The University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary are partnering to kickstart a new chapter in Alberta’s medical education system. Both post-secondary institutions announced admissions are now open for the Southern Alberta Medical Program—a three-year doctor-of-medicine program designed for students ready to build their future in rural and regional health care. It’s a unique opportunity where students can now earn their UCalgary medical degree while completing their training in southern Alberta. The partnership, funded by the provincial government, aims to use a distributed education model to emphasize continuity of care, community connections and clinical readiness. “Having access to medical education is such a vital component to recruiting physicians,” said Dr. Richard Buck, Southern Alberta Medical Program associate dean. “Many folks have expressed interest in becoming physicians, but they would find it a real challenge to uproot their families and careers and lives to go to a more urban centre such as Calgary or Edmonton. “So, by having it closer to home, we feel that those barriers will be somewhat eased.” The first cohort of the Southern Alberta Medical Program will begin learning in July of next year. Applications are now open online.
