Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry students will begin their learning and training with Erie Shores HealthCare during Discovery Week 2024, marking the 26th anniversary of this outstanding partnership.

The medical students’ placement stems from an ongoing partnership with Schulich Medicine, based at Western University in London, Ont. For the past 26 years, as part of Discovery Week, all first-year medical students have participated in immersive, one-week placements in healthcare settings across Southwestern Ontario.

During this week-long placement at Erie Shores HealthCare, medical students will be exposed to teamwork and collaboration undertaken within a rural/regional site and will have exciting opportunities to discover all the community has to offer.

“Discovery Week is a fantastic opportunity for medical students to experience firsthand the unique aspects of practicing medicine in a rural or regional community like Essex County,” said Wendy Balenzano, Physician Recruiter at Erie Shores HealthCare. “We are excited to showcase the collaborative and community-focused environment here at Erie Shores, and we hope this immersive experience inspires many students to consider building their careers and lives in our region.”

“After getting a taste of life and medicine in a rural or regional community through opportunities like Discovery Week, many Schulich medical students return to practise upon completion of their training,” said Dr. Victor Ng, Assistant Dean, Distributed Education, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

“We’re so grateful to collaborate with partners who welcome our medical students and give them unparalleled first-hand training experiences in their communities,” said Dr. Ng. “Working together, we’re creating a cohort of physicians who are ready, willing and able to care for people across Ontario in a variety of settings.”

This week, Schulich medical students became temporary members of the Essex County community, giving them the opportunity to meet patients, experience the unique health-care systems and interact with colleagues –getting a fulsome experience of what a day in the life of a local health-care provider looks like in the Essex County region.

During Discovery Week 2024, more than 170 Schulich Medicine students will be placed in 31 participating communities, from Windsor-Essex to Owen Sound and Woodstock to Lake Huron.