Students of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will soon be living and learning in the community of Dryden as part of the School’s Comprehensive Community Clerkship (CCC) program. Dryden will welcome two medical students in September of this year.

The students will begin learning in the community’s principal health-care facility, Dryden Regional Health Centre. An affiliation agreement between NOSM and Dryden Regional Health Centre has been signed, solidifying a partnership between the two institutions and allowing NOSM students to gain valuable hands-on practical experience in this community.

Wade Petranik, CEO of Dryden Regional Health Centre, is proud to be a part of a true community-based medical school. “Welcoming NOSM medical students into our community is an important part of our commitment to developing physicians who understand and appreciate the unique features and benefits of practicing medicine in Northern communities,” he said. “As a Comprehensive Community Clerkship site for medical students, our professional staff is given the opportunity to instruct students in a unique medical environment where students are able to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients.”

Dr. Karen Mazurski, the hospital’s Chief of Staff, concurs. “The professional staff at Dryden Regional Health Centre will provide comprehensive, patient-centred training, allowing the students to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients in a distinctively Northern environment.” During their eight months in Dryden, students will be taught by local physicians and other health-care providers who are NOSM faculty members.

In preparation for the students’ arrival, meetings are underway with local physicians, and other community members who will make up Dryden’s Local NOSM Group. The group of eight to twelve individuals will act as an important link between the community of Dryden and the students. The Local NOSM Group will assist the students by providing a smooth integration into Dryden through orientation, relevant information and introductions to other community members.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says the people and communities of the North are integral to the success of the Comprehensive Community Clerkships. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to building partnerships with the communities and health organizations of Northern Ontario. Dryden Regional Health Centre, local physicians, other health-care providers and community members are welcomed partners,” he said.

This year marks the first time that Dryden and Kapuskasing are joining the Northern Ontario communities of Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Temiskaming Shores, Sioux Lookout, Parry Sound, North Bay, Huntsville, Kenora, Bracebridge, and Fort Frances as Comprehensive Community Clerkship sites for NOSM’s third-year students.

Students of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will soon be living and learning in the community of Kapuskasing as part of the School’s Comprehensive Community Clerkship (CCC) program. Kapuskasing will welcome four medical students in September of this year.

The students will begin learning in the community’s principal health-care facility, Sensenbrenner Hospital. An affiliation agreement between NOSM and Sensenbrenner Hospital has been signed, solidifying a partnership between the two institutions and allowing NOSM students to gain valuable hands-on practical experience in this community.

Al Yarush, CEO of Sensenbrenner Hospital, is proud to be a part of a true community-based medical school. “Welcoming NOSM medical students into our community is an important part of our commitment to developing physicians who understand and appreciate the unique features and benefits of practicing medicine in Northern communities,” he said. “As a Comprehensive Community Clerkship site for medical students, our professional staff is given the opportunity to instruct students in a unique medical environment where students are able to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients.”

Dr. Robert Ng-A-Fook, the hospital’s Chief of Staff, concurs. “The professional staff at Sensenbrenner Hospital will provide comprehensive, patient-centred training, allowing the students to observe, learn and participate in the care of patients in a distinctively Northern environment.” During their eight months in Kapuskasing, students will be taught by local physicians and other health-care providers who are NOSM faculty members.

In preparation for the students’ arrival, meetings are underway with local physicians, and other community members who will make up Kapuskasing’s Local NOSM Group. The group of eight to twelve individuals will act as an important link between the community of Kapuskasing and the students. The Local NOSM Group will assist the students by providing a smooth integration into Kapuskasing through orientation, relevant information and introductions to other community members.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says the people and communities of the North are integral to the success of the Comprehensive Community Clerkships. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to building partnerships with the communities and health organizations of Northern Ontario. Sensenbrenner Hospital, local physicians, other health-care providers and community members are welcomed partners,” he said.

This year marks the first time that Kapuskasing and Dryden are joining the Northern Ontario communities of Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Temiskaming Shores, Sioux Lookout, Parry Sound, North Bay, Huntsville, Kenora, Bracebridge, and Fort Frances as Comprehensive Community Clerkship sites for NOSM’s third-year students.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce that the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) has been granted full accreditation status by the Dietitians of Canada Accreditation Committee. The program is a joint initiative between NOSM and the NODIP Professional Advisory Committee, and involves multiple facilitators, sites and partners throughout Northern Ontario.

In October 2007, NODIP began training dietetic interns with Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Thunder Bay as the principal community sites, supported by over 30 partners throughout Northern Ontario. The program accepts ten graduates per year from university dietetic programs and provides them with opportunities in Northern Ontario to gain practical experience needed to obtain their dietitian registration.

In its recruitment efforts, NOSM continues to follow its mandate of social accountability, and aims to have NODIP class profiles which reflect the cultural diversity of Northern Ontario. Demographic profiles of the 2008 incoming class show that:

■ 90% are from Northern Ontario
■ 30% are bilingual

NOSM Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser noted that the School is fortunate to work collaboratively with experts in an effort to support health initiatives in the North. “The Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program complements the pan-Northern nature of the School and demonstrates the support from the Northern communities towards the School’s inter-professional programs,” said Dr. Strasser. “Confirmation of accreditation marks a significant milestone for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as we continue to successfully develop programs that are responsive to health-care needs of the people of Northern Ontario.”

Ten dietetic interns from the inaugural NODIP class will graduate from the program on August 22, 2008.