Community Experiences
About Community Experience
The Community Experience enables students to learn about community health needs and to better appreciate the ways in which medical students and physicians can address these needs, through the experience of working in health care settings in underserved communities.
Meeting the needs of both individual patients and the community is an important professional role of physicians. Many non-physician health care providers and community service agencies also work to improve the health of community members by addressing the determinants of health.
Students will complete a one week Community Experience with a primary health care provider(s) in a rural, remote or underserved urban community. During the Community Experience, students will have the opportunity to observe and interact with patients and health care professionals in community settings over the one-week block.
Several students shared about their Community Experience and the things they learned in the communities they were placed in.
Weyburn Community Experience
"My experience in Weyburn gave me a new perspective and appreciation for healthcare in my hometown. What struck me as most impressive in Weyburn was the team approach to care. From seeing each other’s patients as “walk-ins” to going to those with extra expertise in particular areas for guidance, it was evident that the healthcare providers valued each other’s support. On a more personal note, the most rewarding aspect of my time in Weyburn was connecting with fellow community members. Seeing patients' excitement when they recognized me or heard I was from Weyburn myself, their willingness to help me learn, and their words of encouragement showed me how supportive and appreciative patients can be, even in their times of need. My time in Weyburn left me feeling inspired by and grateful for the supportive environments that rural healthcare has to offer."
Moose Jaw Community Experience
"Although my time in Moose Jaw was short, it was highly enjoyable and an excellent location for the Community Experience. The preceptors were skilled, friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. I was grateful for the chance to observe their approaches to patient care and appreciated their insight into a variety of clinical encounters. We had many opportunities to participate in the care provided and the diverse range of procedures performed in the clinic including Nexplanon insertions, skin lesion biopsies, toenail wedge resections and vasectomies made the experience unique and exciting. Overall, I believe this Community Experience made a compelling case for family medicine as a fulfilling career choice. I had a wonderful time in Moose Jaw and look forward to future opportunities to return to the site!"
Nipawin Community Experience
"In my time at Nipawin, I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to many learning opportunities in both the rural and family medicine contexts. I was able to shadow many clinical encounters in both the out-patient and OR settings, anywhere from routine injections to cleaning an infected limb. In the unique rural setting, I have learned to fully appreciate the physician’s role as an advocate for their patients. The drawback of a small centre is the need to conscientiously balance the minimal resources available and advocate for your patients when a bigger health center is required. Seeing the physicians in Nipawin that I have followed, I have noticed how close and tight knit they are to both their colleagues and their community. They often have seen most, if not all the families living there. They would consistently go to bat for their patients in getting the procedures or specialists that they need to see. I also noticed that the role of a family doctor between urban and rural settings is drastically different. In the rural setting, family doctors are responsible for so many different areas of medicine, including performing procedures in the OR if they are able to as well as checking in on residents of the Pineview Lodge, a long-term care home. On my first day here, I decided to keep track of a few must-sees in Nipawin before I leave. Apparently, the best pizza in town is Wild Bill’s Pizza so naturally I got that the night I came. Unfortunately it was very rainy on most days that I was there, but I was able to check out the Nipawin regional park!"
Nipawin Community Experience
"I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to spend a week shadowing physicians in my hometown. I am grateful for the chance to see my small community from a different perspective. It was very special to see the strong relationships the healthcare staff have with the patients they serve, and the profound impact that each provider has on our community and surrounding communities. Overall, the experience was invaluable to my learning and future career planning, and it made me incredibly proud of where I come from. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and it reaffirmed my idea that rural medicine is where I want to end up."
North Battleford Community Experience
"I spent my Year 1 CE week in North Battleford under Dr. Erin Hamilton, and I am very thankful for the experience. She arranged for me to spend each day with a different physician, highlighting the broad scope of family medicine. I spent time in a RAAM clinic, a family practice clinic, internal medicine in the hospital, and the emergency room. It was great to hear about the pathways each preceptor took toward their current roles and their motivation for pursuing family medicine. I was most inspired by Dr. Hamilton's work and dedication in the RAAM clinic. I also appreciated the time spent with Dr. Janet Tootoosis, and the words of wisdom and advice she shared. I am eager to work with both again in the future, as their dedication and expertise have greatly inspired me. The experience was rewarding, and I look forward to further learning and collaboration!"
La Ronge Community Experience
"Many of the experiences I had during my week in La Ronge were very eye-opening. I was fortunate to experience diverse work environments and learn about the needs of the community and the healthcare professionals that serve the community. I got the chance to fly to Southend, a small-town northeast of La Ronge. Here, the patient population was similar to the first clinic, although it was evident how much more stress the Southend clinic was under due to limited access to physician services. During the rest of my week, I was exposed to many other factors affecting the community such as addictions, mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence.
The physicians had the primary role of diagnosing and treating illness in the community. They also provided mental health counselling and likely had a broader depth of responsibility compared to urban FM doctors. Nurses in clinic and those providing home care services were vital to the wellbeing of the community and clearly play a critical role in the healthcare team. Unrelated to healthcare, I learned that the La Ronge community is a warm, welcoming community filled with people who are always excited to chat about life in general."