Addressing the Gaps
Recruitment event for NOSM University medical learners aligns education with local needs
Physician recruiters from communities across Northern Ontario met with NOSM University medical learners on the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, at an event designed to support physician recruitment in the North. The Northern Ontario Community Concierge and Connection Event, hosted in Sudbury, featured physician recruiters from more than 30 communities across Northern Ontario—from Hearst to Kenora. The inaugural event responded to community recruiters’ requests for a Northern Ontario–based forum to connect with NOSM University learners, providing space for communities to engage directly with the next generation of phys...
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Meet Bobbi Derkson, a Site Administrative Coordinator Who Connects Learners to Community in Kenora
Site Administrative Coordinators (SACs) are vital to NOSM University, ensuring medical learners not only succeed during their placements, but thrive in the Northern communities where they learn. In Kenora, Bobbi Derkson is doing just that, and much more. A Kenora resident for over twenty years, Derkson is more than a site administrator. She’s a mentor, cultural guide, and community connector, with deep roots in both the community and the health-care world. “I make sure our students feel supported and welcome,” says Derkson. “My favourite part of my job is when a student rushes into my office, excited to share something new ...
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Rural Generalist Pathway celebrates five years
It all began with a simple question, how can NOSM University get more physicians to work in rural areas? “Summit North,” held in January of 2018, brought together physicians from across the north to brainstorm ideas for increasing the number of physicians serving Northern Ontario. From this, the Rural Generalist Pathway (RGP) was born. Modeled after a successful program in Australia, the RGP provides medical students with mentorship and collegial support as they come to understand the realities of practising as a Rural Generalist. In 2021, the program welcomed its first cohort of five students. All have since graduated and are...
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