Canadians, particularly in rural communities such as the West Kootenay and Boundary regions, face significant challenges accessing primary health care. Many of these challenges are connected to a shortage of health care professionals. In BC, nearly one million residents are without a family doctor.
Strengthening Rural Health Care in Our Communities
We have been addressing this shortage through the training and education we provide to learners to prepare them for successful careers in health care professions. Now more than ever, we need to step up to support future health care professionals.
86
Students completed the Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) Program
20
Former RPM students have gone on to medical school
$25, 232
Cost of the three-year program (tuition, books, fees and supplies)
The Next Generation of Rural Health Professionals
Your support will enable us to equip the next generation of health care professionals with the skills, resources and support they need to thrive in these critical environments. Your generosity will help us bridge the gap in rural health care access and ensure that our communities receive the quality of care they deserve.
Students have completed training, are receiving training or are pursuing pathways to become well-rounded rural professionals in:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Optometry
- Dentistry
- Physical therapy
- Midwifery
- Veterinary
- Public health
Rural Student Pathways
Former RPM students are demonstrating a preference for training and practicing in rural and Indigenous communities. Due to the success and longevity of the program, we are now witnessing alumni choosing to come back in the area to serve the health needs of our communities as doctors and pharmacists.
Providing Scholarships That Go Beyond!
We encourage students to be innovative and go beyond the expected and we are stepping up to join them. To make real change, we need to think and act differently.
We have created a new set of awards based around the CanMEDS framework of what it takes to become a well-rounded health care professional to improve patient care. The new awards will encourage students to work toward becoming the health care professional of the future and provide them extra skills required to transfer into their next educational pursuit.
“CanMEDS is a framework for improving patient care by enhancing physician training. Developed by the Royal College in the 1990s, its main purpose is to define the necessary competencies for all areas of medical practice and provide a comprehensive foundation for medical education and practice in Canada.” —Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Donate Today
To combat the growing healthcare disparity in our communities, we must act.
For the past ten years, Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) has demonstrated that when rural students receive training locally and are supported by their community, they are more likely to return to practice and build their chosen careers. Help us raise $150,000 to support the next generation of health care professionals.
Your financial contribution will go towards a new suite of awards and scholarships specifically tailored for rural college students pursuing health care-related fields. Your support has the power to transform a student’s life and make a tangible difference in the lives of rural residents in our region.
