Trail once again has two medical students working alongside local physicians to complete a portion of their program that focuses on attracting medical professionals to rural areas in the Interior.
The third-year UBC medical students have moved into Greater Trail, where they’ll follow patients through the cycle of care - from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.
Based in Kelowna, the southern program is the fourth in UBC’s distributed MD undergraduate program.
Part of the program that started last year is completing an “integrated community clerkship” in either Trail or Vernon.
The partnership between UBC’s southern medical program and Interior Health is viewed as a great opportunity for students to gain clinical training while experiencing the benefits of practicing medicine in a smaller, rural community.
“The southern medical program is very fortunate to have the commitment of clinician teachers and dedicated onsite program leadership in both Trail and Vernon,” said Dr. Allan Jones, regional associate dean of the program.
“Students will receive excellent training and support in such welcoming environments.”
By 2013, it’s anticipated that 32 students will be entering their third year of the MD undergraduate program with an anticipated four to six students participating in a clerkship in Vernon or Trail.