Medical student likes rural practice
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Mar 02/01) - Bevan Hughes seems inclined to not follow many of his fellow doctors to urban centres.
Hughes is a second-year medical student in the rural family medicine program at the University of B.C.
The Ottawa native in currently in the middle of his second year of residency in Inuvik.
He said his attraction to rural areas is based partly on personal interests, in that he likes small towns and loves spending time outdoors.
Hughes said he finds rural medicine the most interesting type.
"You get to do just about everything, and you're on the hook for everything. So, there's a lot of responsibility, but at the same time, a lot of challenges that are really worthwhile," Hughes said.
"I like the hands-on aspect of it, and the resourcefulness."
Hughes admitted many of his fellow med students aren't too interested in going to rural areas, in part because of the isolation.
He added to become a doctor students must go to a major centre and undergo four years of undergraduate studies and four years of medical school. Hughes said that by the end of this time, many students have settled in and made contacts and aren't eager to leave.
Hughes said the program he is in is a good example of how many universities are trying to make sure more of their graduates enter rural medicine.
As well, he said that all family medicine program students at UBC are mandated to do at least two months of residency in a rural area, even if they plan to practice in a city.
"So everybody gets a taste of it, at least in family medicine."
