Olivia Weigand (Queens University, OT)

My name is Olivia, and I completed my occupational therapy placement at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC). One of my goals was to explore Northern Ontario and determine whether I could see myself living there permanently. During my two-month Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) placement, I experienced many firsts, including my first trail run, dragon boat race, concert at the Kee to Bala, swim in Lake Nipissing, climb up a fire tower, and raspberry picking at a local farm.

I would highly recommend a NOSM placement to any student. The NBRHC rehabilitation team and my NOSM Clinical Learning Liaison made me feel valued, and I never felt like just a number. They took the time to get to know me and genuinely expressed their appreciation for my contributions.

I am incredibly grateful for the funded NOSM housing, which made completing my placement in North Bay much more accessible. When my fridge unexpectedly stopped working, the housing team quickly assessed the situation and arranged for a replacement. Their responsiveness and kindness were greatly appreciated as I balanced my busy acute care placement.

I am also grateful for the opportunity to complete free courses and certifications through NOSM, which allowed me to further develop my skills and become a more competitive job applicant. I strongly believe that my NOSM placement contributed to me securing my first occupational therapy job with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.