‘Surprising what there is here’: U of S medical students take field day in Melfort

U of S students also practiced their suturing abilities. Thankfully, no one had to receive a wound for the practice. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

Shivani Tauh, a second-year medical student at the U of S, said it was exciting to practice skills she and her classmates typically aren’t able to in their curriculum. She said she was also surprised by the services inside and outside the hospital in Melfort and area.

“It’s pretty surprising what there is here compared to what we might think there is or isn’t,” Tauh told northeastNOW. “I think a lot of times when it comes to something like rural living or rural medicine, it does become the fear of the unknown; of not knowing what to expect if you haven’t lived in that environment before. But it’s definitely not the case. I think most of the professionals here — specifically the physicians — are really well cared for in their work place and are able to find a really good work and life balance as well.

“In terms of space, I’m pretty impressed with the amount of beds that exist and the way the hospital was structured. They mentioned there isn’t an ultrasound other than the fast scanner in the hospital and I understand they’re in the process of trying to acquire funding for a CT machine. I also understand that Melfort is pretty close to Prince Albert and Saskatoon, and a lot of those higher cases get transferred there. Given the population that’s being served, there seems to be a well-equipped hospital here.”

One of the SMA’s Roadmap Program mentors is Dr. Stephanie Nyberg, who works at Melfort Hospital. Her grad class was one of the first medical student groups to go through the Roadmap Program and she said it helped spark her interest into rural medicine and to assist other students who may think of doing the same.

“I explain what a day in my life is, what brought me to Melfort, why somebody might choose rural medicine, and answer any questions they have in general,” Nyberg said. “Some of these students are coming from Ontario and have never experienced rural life at all. We’re just trying to hit on all the perks of living rurally instead of in the city. It’s all about recruit, retention, and rural family practice.”

Nyberg said nearly a half dozen medical students who took the Roadmap Program now work at Melfort Hospital.

Although there are no immediate jobs at Melfort Hospital available, Nyberg said the current crop of U of S medical students are three to five years away from seeking employment, and the healthcare landscape is always changing.

Tauh isn’t sure if she wants rural medicine to be her end career goal yet, as she seeks to specialize, but she can see herself working in rural medicine down the road.

“I definitely think these experiences open my mind to doing rotations in rural centres,” she said. “You get way more one-on-one teaching time and hands-on experience. Regardless of what my colleagues or I end up practicing, getting exposure in rural medicine is honestly just getting experience.

“If you’re practicing in this province, even in the city, you’re probably going to have patients that are driving in from rural centres and it’s important to see what they have available in their communities. When you’re making prescription or treatment plans for these individuals, knowing what they actually have access to and what they have to be driving out one or two hours for.”

The SMA has another Roadmap Program field day planned for March 2020.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow

by Aaron Schulze

‘Surprising what there is here’: U of S medical students take field day in Melfort

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