On Friday, August 22, the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, along with Minister for Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle, as well as fellow Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro, announced that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will receive $3.3 million to assist in the expansion and upgrading of learning and clinical spaces and equipment in NOSM communities throughout Northern Ontario. This announcement was made at the West Campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine located at Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay.

Learners of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, which include medical students, residents, and learners in other health disciplines such as rehabilitation sciences and dietetics, undertake their clinical education in a wide range of health service settings in many communities across Northern Ontario, including small hospitals and clinics.

This funding, granted by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), will contribute to the capacity of NOSM learner-hosting sites to support the learners and faculty of the School. The $3.3 million will assist with increasing office and examination room capacity, purchasing technology and medical equipment, and procuring additional tools for teaching.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says this generous grant will contribute to the quality of medical education experienced by NOSM learners across Northern Ontario. “What is truly exciting about this funding is that the enhancements to physical space and addition of instruments will stimulate and facilitate greater clinical learning experiences and opportunities for Northern Ontario School of Medicine learners and physician teachers,” he said.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine was established with a social accountability mandate. From its community-based Board of Directors to its extensive reliance on Northern communities, large and small, rural and remote, to act as hosts for its students, NOSM is committed to engaging Northerners in the educational process.

Students of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will soon be living and learning in the community of Dryden as part of the School’s Comprehensive Community Clerkship (CCC) program. Dryden will welcome two medical students in September of this year.

The students will begin learning in the community’s principal health-care facility, Dryden Regional Health Centre. An affiliation agreement between NOSM and Dryden Regional Health Centre has been signed, solidifying a partnership between the two institutions and allowing NOSM students to gain valuable hands-on practical experience in this community.

Wade Petranik, CEO of Dryden Regional Health Centre, is proud to be a part of a true community-based medical school. “Welcoming NOSM medical students into our community is an important part of our commitment to developing physicians who understand and appreciate the unique features and benefits of practicing medicine in Northern communities,” he said. “As a Comprehensive Community Clerkship site for medical students, our professional staff is given the opportunity to instruct students in a unique medical environment where students are able to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients.”

Dr. Karen Mazurski, the hospital’s Chief of Staff, concurs. “The professional staff at Dryden Regional Health Centre will provide comprehensive, patient-centred training, allowing the students to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients in a distinctively Northern environment.” During their eight months in Dryden, students will be taught by local physicians and other health-care providers who are NOSM faculty members.

In preparation for the students’ arrival, meetings are underway with local physicians, and other community members who will make up Dryden’s Local NOSM Group. The group of eight to twelve individuals will act as an important link between the community of Dryden and the students. The Local NOSM Group will assist the students by providing a smooth integration into Dryden through orientation, relevant information and introductions to other community members.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says the people and communities of the North are integral to the success of the Comprehensive Community Clerkships. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to building partnerships with the communities and health organizations of Northern Ontario. Dryden Regional Health Centre, local physicians, other health-care providers and community members are welcomed partners,” he said.

This year marks the first time that Dryden and Kapuskasing are joining the Northern Ontario communities of Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Temiskaming Shores, Sioux Lookout, Parry Sound, North Bay, Huntsville, Kenora, Bracebridge, and Fort Frances as Comprehensive Community Clerkship sites for NOSM’s third-year students.

Students of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will soon be living and learning in the community of Kapuskasing as part of the School’s Comprehensive Community Clerkship (CCC) program. Kapuskasing will welcome four medical students in September of this year.

The students will begin learning in the community’s principal health-care facility, Sensenbrenner Hospital. An affiliation agreement between NOSM and Sensenbrenner Hospital has been signed, solidifying a partnership between the two institutions and allowing NOSM students to gain valuable hands-on practical experience in this community.

Al Yarush, CEO of Sensenbrenner Hospital, is proud to be a part of a true community-based medical school. “Welcoming NOSM medical students into our community is an important part of our commitment to developing physicians who understand and appreciate the unique features and benefits of practicing medicine in Northern communities,” he said. “As a Comprehensive Community Clerkship site for medical students, our professional staff is given the opportunity to instruct students in a unique medical environment where students are able to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients.”

Dr. Robert Ng-A-Fook, the hospital’s Chief of Staff, concurs. “The professional staff at Sensenbrenner Hospital will provide comprehensive, patient-centred training, allowing the students to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients in a distinctively Northern environment.” During their eight months in Kapuskasing, students will be taught by local physicians and other health-care providers who are NOSM faculty members.

In preparation for the students’ arrival, meetings are underway with local physicians, and other community members who will make up Kapuskasing’s Local NOSM Group. The group of eight to twelve individuals will act as an important link between the community of Kapuskasing and the students. The Local NOSM Group will assist the students by providing a smooth integration into Kapuskasing through orientation, relevant information and introductions to other community members.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says the people and communities of the North are integral to the success of the Comprehensive Community Clerkships. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to building partnerships with the communities and health organizations of Northern Ontario. Sensenbrenner Hospital, local physicians, other health-care providers and community members are welcomed partners,” he said.

This year marks the first time that Kapuskasing and Dryden are joining the Northern Ontario communities of Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Temiskaming Shores, Sioux Lookout, Parry Sound, North Bay, Huntsville, Kenora, Bracebridge, and Fort Frances as Comprehensive Community Clerkship sites for NOSM’s third-year students.