A group of first-year medical students spent a week in Morden-Winkler to get a taste of both rural health care and rural life.
The annual Rural Week initiative had the University of Manitoba students spend time last week at the clinics both communities as well as at Boundary Trails Health Centre Similar groups were based all across Southern Health-Santé Sud as well as other health regions across the province
“They come and have a good learning experience as well as a lot of fun,” said Dr. Leanne Nause.
“Some of our doctors have even been through on this Rural Week where the initial interest in coming back to rural Manitoba happened,” she noted. “So this is why we love this week, and we love to see the students come here. They are very enthusiastic to learn.”
There are a lot of experiences packed into the week, Nause noted.
“I had students in the clinic, and we did some hospital work today [Friday]. We had students in the operating room … and they’ve had a number of dinners and barbecues. They also always have a good time doing ziplining.
“I like that it shows them what can happen in a rural setting. Many different types of doctors and health care providers come to rural Manitoba and any type of practice that they want to set up, they should consider a rural setting,” Nause suggested. “It’s also about what rural life brings and what rural patients are like … I hope that they got the idea that it’s a little bit of a different feel.”
And Nause noted the students might be surprised to see how much is available here in terms of programs and services.
“We are, by no means, without … we have a very good hospital here and lots of resources for our patients,” she said. “They’re surprised we have dialysis, chemotherapy, full ORs, general surgery, orthopedic surgery … they’re usually quite surprised that it’s so broad in terms of our medicine here.”
Even student Kodley Bouachanthala, who is from Morden, was somewhat surprised to see how much things have grown and changed here.
“The week was really great. It was great to reconnect with my rural roots. It’s been a while since I’ve been in Morden,” he said. “I’ve seen that things have really expanded, and the city has really gotten diverse as well,” he said. “I see how culturally diverse Morden is now … it’s amazing to see.
“It also means it needs more health care providers, so it’s something I will be thinking about when I’m thinking about my future,” he added. “I can see all the different services that are available here … and there’s a huge expansion of the hospital, which I’m sure will even bring more services.”
Jay Wieler, who is from Winnipeg but has relatives in Winkler, was equally impressed.
“It was really good. It was a lot of fun after a year of just being in classes all the time to finally get out and see a clinic and be out there in the real world … start meeting some patients and see how that plays out,” he said.
“It’s grown here quite a bit … and it seems like the medical side of it has as well with the big expansion of the hospital,” Wieler said, noting the scope of the practices and services available here now. “Winkler and Morden have a lot more options in terms of the programs and services here.
“This was our first big clinical experience, and it was really good,” he added. “I would definitely love to come back for our rural electives in the third and fourth years.”
