THUNDER BAY – The Ontario government is helping the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) conduct a tracking study through a $1,145,200 investment, Thunder Bay Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle and Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro announced today. The study will be conducted over a five-year period and will examine data gathered on NOSM student and graduate feedback regarding rural practice issues, including the degree to which programs prepared them for practice in rural and northern settings. The study will also look at factors that influence students’ choice of specialty, residency program and practice location.
“This study is an important fact-finding exercise that will provide insight into the impact of NOSM’s programs and how they influence a physician’s decision to establish his or her practice in a northern or rural community,” said MPP Gravelle. “Ultimately, it will assist to enhance and improve the services and training provided by our Northern medical school.”
“Gathering information to improve programs at NOSM will provide benefits to future student of our medical school,” added MPP Bill Mauro. “Continual improvement in programming will better prepare graduates to meet the needs of our northern communities.”
The study will also provide data on the other factors that influence how doctors make their practice location decision i.e. lifestyle, employment opportunities for spouses, what communities were offering like turnkey clinics etc.
“Today’s announcement is fantastic news for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” said Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean. “The School’s goal is to graduate high quality physicians who are innovative, and culturally and emotionally sensitive, and who are fully acquainted with the rigours and rewards of medical practice in Northern Ontario. This funding will allow for the tracking of NOSM’s M.D. graduates once they complete their residency training, and subsequently measure the success of the School’s unique model of community-engaged medical education with respect to addressing physician shortages in the North.”
“I am pleased our government is supporting the important work NOSM will undertake with this study. The NOSM model has already started showing tremendous results, delivering among the best trained doctors in the country. This study will allow NOSM to build on its success by learning how to better attract, and encourage medical students who study here, remain to practice medicine here, build lives, and raise families in beautiful Northern Ontario!,” concluded Gravelle.