Rural Stream

"Providing medical care in rural and remote areas can be one of the most fulfilling, exciting, and challenging types of work that a physician can imagine." - Barer Stoddart, 1999










Dr. Fil Incitti (Fergus/Elora)
Recipient of Community Teacher of the Year - 2008
from the Ontario College of Family Physicians

• Four sites: Grimsby, Fergus, Mount Forest and Collingwood  (sites named by the location of the hospital though practices may be based in nearby towns)
• Residents are encouraged to live in their Family Medicine home-base communities (expectation for at least 8 months in 2 years)
• Academic sessions can be held by videoconference from central locations to all teaching sites in the program excluding mandatory academic days requiring attendance in Hamilton.
  
• Emphasis on learning the clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work in rural communities and hospitals.
• Funding is available to offset travel and accommodation costs incurred during off-site per Department of Family Medicine Travel Policy, ROMP Travel Policy and MacCare Travel Policy.
  

• McMaster makes a committed effort to ensure that all rurally-trained residents applying for Enhanced Skills Training acquire that training. For information on Enhanced Skills opportunities click here.
  
• Rural retreat twice annually for rural preceptors and residents; including rural cases with hands-on skills stations.
  

“The Rural Stream Training Program offered by the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University offers a diversity of settings in which to acquire the skills and clinical courage necessary for you to pursue your career in rural medicine.  All of our preceptors are rural physicians with skills in obstetrics and/or emergency medicine and are experienced teachers.  Your rotations in specialties such as emergency medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine will occur in community settings, often with specialists who are aware of the challenges of rural practice and therefore your unique needs as a resident.”  

Dr. E. Blau, Rural Residency Director

Map of Rural Teaching Sites