Those who live in a small community are already well aware of everything that’s great about it.
Those who don’t, however, may have no idea what they’re missing.
That’s where programs like Rural Healthcare Discovery Week come into play.
For four days, medical students from the University of Western Ontario spent time watching physicians, doing hands-on training and even taking part in patient care.
This component of the first-year medical program disperses students to 32 communities in southwestern Ontario, including Minto.
Alison Armstrong, recruiter for the Wellington Health Alliance, is helping to make sure we get our share of these aspiring physicians. They visited the Palmerston and District Hospital last week to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to practise medicine in a small, rural community.
“(It’s) an opportunity for medical students to experience life and medicine in rural areas,” says Dr. Shamin Tejpar, the assistant dean of rural and regional medicine for Western University.
First-year med student Clark Eeuwes, of Grimsby, was one of the students visiting the hospital to practise casting arms and putting in stitches. He’s also spending time at Dr. Chris Cressey’s office in Palmerston, interacting with patients and learning how a doctor’s office operates.
What did Eeuwes have to say about it?
“It’s fantastic,” he told the Express. “It’s a great experience . . . this is the best way to practise.”
He’s proven Tejpar absolutely correct.
 “The students will see that working in a community hospital is a lot different than in a university teaching hospital,” he said. “. . . They’ll see the vital role of community health centres. They may find this is the life they want after graduation.”
And why wouldn’t they?
From the community’s perspective, this is an ideal recruitment opportunity. Doctors are in high demand, particularly in rural settings. Local health care providers can sell the benefits of our facilities, our community and our residents to the visiting students. They, in turn, may consider returning here to practise upon graduation.
Here, the people are friendly, neighbours are close and the streets are considerably safer than most. It’s ideal for families. There’s swimming lessons, minor sports and local schools for children. There’s plenty of events taking place — fall fairs, car shows, the Town of Minto Canadian Redneck games, Saugeen Summer Nights, the handcar races, live theatre and countless fish fries, exhibits and bazaars. We’re within comfortable driving distance to Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto or one of several large, urban centres.
But people have to see it to believe it.
A Toronto native attending med school would have no reason to know what we in Minto are all about. That same Toronto native might think he or she would like to work in a rural community, but have no idea where. Thanks to Armstrong, that’s all changing. These students are seeing the best of what we have to offer. The Town of Minto is building a reputation outside of our borders not only for quality health care, but also quality living.