The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP), a collaborative initiative between the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary, aims to train future physicians in Lethbridge and nearby rural communities. This program, set to commence next year, seeks to address the shortage of rural healthcare professionals by providing hands-on experience in rural medicine. The initiative comes at a crucial time, as the South Zone faces six rural medicine physician vacancies.
A currently unused building at the University of Lethbridge will be repurposed to house the SAMP, facilitating an educational environment where students can learn alongside other healthcare professionals. This move aligns with the program's objective to immerse students in rural medicine from the onset of their training.
“With that in mind, we want to expose them to rural medicine as soon as we can,” – Buck
Dr. Richard Buck, the regional lead of the program and a practitioner at Lethbridge’s Chinook Regional Hospital, emphasized the importance of early exposure to rural healthcare settings. This approach is particularly beneficial for students with rural backgrounds, who are more likely to return and serve the communities they grew up in.
The program has already contributed significantly to the region's healthcare landscape, with 72 physicians recruited into Lethbridge and surrounding areas from March 2022 through the fourth quarter of 2024. However, vacancies persist in places like Bow Island, Fort Macleod, Picture Butte, and Cardston, highlighting the ongoing need for medical professionals in these communities.
To support students enrolled in SAMP, the Dr. Cormican Excellence Scholarship in Rural Medicine was established. This scholarship, funded by a $25,000 gift from Dr. Aileen Cormican and matched by the ULethbridge Board of Governors, provides a minimum annual award of $2,000 to a deserving student. The first scholarship award was announced last month by the University of Lethbridge.
“The pursuit of medicine is hard enough; we need to make sure we are doing the right things to keep health-care professionals here for our region by attracting and then supporting medical students, and keeping physicians in southern Alberta,” – Dr. Aileen Cormican
Dr. Cormican, a senior staff specialist and radiologist at Chinook Regional Hospital, stressed the importance of attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in southern Alberta. Her sentiments reflect a broader commitment to enhancing healthcare access in rural areas through strategic educational partnerships and financial support initiatives.
