Why you should be a rural preceptor
Channel: RhPAP
Date: 2023-03-06

Calling all rural physicians! 
The University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine and the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry urgently need new rural preceptors for this coming fall.

When medical students or residents spend time training in rural Alberta, it’s more likely they will consider practicing in rural Alberta. 

Their clerkship in a rural community can be as short as three weeks or as long as a full year. 

Preceptors matter because without them, these students would never have a rural training experience. 

"As a rural preceptor, we need you because you have offerings that nobody else has," said Dr. Darren Nichols,  Coordinator, Integrated Community Clerkship, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry. 

"You’re a potent role model for the type of relationship that’s not just a deep relationship in continuity with the patient but you help our learners understand what a deep relationship is within a community as a whole. And that’s a richness they need as they become our next colleagues."

"I quite enjoy the spontaneity of reviewing cases with learners," added Dr. Rithesh Ram, rural generalist physician, Drumheller, AB. "They will always bring very unique perspectives.
It’s because they are right at the forefront of whatever new treatments, whatever new management strategies, new presentations of what is happening."

Dr. Ram is also a director with the University of Calgary Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship program.

Both he and Dr. Nichols coach new preceptors.

If you’re interested in becoming a rural preceptor or you have more questions, here is where to start.

For the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, email: dlri@ucalgary.ca

For the University of Alberta, email the office of Rural and Regional Health: randrh@ualberta.ca.