Peterborough, ON – This month, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) was delighted to partner with PTBO Fam Docs to bring the innovative “Return & Learn” program to the community for the first time.
This unique program had hospital and family physicians collaborating to host 11 medical learners with roots in the Peterborough community for a three-day learning experience in July.
Participants are individuals who have grown up in the Peterborough area and are now studying at medical schools abroad. The goal of the program is to support these learners early on in their medical school journey, enhancing their opportunities to match for residency spots closer to home, easing their transition back to the Canadian healthcare system, and supporting them to achieve their goal of returning to practice in our community.
Learners were offered a variety of opportunities during this year’s three-day event, including:
- Shadowing 22 physician preceptors at the hospital and in the community
- Learning clinical skills in PRHC’s dedicated Learning Centre and in areas around the hospital, including IV starts, injections, and mock emergency codes
- Opportunities to engage with other community organizations, including Paramedics, Public Health, Hospice, Peterborough Family Health Team, the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, and Hiawatha First Nation, to gain exposure to healthcare environments outside the hospital setting
“The amount of coordination that went into the itinerary, the preceptor placements, and all the logistics made for a genuinely valuable few days,” said Max Moloney, a medical student who participated in the event. “I know that sentiment is shared amongst my peers as well. The shadow shifts and clinical skills training were a great experience, and everything ran smoothly thanks to the team behind the scenes.
“More than anything, the Medical Affairs team has a way of making PRHC feel like home, where medical students are genuinely valued. It means a great deal to all of us, and to my understanding, it is a truly unique experience in Canada. Most importantly, it only reinforces how much I hope to build my career here at PRHC down the road,” added Max.
This unique initiative was co-designed and developed as part of a partnership between PRHC and the PTBO Fam Docs collective, led by Dr. Madura Sundareswaran.
“The Return & Learn program aims to highlight the breadth of opportunities for prospective physicians in Peterborough. By partnering with Peterborough Regional Health Centre, we are able to showcase everything our amazing community has to offer – including a glimpse into the unique and innovative community-based practices of our local family physicians,” said Dr. Sundareswaran. “PTBO Fam Docs is excited to continue to work with our community partners towards a long-term, sustainable strategy for physician recruitment and retention, for which mentorship, medical education and sense of community are essential.”
“By all accounts, this event was an incredible and rewarding experience for everyone involved,” said Dr. Janet Hurst, VP & Chief Medical Executive at PRHC. “To see the participation and enthusiasm from every organization and every learner for this initiative has been inspiring. Return & Learn has been a success in large part due to the collaboration, commitment and involvement of so many people and partners, and we can’t wait to work with them to make this innovative program even better in future years.”
Peterborough Regional Health Centre is pleased to collaborate, participate in and support a variety of partnerships and initiatives to bring future physicians to our community and region. Thank you to the many organizations and individuals in the hospital and the community who generously volunteer their time to support these efforts.
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About Peterborough Regional Health Centre:
- With 500 inpatient beds, PRHC is a regional acute care referral centre serving one of the fastest-growing and aging populations in Canada across a broad urban and rural geography extending north to Haliburton, south to Northumberland, east to Quinte, and west to Durham.
- Our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan highlights our commitment to build our teaching and research focus. Learn more about PRHC’s strategic plan here.
- PRHC is working to meet the growing demand for care in our community and region. With the support of generous donors through the PRHC Foundation, we aim to empower world-class care, closer to home; fuel innovation and bring new, life-saving services to our region; attract the best and brightest healthcare professionals; and find solutions to critical hospital challenges. Find out more about the Campaign for PRHC here: prhcfoundation.ca/the-campaign-for-prhc
For more information:
Michelene Ough | Director, Communications & Public Affairs | mough@prhc.on.ca
