Riki Dayan, VFMP 2012
20% of British Columbians live in rural areas but only 10% of physicians work there. Adding to the problem is the decline in number of new medical graduates who choose to practice in rural areas. It is now common for communities formerly served by one or two resident physicians to see up to 30 different part-time locums a year as they wait anxiously for a regular physicians to reside in their towns. UBC Faculty of Medicine has a mandate to inspire new physicians to pursue a career in rural medicine.
Last year, as part of a four-week clinical clerkship, over 250 medical students travelled to small towns across BC, from Dawson Creek to Williams Lake, from Revelstoke to Terrace. Every year students bring back amazing stories of what life is like for physicians in rural areas. In turn, the rural communities that have taken part in this program have expressed overwhelmingly positive responses to the enthusiasm they saw in the medical students.
Every year, students fundraise to help cover the costs of this important rural experience. The Run for Rural Medicine is an annual event where registration fees go towards putting medical students in rural communities. On Saturday, March 24th, 130 determined runners set out early in the morning to race for the winning titles. The sun was out, the sky was blue and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. The participants ran in their best ‘tight and bright’ costumes and helped to raise awareness of the need for more rural physicians in BC. Overall, $4,300 was raised towards funding the rural clerkship program. A big thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who made the race possible and congratulations to all the finalists!