Tofield and area community welcomes Univ. of Alberta medical and nursing students

It was two nights and three days of rural showcasing of Tofield, Ryley, and Beaver County by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) in partnership with Tofield and Area Health Foundation, from April 12-14.

There were 36 students from the Medicine and Nursing programs at University of Alberta who were generously hosted by 12 families in the community.

From a skills weekend to barbecues and entertainment, the students took in a slice of Alberta that’s far removed from the urban life.

As part of the Community Attraction and Retention committee, the event was essential from Tofield and Area Health Foundation Chair, Brenda Chehade’s perspective. “Cyndy Heslin, Sandy Brolly and myself went to a RhPAP conference last spring in Brooks where we learned about many different things rural communities are doing to showcase their community to all healthcare professionals, so the skills weekend was for post-secondary students and just one of the many things we could do as a community,” Chehade said. “The billet part of the weekend had never been done before so we were a pilot project in that aspect; and to get the billet families, we made posters to put around Tofield and Ryley to raise awareness and get families involved.”

RhPAP has been putting on skills weekends for 14 years.

“RhPAP Rural skills weekends are to provide future health professionals with the opportunity to visit rural Alberta communities and experience what it would be like to work, live and play there . . . contd.