SASKTOON - Saskatchewan’s residency training program is being expanded in the southeastern and east-central part of the province, the Department of Academic Family Medicine (DAFM) within the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and Saskatchewan Health Authority announced Monday.
“This expansion will provide valuable experience to our medical graduates and help improve access to care for residents in smaller, rural communities,” Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley said. “It will also contribute to physician retention outside of major centres. We are pleased to support the new site with $1.2 million in funding this fiscal year.”
The expansion will provide training opportunities in 12 rural Saskatchewan communities, including Estevan. A significant amount of training will be in Estevan, Humboldt, Moosomin, Weyburn and Yorkton. Other communities would include Redvers, Esterhazy, Indian Head, Melville, Strasbourg, Watrous and Wynyard.
Similar to the northwestern Saskatchewan site approach, many communities will operate as training sites to create a fuller learning experience and enhance patient care throughout the region.
“This is a great step for our program and for family medicine in Saskatchewan,” said Dr. Kathy Lawrence, DAFM provincial head. “Expanding our program means that we can provide additional training opportunities for USask medical graduates, while increasing medical supports to rural communities in southeast Saskatchewan.”
There are currently 48 family medicine residency spots available in Saskatchewan. This expansion will allow four more family medicine residents to pursue training in the province, bringing the provincial family medicine residency allocation to 52.
The program will welcome residents to the new training site in July 2022.
