The Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) is hopeful Discovery Healthcare Summer Camps planned in Goderich and Stratford will attract students to the field to address local shortages.
Dr. Victor Ng, of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, explained the camps are aimed at inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
"Also, (to) be able to explore different facets of healthcare that they may or may not be aware of, during their everyday lives," Ng added. "So I think it's really just builds on experiences and ultimately allows them to choose a career that they find interesting. That is, hopefully within the healthcare profession, but I think also the important is making sure that they understand that whatever profession that they choose, there can be a role for them within their communities."
This summer sessions will take place from July 8 to July 12, 2024, at Camp Klahanie in Goderich, in partnership with the Gateway Centre for Excellence in Rural Health, and from July 15 to July 19, 2024, at the HPHA Stratford General Hospital in Stratford.
"Many of the students, of course, there are from the local community and they can see healthcare workers who are from their own community, working there with them and showing them the exciting things that they do." Ng pointed out. "And I think it really shows that for the students that they can go on and become a health care provider, whether it's a physician or a nurse or any other health care profession, and then eventually go back to their home communities such as Goderich and Stratford to work."
Ng said it's one way to address staff shortages in the healthcare field.
"We have examples of physicians who are actually practicing in Stratford and different areas where they were, at one point in time, a camper years ago when they were in high school, and then they went on to university and medical school and ultimately went back and work in the community," he continued.
Ng revealed the camps are put together by medical students.
"So these camp leaders and camp counselors are our first and second year medical students along with sometimes dental students as well. They'll recruit different health care providers, including physiotherapists, massage therapists, nurses, and anyone else who would be interested in working with the students," he stated. "And they will host a number of different experiences whether they be sport exercise related, different activities involving healthcare themes, such as, how to look at anatomy, to putting on personal protective equipment for those of us who work in the hospital setting, to suturing and even taking blood and blood draws."
He added the camps would not be possible without the collaboration of healthcare providers in the community.
"I think that is that has been really the key and like glue that brings the camps together," he said. "The students who are the campers have a lot of fun. These are opportunities where they may have fun and spend a great week in the summer to enjoy the company of the other campers, other students in their community, but also to meet the medical students and dental students here at Schulich medical school and their dental school."
The Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) has called on community members, healthcare professionals, and local businesses to support these initiatives, calling the camps critical for the sustainability of healthcare services in the region.
“These camps are more than just a summer activity; they are an opportunity for young people to explore what healthcare has to offer in Huron Perth,” said Joelle Lamport-Lewis, Director at HPA-OHT. “We are actively working towards bridging the gap in healthcare workforce shortages, and community engagement is key to this endeavour. We invite the community to join us in this critical mission.”
Discovery Healthcare Camp started over 15 years ago. It started with four camps, and has grown to eight camps in 2024. Each camp can accommodate up to 30 students. Many of the camps are sold out with a wait list most years.
For more information about the Discovery Healthcare Summer Camps and how you can support this initiative, visit https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/distributededucation/discovery_healthcare_program/index.html.