Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Hosts Medical Students for Discovery Week 2023
CHATHAM-KENT: May 23, 2023 – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will be host to 19 first-year medical students from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (London and Windsor Campus) for Discovery Week 2023. Taking place May 23 to May 26, Discovery Week provides a unique learning opportunity by placing first year medical students in rural and regional healthcare settings. During Discovery Week 2023, more than 170 Schulich Medicine students will be placed in 29 participating communities. This year marks a milestone for Schulich as it’s the 25th year of Discovery Week.
“We are so pleased to welcome first-year medical students to CKHA for Discovery Week,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, CKHA. “This unique learning opportunity provides positive exposure to rural hospitals like CKHA and immerses students in various healthcare settings in our community. We also hope these students will enjoy becoming temporary members of our community for a week while they experience all that Chatham-Kent has to offer.”
Discovery Week originally started as part of a strategy to attract doctors to set up practice in rural and regional locations. Research shows that students begin making career decisions early in their medical school careers. Discovery Week is designed to expose students to practicing medicine outside of large urban areas before they make firm plans for their careers.
“CKHA is delighted to welcome students once again on site for Discovery Week. This initiative is a great opportunity to showcase our community to future physicians and has brought back many of the participating medical students to Chatham-Kent to complete electives during their third and fourth year of medical school,” said Dr. Pervez Faruqi, Chief of Staff, CKHA. “Many of our physicians have joined the preceptor ranks at Schulich School of Medicine. We can’t thank these physicians enough for dedicating their time to sharing their expertise with these students.”
Students will have the opportunity to shadow family physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners and allied healthcare professionals in many areas of Chatham-Kent to determine what a typical workday entails. In addition to the clinical education component of the week, students will be participating in social events each evening to experience firsthand some of the many amenities offered in Chatham-Kent.
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Media Contact:
Emily Field, Communications Specialist
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
efield@ckha.on.ca
ABOUT CKHA
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a 200 bed community hospital, serving the residents of Chatham and rural Kent including Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations. Formed in 2018, CKHA is committed to delivering quality and safe care at its two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA collaborates with other partners to deliver care across its community. CKHA’s dedicated team is comprised of approximately 1,400 staff, 200 physicians and 300 volunteers. CKHA provides a full range of programs, services and specialties from internal medicine and surgery to women & children’s and critical care; it is designated a schedule one facility under the Ministry of Health and cares for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. CKHA is equipped with state of the art diagnostics and technology to support its varied programs. CKHA’s vision: Together, growing a healthier community, underscores a movement to improving the population’s health. Grounded by its values “CKHA CARES” (Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Safety), CKHA commits to continuously improve the patient experience in partnership with patients, families and caregivers.
ABOUT WESTERN
Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community.
ABOUT SCHULICH MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery.
