THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS NOW ABLE TO TRAIN IN REGINA

Twelve third-year medical students are now able to complete their studies in Regina through a distance education program, which is part of the distributed education model announced by the provincial government last March.

In 2009-10, the Ministries of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration (AEEI) and Health each provided $1 million to the Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences Network (SAHSN) to develop a plan for distributed medical education. Under this model, a portion of third-year medical students who, in the past, would have studied in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) will now be based in Regina.

"Our government is committed to maintaining Saskatchewan's strong and steady economy and the distributed medical education model will help the College of Medicine meet our province's ever-growing demand for trained physicians," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "I am pleased to see the new Regina location for medical undergraduates residents is now complete."

The 12 third-year medical students that began their studies in Regina this past September joined an existing cohort of fourth year medical students.

"Retaining and recruiting more physicians to both urban and rural areas is a top priority of our government," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "I believe the expansion of undergraduate medical training in Regina through this distance education program will go a long way toward achieving this goal."

Today's announcement is yet another initiative implemented under the government's physician recruitment strategy. Others include the establishment of the physician recruitment agency as well as the development of lifestyle and professional support programs designed to assist physicians, particularly those practicing in rural areas.

"The College of Medicine is a provincial resource mandated to serve the people of Saskatchewan, so it is important for us to have a well-established presence throughout the province," Dean of Medicine Dr. William Albritton said. "The expansion of our undergraduate training program in Regina is a positive step toward further developing our distributed medical education model and it demonstrates our commitment to serving the people of Saskatchewan."

"The RQHR is excited to be involved in this expanded partnership with the College of Medicine," Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region CEO Dwight Nelson said. "We appreciate that our regional and medical colleagues have set aside additional time for teaching and we hope that our efforts will encourage more Saskatchewan medical graduates to make their home and build their practices in southern Saskatchewan."

SAHSN is a partnership that brings Saskatchewan's health regions, post-secondary partners and government together to enhance patient care, improve health sciences education and focus research priorities. Network members include representatives of the Regina-Qu'Appelle Health Region; the Saskatoon Health Region; rural health regions; the University of Regina; the University of Saskatchewan; SIAST; the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration; and the Ministry of Health.

To learn more about the Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences Network visit www.saskhealthsciencesnetwork.usask.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Marieka Barrie
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

Bill Carney
Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region
Regina
Phone: 306-766-5332

Laura Herman
College of Medicine, U of S
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-966-6059