Medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University began their learning and training with Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) during Discovery Week 2025.
For the past 27 years, as part of Discovery Week, all first-year medical students at Western have participated in immersive, one-week placements in health-care settings across Southwestern Ontario.
During their placements at CKHA, medical students are exposed to teamwork and collaboration within a non-urban setting and have exciting opportunities to discover all the community has to offer.
“Immersive placements like this give future physicians a real sense of what it’s like to live and practice in our community,” said Dr. Zeke Milkovic, Acting Chief of Staff CKHA, in a media release.
“It’s more than just clinical experience—it’s about building connections, understanding the local culture, and seeing firsthand how rewarding it can be to care for the people who live here.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued collaboration with partners who welcome our medical students into their communities and provide them with unparalleled first-hand experiences,” said Dr. Victor Ng, assistant dean, Distributed Education, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, in a media release.
“Together, we’re training and inspiring a cohort of physicians who are eager and prepared to practise in small and mid-sized communities across Ontario.”
From June 2 to 5, Schulich medical students are welcomed as temporary members of the Chatham-Kent community, giving them the opportunity to meet patients, experience the unique health-care systems and interact with colleagues, getting a fulsome experience of what a day in the life of a local health-care provider looks like in Chatham-Kent.
“Through Discovery Week, Schulich medical students will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for rural regional medicine and health-care providers,” added Dr. Ng. “Many return to practise in the communities they trained in.”
During Discovery Week 2025, more than 190 Schulich Medicine students will be placed in more than 30 participating communities, from Windsor to Owen Sound.
