A group of medical students is getting hands-on experience at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance this week.
The 28th annual Discovery Week runs through Friday, giving first-year medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University an immersive, one-week placement in health-care settings.
During their time at CKHA, the students are paired with physicians across a range of specialties and spend the week shadowing care teams throughout the hospital.
“Immersive placements like this give future physicians a real sense of what it’s like to live and practice in our community,” said Dr. Zeke Milkovic, Chief of Staff at CKHA. “Our physicians are proud to open their doors to students, and experiences like shadowing and hands-on learning help show just how rewarding community-based care can be.”
As well as clinical shadowing, students will also be taking part in interactive skills-based learning sessions, such as casting workshops and CPR competitions, giving them a chance to practice foundational clinical skills in a supportive environment.
“Our community partners play a vital role in our students’ medical education by providing exceptional, first-hand care experiences in rural and regional settings,” said Dr. Victor Ng, Assistant Dean, Distributed Education, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. “We are grateful for this long-standing partnership with CKHA.”
Across Southwestern Ontario, more than 190 Schulich medical students are participating in Discovery Week this year, placed in more than 30 communities from Windsor to Owen Sound.
