Written By Olena Riznyk
STRATHROY - From May 26 to 30, the Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA) will welcome a group of first-year medical students from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as part of the annual Discovery Week program.
This initiative, now in its 27th year, offers medical students a chance to live and learn in rural and regional communities across Southwestern Ontario—an experience that many say shapes their future career decisions.
Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital and Four Counties Health Services in Newbury will serve as placement sites for this year’s program.
During their week-long stay, students will shadow local physicians, observe clinical care in both hospital and outpatient settings, and interact with patients, hospital staff, and community members.
The goal is to provide them with a comprehensive and realistic view of rural medicine and community-based care.
“I am excited to once again have the opportunity to share our hospitals and communities with a new crop of Schulich students,” said Dr. Elisheva Chernick, Chief of Staff at MHA. “We are proud of the high-quality care we provide, and we believe this experience is the first step toward inspiring more future doctors to practise in smaller communities like ours.”
Discovery Week is a cornerstone of Schulich’s commitment to distributed medical education. More than 190 students will be placed in over 30 communities this year—from Windsor to Owen Sound—exposing them to the diversity of medical practice beyond urban centres.
In addition to shadowing health-care professionals, students will attend rounds, participate in case discussions, and learn about health system challenges that are unique to rural areas—such as access to specialists, transportation barriers, and resource limitations. At the same time, they will witness the benefits of close-knit communities, broader scopes of practice, and stronger continuity of care.
The program also encourages students to engage with the local community beyond the hospital walls. Many will attend informal social events, visit local landmarks, and meet with municipal leaders to gain a deeper understanding of life outside major urban centres.
For many students, Discovery Week becomes a defining moment. By living the day-to-day reality of rural medicine, they begin to see the value and rewards of serving in under-resourced areas.
With Ontario continuing to face shortages of physicians in smaller communities, initiatives like this play a vital role in attracting future health-care providers where they are most needed.
