NOSM University’s CampMed Marks 20 Years of Encouraging Youth to Dream Big

For 20 years, NOSM University’s CampMed has inspired high-school students to choose careers in health care. Designed for youth from Northern, rural, and remote parts of Ontario, the annual summer camp gives grades 10 and 11 students a hands-on preview of careers in a variety of health-care fields and medical specialties. This year, CampMed takes place July 6-10 in Sudbury and July 13-17 in Thunder Bay. 

“My time at CampMed reinforced my passion for medicine and set me up for a lifelong career in health care,” says Dr. Alyssa Labelle, who is from Sudbury. A previous camper and volunteer at CampMed, Dr. Labelle went on to graduate from NOSM University’s MD program and is currently an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Dalhousie University. 

Her advice to high-school students? “To anyone with a dream that feels bigger than yourself—work hard, be kind to others, and don’t forget to cheer yourself on along the way! You’ve got this!” 

CampMed also played a major role in the health-care journey of Dr. Claire Poulin, who is from Atikokan. “Coming from a small community, I only saw a fraction of the allied health-care careers that exist. My experience at CampMed opened my eyes to the various medical specialties that doctors can pursue, and how physicians work in partnership with other health-care providers to optimize each patient interaction,” she says. 

Now specializing in family medicine, Dr. Poulin is a first-year NOSM University medical resident in Thunder Bay. Like Dr. Labelle, she attended CampMed as a camper in high school and a volunteer while pursuing her undergraduate and MD degrees.  

“I hope students from other small towns across the North will see that just because you aren’t from a city doesn’t mean you can’t chase your dreams,” Dr. Poulin says. “I hope students from other small communities across the North know that where you come from doesn’t define how far you can go. Your dreams are within reach.” 

Many campers are inspired to pursue careers as physicians or other health-care professionals after attending CampMed, though it does not increase the chances of admission to their program of choice. CampMed provides students with an opportunity to obtain hands-on experience and explore Indigenous and Francophone cultures, health and traditions, and health-care careers.  

At the age of 15 or 16, campers also connect with mentors and potential future colleagues. These early connections are an important source of peer and mentor support throughout campers’ future careers in health-care fields. Fifty-two campers and 57 volunteers have gone on to complete the MD program at NOSM University. 

In the context of medical careers, which require at least ten years of post-secondary education, the relationships built during CampMed can be particularly poignant. “It has been more than ten years since my experience at CampMed, and I still keep in touch with so many people I met along the way,” says Dr. Labelle. “Medical student mentors at camp became attending physicians when I was in medical school, and now colleagues. Many of my fellow campers either became my medical school classmates or other colleagues in health care, such as nurses or dietitians.” 

NOSM University is deeply rooted in the communities of Northern Ontario and in improving the experiences of Northern, Indigenous, Francophone, and rural learners—beginning with recruitment. As CampMed marks its 20th anniversary, NOSM University celebrates the more than 1,200 campers, 300 volunteers, and generous donors whose commitment, enthusiasm, and support have helped inspire the next generation of health-care professionals. 

“For 20 years, CampMed has helped young people from Northern Ontario see themselves in health-care careers they may never have imagined possible,” says Dr. Michael Green, NOSM University President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO. “By creating opportunities for students to explore medicine and other health professions while connecting them with mentors, communities, and one another, CampMed is helping build the future health workforce our region needs.”