Every year, RhPAP offers up to four Medical School Awards to deserving medical students who plan to practise in rural Alberta to assist them on their journey toward rural medicine. RhPAP is pleased to announce that the 2019 recipients of these awards are Julie Saby and Evan Whitfield from the University of Alberta, and Aaron Delorme from the University of Calgary.
We asked Julie, Evan, and Aaron to reflect on rural medicine and their rural influences.
Rural medicine is one of the only medical specialties where you get to do everything and see everything.
– Julie Saby
Julie Saby
Describe your rural influences
I grew up in the wonderful town of Sylvan Lake, Alberta. What I love about rural communities, especially my own, is that the whole town becomes one big giant family. Everyone cares and looks out for each other. I know that I had the support of my hometown during my long, relentless journey into getting into medical school, and I know that the people of my town continue to support me and cheer me on during this endeavor.
What interests you about rural practice?
Rural medicine is one of the only medical specialties where you get to do everything and see everything. This makes it a great potential career field for someone like me who has a very tough time making up her mind about what she wants to do in the future and falls in love with every medical specialty she comes across. I also love the community mindset and mentality that comes with rural living. Everyone becomes your neighbour, and you never feel alone.
What are your practice plans for the future?
I was recently accepted into [the University of Alberta’s Integrated Community Clerkship Program], where I’ll be spending my first year of clerkship learning from fantastic preceptors and mentors in Edson, Alberta. Upon finishing medical school, I’m hoping to match to a Family Medicine residency program, and then eventually settle down in a small town away from the city where I can work with other fantastic rural doctors, and maybe fish, cross-country ski, and hike to a good sunset viewpoint during my downtime.
Rural medicine interests me because it gives me a chance to give back to the kinds of communities that made me.
– Evan Whitfield
Evan Whitfield
Describe your rural influences
Coming from a farm, I have had many, many, rural influences throughout my life. Primarily, my family and the work they do every day to keep our cattle fed and crops in the bins has influenced my work ethic and my love of rural places. Outside of my family, community members from my hometown have greatly influenced this love too. The spirit of camaraderie, creativity, and volunteerism that my neighbours exhibit as individuals or when working with organizations like our local legion branch is always a source of inspiration to me.
What interests you about rural practice?
Rural medicine interests me because it gives me a chance to give back to the kinds of communities that made me. In addition to serving the citizens of these communities, rural practice offers an interesting diversity of practice for someone interested in family medicine like myself. I hope that working in rural places will challenge me to develop a wide skillset to provide the best medicine possible for my patients.
What are your practice plans for the future?
I hope to become a family physician with additional training in surgery, anesthesiology, or emergency medicine. I am interested in military medicine too, but I ultimately see myself returning to practise in a rural area near the family farm. By developing skills in anesthesiology or surgery, I hope to reduce the need for people in my community to travel long distances for simple procedures, allowing them to recover close to friends and family rather than in a distant city. As for emergency medical skills, they are always essential in rural communities where everyday injuries and illnesses are coupled with dangerous industries and active lifestyles.
No matter the area of medicine practised there is a visible need for rural doctors.
– Aaron Delorme
Aaron Delorme
Describe your rural influences
I spent several years working in the rural health system in Alberta as a paramedic. In my time in various rural hospitals through the province, I saw the scope, complexity, and challenges of rural medical practice. I witnessed the impact that dedicated physicians can have on a patient’s wellness through their knowledge of the community and context, as well as the unique relationship a rural physician has with their community.
What interests you about rural practice?
Rural practice brings a unique set of challenges. Medically and logistically, there is an ever–changing task to work on. I am interested in working on those ever–changing problems and working with the community and patients to meet their needs. No matter the area of medicine practised there is a visible need for rural doctors. Further, the opportunity to know a community and form a relationship with the patients and health professionals lends itself to a rewarding career.
What are your practice plans for the future?
I look forward to settling in a rural location and getting to know the needs of the community and finding where my interests and community needs align. I have a broad set of interests in medicine, but hope to practise in a highly needed specialty. As I progress through my medical education and experience areas of interest, I hope to match these to a community where I can settle and work.
RhPAP Rural Medical School Award
The RhPAP Rural Medical School Award provides a one-time contribution of $5,000 to assist with the student’s tuition, accommodation, living, and/or professional development expenses. The Award is available to a maximum of four students per year, to be applied to the following year of their medical degree. For more information, see our Rural Medical School Award page.