MedQUEST Program coming to Woodstock
More doctors are needed in Southwestern Ontario. Some counties face up to a 40% shortage of family physicians.[1] Efforts to address this problem need strategies to create a lasting and meaningful solution.
At their last meeting Woodstock City Council supported a resolution presented by Mayor Michael Harding to bring the MedQUEST program to Woodstock next summer.
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at London's University of Western Ontario developed MedQUEST, a strategic collaborative program that encourages students from Southwestern Ontario, an area with a substantial rural population, to apply in greater numbers to medical school.
"It's a small start, but an important one" said Mayor Harding. "Research says that early exposure to the practice of medicine can dramatically influence students' career paths and ultimately, increase the chance of successfully entering medical school. This program holds the potential of increasing the number of local and rural students applying for and successfully completing health care careers."
Three 1st and 2nd year medical students from Schulich will spend a six-week clinical placement in Woodstock getting to know the community and working with a wide network of allied professionals.
The program includes a one-week summer program for twenty-four to thirty local Grade 10 and 11 students that will have physicians, nurses and medical/nursing students delivering realistic experiences in the various disciplines of healthcare through state-of-the-art advanced simulator training, peer workshops and the opportunity to observe physicians/nurses in a clinical setting.
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Overall planning and coordination is through the MedQUEST team at The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The program will commence over the summer of 2009.
Contact:
Mayor Michael Harding
City of Woodstock
Phone (519) 539-2382 x 2100
E-mail mayor@city.woodstock.on.ca
Dr. Tom Lacroix
Assistant Dean, SWOMEN Rural Regional
E-mail tom.lacroix@schulich.uwo.ca
Dr. Lacroix is a dedicated Pediatrician who effective July 2004, accepted the appointment as Assistant Dean, SWOMEN Rural Regional. Dr. Lacroix works with the SW communities to continue to expand the teaching capacity for medical students and residents at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Lacroix's vision brought the concept of MedQUEST, as a pilot project, to Sarnia, Ontario in July 2005.
Kathy Van Dinther
MedQUEST Coordinator
kathy.vandinther@schulich.uwo.ca
http://www.medquestwestern.ca/index.php
Kathy is the main point of contact for the community's partners who help deliver MedQUEST throughout Southwestern Ontario. In addition, Kathy enjoys her interaction and support of high school students who apply to this program.
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