the York Regional Police.  Students in Orangeville enjoyed canoeing on Island Lake and horseback riding.  The coordinators fro Trent Hills' RMW 2008 organized a picnic lunch in Ferris Park and  a tour across a suspension bridge.  In Midland, the medical students were taken to "Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons" as one of their many activities within the community.  Niagara Falls students were also treated to the region's popular tourist attractions with a ride on the Maid of the Mist and a tour underneath the water falls.  Orillia learners tried their luck at the Casino Rama and enjoyed many meals with influential community members.  Simcoe Showed off their community through boat and bus trips and many meals at local restaurants.  Aside from these great experiences, the learners in each community were exposed to a variety of hands-on clinical sessions.

Canada Day kicked off the third block on Rural Medicine Week 2008, which ran from July 1st - July 4th and created a red and white week filled with parades.  Cambridge hosted eight medical learners from McMaster University and the University of Toronto, who enjoyed a trip to the African Lion Safari as well as numerous other activities hosted by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.  Their clinical experience included suturing, casting and, "incase the doctor thing doesn't work out", pottery.

The final block of Rural Medicine Week 2008 followed two weeks later from July 14th - July 18th for seven learners in Peterborough and Port Colborne.  The new Peterborough Regional Health Centre was ready just in time for the medical students to experience their clinical activities.  At the farewell lunch, reporters from all aspects of the local media, interviewed the learners.   The two learners in Port Perry experienced the rural lifestyle of physicians by living with a local general practitioner and her family for the week.  These learners, along with the other trainees in Port Perry, were the guests of honour at a fabulous dinner party for all of the physicians and their families.

This year's Rural Medicine Week was the most successful week to date! All of the participating medical students raved about the communities in which they were placed and the activities that had been planned.  The clinical experiences to which they were exposed gave them great insight to future aspects of medicine and a broader understanding of rural family medicine. 

Many of the students who participated in RMW 2008 have maintained contact with the community coordinators, voicing an interest to return to the community for future rotations.  Although Rural Medicine Week began as a ROMP initiative, without the community support and participation, Rural Medicine Week would not be the success that it is.  Both the students who participate and the staff at ROMP are grateful for all of the community members who are involved in planning and executing Rural Medicine Week. 

Planning for next year's Rural Medicine Week is underway!  There are many students who are already eager for their rural learning experience next summer.  If you would like your community to participate in RMW 2009, please contact the ROMP office at romp@romponline.com or the Undergraduate Program Coordinator at undergrads@romponline.com.