Sarnia-Lambton's doctor recruitment team is hoping to entice some medical students to set up shop in the area, following their graduation.
Physician Recruitment Taskforce Coordinator Carly Cox said the group's Visiting Elective Program awarded bursaries to six students for 2020 to live and learn alongside a local physician for four-week electives beginning in July -- two were unable to complete their electives due to COVID-19.
Cox said the goal is to offer these electives to individuals who will consider Sarnia-Lambton as a practice location in the future.
"This opportunity allows the taskforce to connect and introduce medical students to Lambton County, showcasing all that we would offer as a place to build a lifestyle and a primary care practice," she said. "It also allows medical students, outside of Western University, to train, learn and build relationships with practicing Sarnia-Lambton physicians."
Three medical students, William Elia, Samuel Goh and Vladimir Djedovic, joined Dr. John O’Mahony for observership in many aspects of his clinical practice, emergency medicine, nursing home care, and Obstetrics.
In a media release, Dr. O'Mahony said this area has so much to offer from a lifestyle perspective and our amazing medical community.
"You would not be able to appreciate what Sarnia-Lambton has to offer unless you spend time in the community meeting our citizens and working in our great hospital. I am so happy the taskforce has been able to provide this bursary."
Cox said the initiative was particularly successful this year due to the relationship built between the taskforce and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI), where three of the six medical students are attending school despite being born and raised in Greater Toronto Area.
She added, it's still too early to tell the impact of the program, which launched in 2018, but said it's very positive to see medical students make a connection and be exposed to the community of Sarnia-Lambton.
Applications for the 2021 Visiting Elective Program Scholarships can be found at www.doctors4sarnialambton.com.
