New Francophone Project supports high school students in acquiring new skills

Starting September 2024, NOSM University will offer medical discovery programs to students in French-language high schools enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major in Health and Well-being and Grade 10 students in the Career Choices course.

The project, “Trace ton parcours vers la médecine,” will offer workshops to engage students in health-care practices, stimulate their interest in health professions, and increase their potential of becoming doctors. The project will take place in 10 schools across Northern Ontario, reaching at least 50 students.

Led by NOSM University’s Francophone Affairs Unit and Francophone medical students who are living and learning in communities in the North as part of their medical education program, these sessions will be fun and engaging.

As part of a first workshop, there is a session on adolescent health followed by practical case studies and taking a patient’s medical history. High school students will gain insight into history-taking with patients, examining the information gathered, communicating effectively, and analyzing the results.

During the second workshop, high school students will learn to create their community experience dossier–an important component of an application to NOSM University’s MD Program. To support potential future Francophone candidates at NOSM University, the project aims to optimize students’ chances of success and, in the long term, increase access to Francophone physicians for Northern Ontarians.

By engaging with Francophone students across communities, we strive to encourage new health professional graduates who will take leadership in improving population health outcomes.

“Trace ton parcours vers la médecine” is coordinated by Sierra Howald, the Francophone Affairs’ Learner Recruitment and Support Coordinator at NOSM University. “This is an opportunity to reach and encourage youth to pursue higher education in Francophone health care and become future Francophone doctors,” Howald said. “We hope that this will help combat language insecurity and build confidence in Francophone students at both NOSM University and high school participants.”

This program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education through the Destination réussite initiative, which is unique to French-language education in Ontario with the ultimate goal of supporting students on their path to successful integration in the workforce.

The initiative focuses on engaging learners so that they can take ownership of their success and develop the employability skills they need to actively participate in Ontario’s economy and the development of the Francophone community.