Written By Olena Riznyk
STRATHROY - Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH) welcomed medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry during Discovery Week 2024 from May 27 to 31. This collaboration marks the 26th year of a remarkable partnership aimed at providing immersive learning experiences in healthcare settings across Southwestern Ontario. Nine students from the London and Windsor areas came to Strathroy to gain new experiences for their future work as doctors.
Dr. Eli Chernick, Chief of Staff at SMGH, expresses excitement at introducing students to the uniqueness of rural medical practice, hoping to attract future physicians to serve these communities: “On behalf of the entire Medical Staff of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA), I’d like to express our pleasure and excitement to be introducing new clinical experiences and the uniqueness of practicing medicine in a rural setting. We have a number of physicians on staff who started their careers with us during their Discovery Week, and we hope to attract some of this cohort of future physicians to our communities.”
It was an entirely new experience for this year group of medical students. “I think being able to see how a smaller Community Hospital runs compared to a larger hospital, like what we have in London Health Sciences. And then I also have really enjoyed the community itself; we’ve had such a warm welcome and I feel like it’s been cool to see how tight-knit this community really is,” Lucy Mason, one of the students, said.
Students spent a wonderful and memorable week in Strathroy, filled not only with learning from and gaining experience with the doctors but also with getting to know local businesses and life in the area. Every day, new and exciting adventures awaited them, immersing them in the enchanting beauty of Strathroy and its surroundings. Our guests enjoyed Arrowwood Farm, Alpaca Farm, and other local attractions.
They enjoyed the event called “the amazing race.” It was a kind of quest in which students not only got to know local business representatives but also tried their hand at performing other professions. The amazing race began at the MYFM location, where future doctors tried themselves as authors and voiceover actors. Interesting and challenging tasks awaited them at Playmore and Bosson’s Pharmacy stations. The Foundation construction company allowed each participant to try themselves as builders, and the Over the Deep End pool offered a little refreshment after a busy day.
As the students immersed themselves in the Strathroy community, they encountered unique challenges and opportunities. Lucy Mason highlighted the interconnectedness of healthcare professionals and the very close community spirit that permeates SMGH.
Alaina Mahalanabis, another medical student, emphasized the importance of continued care and building relationships across healthcare teams, reflecting on the impact such connections can have on patient outcomes. The students also grappled with the realities of rural healthcare, recognizing the limitations in resources and specialized services. Other student, Mish Wahed, also highlighted the challenges of accessing timely surgical care for complex cases.
This year’s group experienced prompt introspection about their future careers. While some remain undecided about practicing in the rural setting, others find a newfound appreciation for the flexibility and sense of community offered by smaller hospitals. They recognized the importance of personalized care and the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in delivering comprehensive healthcare services. “I’m pretty attached to the GTA. I’m not going to lie, but like this was a really great experience and I’m open to wherever life takes me,” said Nithusa Panchadcharam.
But most important in any work, especially in a doctor’s job, is teamwork. “One of the things that I really took notice of was how interconnected each of the staff was with each other in this hospital, whether it was the doctors to doctors or doctors to nurses, or nurses to nurses,” Mish Wahed emphasized.
Anita Fernandes, Assistant to the Chief of Medical Staff & VP Medical Affairs, played a significant role in the organization of the event. She poured her soul into all the events that took place and shared her feedback about the students with incredible warmth. The preparation took more than half a year. “Every year it’s first-year medical students. I was in this position and the maximum number of students we used to have four students, but this year, they are the largest graduating class ever… So, we now have nine. It’s a challenge, but we are doing great” says Anita. The challenge was overcome perfectly. And she believes that Discovery Week 2025 will be great as well.
