NOMS team visit Balmertown and Sioux Lookout about community placements
Five members of the new Northern Ontario Medical School journeyed to Balmertown on Thursday to meet with the KO team and the Red Lake physicians. They included Dr. David Boyle (Executive Director, Project Development), Martha Musicco (Associate Manager, Project Office), Robert Barnett (Data Researcher, NHIP), Jim Harrold (Interim Theme Coordinator) and the trip organizer, Orpah McKenzie (Interim Director, Aboriginal Affairs). During their visit to the KO office, everyone met with a group of Poplar Hill community members and health staff via video conference. A second video conference with the Sandy Lake health office also provided the NOMS team with the opportunity to meet with additional community members. Click here to view the photos.
On Friday, several members of the team (including Todd Dufresne) met with the K-Net team in Sioux Lookout to identify strategies to work together. A quick tour of the K-Net facilities, meeting the team and viewing some of the on-line resources provided the NOMS group some additional references for their work. Click here to read the KO briefing paper presented to the NOMS staff.
Later at the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, all the tribal councils and other First Nation organizations were invited to meet with the NOMS team to discuss some of the opportunities that exist for the First Nations to work with NOMS. First Nations are being invited to host first year medical students during a four week placement that is to provide an alternative learning environment and development opportunity for the students, NOMS and the communities. The session is called "Aboriginal Year 1 Clerkship Experience".
The "Expression of Interest: Community Information and Guidelines" were distributed to everyone in attendance with additional copies being made available through Orpah McKenzie. As well, the "Report of the NOMS Aboriginal Workshop" (June 2003) was presented to everyone.
NOMS is interested in partnering with First Nations to identify a strategy to create a successful learning opportunity for everyone willing to participate in this work. This will involve identifying and hiring local resource people who will be considered NOMS faculty members to support, assess and providing learning opportunities for the students during these placements.
For more information about these partnership possibilities contact Orpah McKenzie, NOMS Interim Director, Aboriginal Affairs in Thunder Bay or Martha Musicco, Associate Manager, NOMS Project Office in Sudbury