NOSM University partners with West Nipissing’s hospital for med student training

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine University is partnering with the West Nipissing General Hospital to create a new training site for med students enrolled at the university.

Mackenize Straub dreams of one day becoming a family doctor. She’s one of two interns assigned to the hospital for an eight-month clerkship placement.

“I find that it’s the little difference in everyday life that really matter,” Straub said.

“I just want to be that guide for patients in order for them to navigate the health care system.”

As part of the program, third-year students must complete a comprehensive community clerkship. Students are assigned to live and learn in small groups in northern Ontario communities from September to April.

"It’s going to really prepare these physicians in the specialties of rural and northern health and family practice," said Sue LeBeau, president and CEO of West Nipissing General Hospital.

"We do have a need, as most northern Ontario communities do, for family practitioners."

The university said the clerkship allows students to enhance their clinical skills and perspectives, so they become suited to medical practice in remote, rural, and underserved communities, as well as to urban practice.

Mackenize Straub dreams of one day becoming a family doctor. She’s one of two interns assigned to the West Nipissing General Hospital for an eight-month clerkship placement. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The focus is delivering primary care, including family medicine, emergency medicine, specialty care and obstetrics.

“Communities like West Nipissing that host NOSM students have a real opportunity to showcase all the wonderful things about living and working in the north,” said Dr. Peter Istvan, who directs this stage of NOSM students’ education.

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The school said that by integrating NOSM medical students into its team, the hospital and other clerkship sites across NOSM University’s pan-northern distributed campus not only support the education of future physicians, but also create the basis for integration into the community, enhancing recruitment and retention.

NOSM already has clerkship sites in Bracebridge, Dryden, Elliot Lake, Fort Frances, Hearst, Huntsville, Kapuskasing, Kenora, Manitoulin Island, Midland, North Bay, Midland, Parry Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Sioux Lookout, Sudbury, Temiskaming Shores, Thunder Bay and Timmins.

West Nipissing is NOSM University’s ninth bilingual clerkship site.

“The mutual benefits of hosting MD students during their clerkship are enormous. This new site supports NOSM University’s expansion, which will ultimately lead to more doctors practising in Northern Ontario, and we urge communities and hospitals to join us and to open new sites with us,” said Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM president, vice-chancellor, Dean and CEO.

Straub would like to open her own family practice in northern Ontario one day. Growing up in Sturgeon Falls, she didn’t always have access to a family doctor.

“We had to go to Sudbury in order to get services. So, I’m back here in my hometown feeling like I can learn and make a difference here,” she said.

As NOSM University expands, it hopes clerkship sites will be added in other communities and hospitals.