Rural Interest Group
The University of Alberta has an active Rural
Medicine Interest Group sponsored by the Alberta Rural
Physician Action Plan (RPAP). Information on various events
such as tours, skills clinics, and recruitment fairs can
be found on their website, along with information about
other RPAP programs.
A University of Alberta, Medical Students Association, student run interest group that works in cooperation with the University of Alberta Office of Rural and Regional Health, the Alberta Medical Association Section of Rural Medicine (ASRM), the Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan (RPAP), the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC), and the Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC), to promote rural medicine to all University of Alberta medical students.
Leadership for 2011-2012 Academic Year:
Mr John Bell and Mr Yves Vaillancourt, UofA Medicine, Class 2014 will provide leadership for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Leadership rolls over every year to a medical student entering their second year of the UofA MD program. Membership:All students enrolled in the Undergraduate MD program at the University of Alberta are considered members of the University of Alberta Rural Medicine Interest Group. Mission To encourage and assists students in their pursuit of a career in rural medicine. Objectives and Services to be Provided:
- Promote rural medicine to all University of Alberta medical students. Inform students about training opportunities and lifestyle as they pertain to rural medicine as well as advantages and disadvantages of working in a rural setting.
- Act as a bridge between all medical students and rural administrations, including but not limited to the: University of Alberta Office of Rural and Regional Health, Alberta Medical Association Section of Rural Medicine, Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan, Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, and Northern Alberta Development Council.
- Inform students of rural bursaries and awards including but not limited to the:
- RPAP Rural Medical School Awards
- RPAP Rural Medical School Bursary
- NADC Bursary for Medical Students
- ASRM Michael Tarrant Scholarship
- Plan lunch hour and after school talks on various subjects (see list of activities for upcoming year below)Help plan clinical skills day as a way to introduce students to rural medicine as well as various medical skills required by all doctors.
- Keep students up to date rural programs available to them (eg: RPAP summer student externship) and rural policies that pertain to them.
Things to look forward to this upcoming year:
- Look for the RMIG and RPAP booth during the club fair on day one of orientation. Office of Rural and Regional Health Talk – hear from Dr. Jill Konkin, Assistant Dean, Rural and Regional HealthRPAP Information Talk – learn about the various RPAP programs available to medical students.RPAP Clinical Skills Day – hosted by a RPAP and a rural hospital, students spend a day in a rural community learning vital skills such as suturing, casting, starting IVs, as well as touring the hospital and town. RPAP School Outreach Volunteer OpportunitiesIntegrated Community Clerkship Information Session – get all your questions answered, hear from the program administrators, as well as participating students. NADC Talk – hear all about Northern Alberta and its opportunities. Plus learn about a great scholarship opportunityMany TGIF lunches hosted by the Office of Rural and Regional Affairs addressing topics chosen by you the students – All you ever wanted to know about rural medicine, plus good food.
- Conference Sponsorship: Peace River Regional Medical Conference
- SRPC Annual Rural and Remote Conference
| Watch here for upcoming events! |
Rural Medicine Scholarships:
ASRM Tarrant Scholarship - http://www.albertadoctors.org/bcm/ama/ama-website.nsf/AllDoc/815E096FA2A0D59787256FCC00741106?OpenDocumentNADC Bursaries for Medical Students - http://www.nadc.gov.ab.ca/Bursary/medical-bursary.htmRPAP Medical Student Bursary - http://www.rpap.ab.ca/medical_students/financial_support/student_bursary.html RPAP Medical Student Award - http://www.rpap.ab.ca/medical_students/financial_support/school_award.html Rural
Shadowing Experiences and Electives:
Click here for more information about setting up a Shadowing Experience.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Is rural shadowing available in the summer?
RPAP shadowing is available year round. The same process applies year round, however during the summer months the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine requires that all students doing any shadowing or electives be registered in Med 518 (1st year students) or Med 528 (2nd year students) to be covered by insurance.
- How many times in a year can you participate in rural shadowing weekends?
There is no limit to how many times a student may participate in rural shadowing weekends.
- If I have contacts of my own, can I set up rural shadowing on my own?
Yes, however you still must complete a UGME Shadowing form which can be found at http://www.med.ualberta.ca/education/ugme/clinicaled12/rural_form.cfm?yr=1 After completing the UGME Shadowing form, you need to take it to the Rural and Regional Health Office (located at 2-115 ECHA) to be approved and signed. It is also suggested that you email the RPAP Shadowing Coordinator Pam Nacinovich at Pam.Nacinovich@arfmn.ab.ca with all of the details so that you still apply for financial support.
- How do I do my 12 hour elective in 1st or 2nd year in rural medicine?
The process is the same as detailed above. Be sure to indicate on the UGME Shadowing form that your time is to count toward your 12 hour elective.
- I wasn’t able to attend the Clinical Skills day are there other similar opportunities available?
RPAP does host sessions at AMSCAR where they teach basic medical skills, similar to those taught on the Clinical Skills day. Weekend rural shadowing is also a great way to get exposure to rural medicine. For more details go to: http://www.rpap.ab.ca/edmontonruralinterestgroup/shadowing.html The RPAP Summer Externship Program is also a great opportunity for those students interested in rural medicine. For more details go to:http://www.rpap.ab.ca/medical_students/summer_externship_program.html
- I didn’t get approved for the RPAP Summer Externship, are there other opportunities I can do during my summer?
Rural shadowing is available year round. For more information go to: http://www.rpap.ab.ca/edmontonruralinterestgroup/shadowing.html Please note, that in order to participate in any shadowing or electives over the summer the University of Alberta requires you to be registered in Med 518 (1st year students) or Med 528 (2nd year students) to be covered by insurance.
- Can I use the RPAP Summer Externship Program to count as an elective toward my third year elective credits?
If you are participating in the externship during the summer between your 2nd and 3rd year you may use that time to count toward your elective time in 3rd year.
For more information regarding rural opportunities, please contact the Office of Rural & Regional Health.
Mail: 2-115 ECHA
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta Canada, T6G 1C9
Telephone: 780-492-0678 Toll Free: 1-866-492-0678
Fax: 780-248-1163
Email: rural®ionalhealth@med.ualberta.ca
Website: www.ruralandregionalhealth.med.ualberta.ca
The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan: The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan (RPAP) is an independent not-for-profit company funded by Alberta Health & Wellness. The RPAP provides a provincially-focused comprehensive, integrated and sustained program for the education, recruitment and retention of physicians for rural practice. RPAP offers a wide variety of programs and resources to medical students including: rural shadowing, various clinical skills clinics, a rural recruitment fair, bursaries and scholarships, as well as the Summer Externship Program.
Telephone: (780) 423-9911 Toll Free: 1-866-423-9911
Fax: (780) 423-9917
Email: Alberta-RPAP@rpap.ab.ca
Mail: The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan
2801 Telus Plaza
10020 100 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta Canada, T5J 0N3
Website: http://www.rpap.ab.ca/
The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada: The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) is an organization that serves as the national voice for Canadian rural physicians. They have a student group with various benefits such as: free membership, discounts to their various conferences, access to their rural elective catalogue helping you organize rural electives all across Canada, free quarterly copies of the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, access to internet discussion groups and much, much more.
Website: http://www.srpc.ca
The Northern Alberta Development Council: The Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC) is a regional development council with a focus on advancing the development of the northern economy. They offer the NADC Medical Student Bursary to those interested in practicing medicine in Northern Alberta.Website: http://www.nadc.gov.ab.ca/
The Alberta Medical Association Section of Rural Medicine:
