Family Medicine Residents Join the Teddy Bear Clinic Fun

What do teddy bears, toy stethoscopes, and family medicine residents have in common? At the annual Teddy Bear Clinic in North Battleford, they’re all part of building comfort and connection between young children and the world of healthcare.

On a sunny day filled with lots of curiosity and laughter, more than 300 children, families, and community partners came together for this event designed to reduce medical anxiety and boost health literacy. Children arrived with their stuffed animals, ready to take part in pretend medical checkups, including teddy triage, immunizations, and bandages.

Dr. Jessica Kainth, a second-year resident with the University of Saskatchewan’s North West Family Medicine program, describes it as a family-friendly event where kids bring their stuffed animals in for checkups. The idea is to help children feel more at ease in medical settings by turning the experience into something playful and fun. It is also a great change for residents to practice talking about health in simple, approachable ways and to connect with families outside of the clinic.

Over 30 local agencies joined the day, offering information and interactive booths. Children received a “passport” to collect stamps as they visited stations ranging from health education and sensory play to a duck pond and even a petting zoo.

At the “teddy triage” station, Dr. Kainth asked kids about their stuffed animals’ symptoms before sending them along for care. One little boy even brought in a bear with a cut on its leg that needed a bandage.

At first, the kids took the checkups very seriously, but once they realized the doctors were treating their toys, not them, they relaxed and had fun. Each station had toy stethoscopes, otoscopes, and bandages, and children helped decide on treatments. Every visit wrapped up with superhero stickers, with Spiderman as the clear favourite.

North West residents played a big role in making the event happen. Alongside Dr. Kainth, the team included residents Dr. Manvir Parmar, Dr. Aivy Cheng, Dr. Onyi Nwoki, Dr. Dilanjani Pietersz, and Dr. Anum Ali; medical students Frederick Engelbrecht and Briana Stone; and program leaders Dr. Aaron Prystupa (site director) and Kristen Huebner (program administrator). Dr. Prystupa’s puppy even joined the fun. Each volunteer at the event helped at the various stations, including triage, assessments, immunizations, and sticker handouts. The collaboration and enthusiasm of the team helped contribute to a successful day.

The Teddy Bear Clinic also fostered teamwork and strengthened ties between the residency program and the wider health community. Residents collaborated with public health nurses, EMS personnel, Child Life staff, early childhood educators, North Battleford Fire Station, Kids First, and more.

The North West Family Medicine Residency Program has been involved in the Teddy Bear Clinic for three years, with its role deepening when Dr. Prystupa became site director in 2022. Today, the event is a cornerstone of the program’s community engagement.

A New Tradition in Swift Current

This year, Swift Current joined in on the fun by hosting its very first Teddy Bear Clinic as part of the Family Medicine residency program, and it was a big hit. Partnering with the City of Swift Current’s Families in the Park program, kids enjoyed teddy checkups along with crafts, games, and plenty of laughter.

The clinic offered a number of different opportunities for kids to interact with residents, including medical exams for the stuffed animals, stethoscope decorating, and healthy snacks. 

“It was an opportunity for our learners to be involved with the community in a different way than they are used to,” says Kelsy Leavins, Site Director with the University of Saskatchewan’s Swift Current Family Medicine program. “As the residents were doing their checkups on the teddy bears, the program leaders also hosted crafts and games. Fun was had by all!”

Several family medicine residents and staff came together to help make the day a success, and the positive response has organizers already looking forward to hosting the clinic again next year.

Looking Ahead

The success of this year’s Teddy Bear Clinics shows how powerful small moments of connection can be. From North Battleford’s growing tradition to Swift Current’s first year, the events highlight the role family medicine residents play in supporting their communities beyond the clinic walls. And with more teddy bears, more checkups, and more smiles ahead, the clinics are sure to remain a beloved part of both programs for years to come.