Resident physician in Spirit River loves the variety rural practice offers
Channel: RhPAP
Date: 2023-02-09

Dr. Melody Biette is doing a rural residency in Spirit River. Her preceptor is Dr. Danae Woolfaardt. 

Melody completed the undergraduate Medical Education Program at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. For residency, med students apply to CARMS, the Canadian Resident Matching Service. CARMS matches students to a residency program that matches their needs. 

For Melody, that was the University of Alberta’s Grande Prairie Family Medicine Residency Program. She is currently in the second year of the two-year program. 

Melody has also done residencies in Beaverlodge and Peace River. 

She says health professionals in these rural communities are very welcoming. And that includes inviting residents to social activities. 

Dr. Biette has this to say to med students who are about to enter residency. 

“I would highly recommend a rural residency," says Dr. Melody Biette. "In the urban programs you usually get about two months of rural training, which is great. I’m really great that they get some. But if you have any thought of working outside a big city, I would highly recommend this. You get so much opportunity to work in a variety of atmospheres. And as well, you also get a chance to network in the rural areas around your home base. And that is a good chance to look for jobs in the future or locum opportunities."