Medical students considering rural practice as a Family Physician or other general specialist can access a variety of RPAP initiatives, including funding and support to raise their awareness and to increase their exposure to rural medicine.
Rural Medical Interest Groups (RMIGs)
Discover rural medicine through organized activities! RPAP supports RMIGs at the universities of Calgary and Alberta, which help to facilitate rural outings for medical students who are interested in exploring rural medicine upon graduation.
> Learn more about RPAP-sponsored Rural Medical Interest Groups in Calgary and Edmonton
Medical Skills Weekends
RPAP Medical Skills Weekend events provide first and second-year medical students, and students from other disciplines (nursing, physiotherapy, respiratory therapy, etc.), with the opportunity to visit rural Alberta communities and experience what rural medicine is all about.
Participants learn basic medical skills taught by rural physicians and other health care professionals; and discover practice sites in rural Alberta that they may wish to consider in the future.
> Get involved in RPAP Medical Skills Weekends
Rural Rotations
RPAP promotes and supports Alberta medical students taking part of their training in a rural Alberta community to encourage rural practice and to provide a positive experience in rural Alberta.
With RPAP funding and support, both the University of Calgary (UofC) and the University of Alberta (UofA) facilitate and organize medical students to do mandatory and elective rotations with rural preceptors.
> Get more info on Rural Rotations
Weekend Shadowing
First- and second-year medical students can follow an on-call rural physician for all, or part of a weekend, to see the diverse and unique range of skills involved in rural medicine.
RPAP works in conjunction with the Faculties of Medicine at the UofC and UofA to organize the experience and provide liability coverage and funding. Travel and accommodation expense reimbursement is also available from RPAP for Alberta medical students doing a rural education experience within the Province.
> Learn more about RPAP Shadowing
Medical Student Awards and Bursaries
Medical students from a designated rural area may be eligible for these RPAP financial support initiatives:
- RPAP Rural Medical School Award provides $5,000 for each year of medical studies to assist with the student’s tuition, accommodation, living and/or travel expenses
- Dr. John N. Hnatuik Rural Medical Student Bursary provides full tuition including differential fees for each year of medical studies, contingent upon signing a Return-in-Service Agreement (RiSA).
- Award applications will be accepted via fax, mail or email prior to October 1 of each year.
> Click here for more information on Medical Student Awards and Bursaries
Questions?
Contact the RPAP Medical Students Initiatives Coordinator.