Delaney Ringer (McMaster University, OT)

My name is Delaney Ringer, and I am a first-year Occupational Therapy student at McMaster University. I completed my placement in the Outpatient Neurology Rehabilitation Day Program at St. Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay from March 17th to May 9th, 2025.

Growing up in a small town has given me a passion for addressing health care gaps experienced by remote, rural, and underserved communities. Therefore, I decided to do a placement through NOSM U to gain the hands-on experience and knowledge to address these gaps in my future practice. I also felt learning more about how to deliver culturally safe care was crucial to becoming the kind of healthcare practitioner I aspire to be in the future and a placement in the North would allow me to learn not only from practitioners who have experience working with diverse communities but also patients who belong to these communities. I gained these things and so much more during my placement.

One of my favourite parts of completing a NOSM U placement was just how integrated the care was in the North. While I have worked on interprofessional teams in the past, I found care was often siloed and there wasn’t always communication between different specialties outside of dedicated times such as rounds and family conferences. However, in my placement, all the specialities worked in very close proximity to one another and were consistently collaborating on how best to serve the client’s needs and deliver care in an integrated fashion.

This was especially important here, as we often encountered challenges that came along with delivering care in the North, such as arranging transportation for clients from remote surrounding areas or providing culturally safe care to Indigenous clients that benefit from multiple perspectives at the table. Units were also closely connected in the hospital, which allowed me to shadow so many other specialties and gain hands-on experience in other areas, such as making splints and orthotics. The whole team at my placement truly welcomed and embraced me in a way that I have never experienced before, and it truly felt like a family.

Outside of placement, I also enjoyed getting to explore a new community. The nature in the North is truly breathtaking, and there are so many fun trails, parks, and waterfronts to explore, such as Finger Point and Kakabeka Falls Provincial Parks. There were also so many unique local shops, restaurants, cafes, and markets with homemade goods to check out, such as Goods and Co, The Thunder Bay Country Market, The Growing Season, and Calico Coffeehouse. Additionally, there was always a community event going on to attend, from plays at the Magnus Theatre to Indigenous Hide Camps to Craft Revival to the Filipino Food Fest. Everyone here was incredibly welcoming, and there were so many opportunities to get involved. It was also great connecting and exploring the city with other students completing placements in the North.

I am so glad I decided to complete a placement through NOSM U, as it has allowed me to gain skills, knowledge, and experience that I know will make me a better OT in the future. I have also gained so many memories I will truly cherish for a lifetime. Everyone involved in my placement experience, from the NOSM U staff to my Preceptor to my Clinical Site Contact, were so accommodating and considerate throughout my entire placement experience. They went above and beyond to ensure I felt prepared for my placement and had all my needs met. They even checked in on me to ensure I was adjusting to my new environment and answered all my questions in a very detailed and understanding manner. I cannot thank them enough for all their hard work and everything they did for me throughout my placement.

I would recommend that every student complete a placement through NOSM U, as it is truly a once in a lifetime experience and you won’t regret it!