Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is hosting 21 first year medical students from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (London and Windsor Campus) for Discovery Week 2024.
Taking place May 27 to May 30, Discovery Week provides a unique learning opportunity by placing first year medical students in rural and regional healthcare settings, CKHA officials say.
During Discovery Week 2024, 191 Schulich medical students will be placed in various participating communities.
“CKHA is thrilled to welcome students for Discovery Week,” said Dr. Zeke Milkovic, Acting Chief of Staff, CKHA, in a media release.
“This initiative provides an excellent opportunity to introduce our community to future physicians, and it has encouraged many participating medical students to return to Chatham-Kent for electives in their third and fourth years. We are grateful to our physicians who have joined the preceptor ranks at the Schulich School of Medicine. Their commitment to sharing their expertise with these students is invaluable.”
Discovery Week originally started as part of a strategy to attract doctors to set up practice in rural and regional locations.
Research shows that students begin making career decisions early in their medical school careers.
Discovery Week is designed to expose students to practicing medicine outside of large urban areas before they make firm plans for their careers.
“We are pleased to welcome first-year medical students to CKHA and our community,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, CKHA, in a media release.
“This unique learning opportunity offers valuable exposure to rural hospitals like CKHA and immerses students in diverse healthcare settings throughout the community. We also hope these students will enjoy becoming part of our community for the week and experiencing everything Chatham-Kent has to offer.”
Students will have the opportunity to shadow family physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners and allied healthcare professionals in many areas of Chatham-Kent to determine what a typical workday entails, hospital officials added.
In addition to the clinical education component of the week, students will be participating in social events each evening to experience firsthand some of the many amenities offered in Chatham-Kent.
