Medical students considering rural practice as a Family Physician or as a general specialist can access a variety of initiatives, funding and support to raise their awareness and to increase their exposure to rural medicine.

In order to encourage rural practice and to provide a positive experience in rural Ontario, the ROMP promotes the concept of medical students and residents taking part of their training in a rural or regional community. With ROMP funding and support medical students and residents (Family Medicine and Royal College) are encouraged to do mandatory and elective rotations with rural and regional preceptors.

For Ontario medical students and residents, the ROMP provides funding for accommodation and travel.

The preceptors in each of the training sites have a direct link to the university they are affiliated with and are supported through ROMP-funded faculty development initiatives and on-site visits.

Attendances at Annual Rural Physician Recruitment Fairs were a success, and planning for attendance at 2008 Annual Fairs is underway.

The Rural Physician Recruitment Fairs provides an opportunity for medical students and residents to meet with physicians and community representatives from around the Province. This is the perfect time to start building relationships for future rotations and practice after graduation.

The practice experience for first and second year medical students (i.e. those in their pre-clinical years) is generally referred to as an observership. Students are permitted to shadow the preceptor; hands-on contact is only permitted when the student is under the direct guidance of the preceptor. Students in their clinical years generally have more freedom in being able to meet with patients on their own and are able to be more 'hands on". However, these students are also under the supervision of their preceptor.

Out-of-province medical students must follow the procedure for Out-of-Province Electives which involves registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and the ROMP office in Collingwood Ontario: www.rompoline.com

ROMP offers financial support initiatives to medical students to support their learning, accommodations and travel.

All inquiries for electives done in the west Northumberland County area handled by the Rural Ontario Medicine Program Office in Collingwood Ontario;