A first-year medical student from Ponoka hopes connecting his business training and interest in technology will help him establish a successful medical practice in rural Alberta.
Adam Guthrie is in his first year of medical school at the University of Calgary and is one of four medical students recently selected to receive the annual RhPAP Rural Medical Student Award.
The award provides a one-time contribution of $5,000 to assist with the student’s tuition, accommodation, living, and/or professional development expenses.
Guthrie earned his Masters Degree in Business in Calgary and worked in various areas of healthcare, including working as a digital experience consultant to help physicians improve clinic efficiency. He also volunteered with the Tele-Rehab 2.0 program (RhPAP contributed funds to connect Blairmore, Alberta, to the project) that virtually links rural patients and clinicians with medical specialists often located in larger centres.
“I’m excited to bring this [business] knowledge to my clinic, opening possibilities for improving the patient-care relationship and hopefully reducing my personal and professional stress,” notes Guthrie in his award application.
He looks forward to working as a rural general practitioner with extra training in emergency, obstetrics, and anesthesia.
“I am drawn to provide care for all types of people, of all genders, from their first breath to their last,” says Guthrie.
The central Alberta native spent several years in urban centres, but he’s excited about returning to his roots.
“The pace of life, strong community relationships, and small-town priorities are some of the reasons that confirm the rural lifestyle is for me.”
Guthrie, who serves as co-chair of the University of Calgary Family and Rural Medicine Interest Group and other student medical groups, was particularly inspired after shadowing Blairmore physician, Dr. Kristy Penner.
“I am in awe of the personalized care that she naturally provides,” he says. “She knows her patients, their families, and the context of their environment. Even in the times of emergency, she can make the best plan possible for her patient instead of relying on a generic treatment algorithm.
“I believe this is the way medicine is supposed to be, and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Check out the full list of RhPAP Medical Student Award winners here.