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Students


The SRPC Student Committee is comprised of medical students from across Canada collectively committed to supporting students interested in rural and remote medicine.



Accepting Submissions for the SRPC Student Blog!

Do you have an interesting story or reflection about a rural or remote clinical experience? If you would like to share your story, consider submitting it to our blog! Click here to send your blog submission.

Read submissions from other medical students and residents.

SRPC Student BLOG PAGE


Student Committee Co-Chairs


Samantha Gibbon
MD Candidate/Candidat MD
Class of 2024/Promotion 2024
UBC Southern Medical Program

Samantha Gibbon is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and a descendent of Peayasis band on Treaty 6 territory. She is from the UBC Southern Medical Program class of 2024. Shes a proud mother to her daughter Valentina, and she loves to spend her time doing traditional crafts, creating digital art, and teaching Métis jigging to youth.


Sean Bristowe (They/Them)
Co-Chair
Class of 2025/Promotion 2025
University of Calgary


Sean (they/them) is a white settler who grew up in the Outaouais region, which is the unceded territory of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe people. They are in their second year of medical school at the University of Calgary, graduating class of 2025 and hope to be a rural family doc. In their free time, Sean is passionate about advocating for meaningful trans inclusion in medicine and for increased access to harm reduction and a national safe supply program.


Keeping up with the SRPC Student Committee

Members can request to join the RuralMed Listserv for general SRPC communications, and or the Rural Med Student Listserv to keep in touch with us via email. 
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for quick updates, contests, and more!
Join your school's Rural Medicine Interest Group for SRPC information specific to your medical school



Our Committee

As a subset of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, we are a committee of medical students from across Canada collectively committed to supporting student interest in rural and remote medicine.  Our aim is to increase the visibility of and engagement in student-relevant rural and remote medicine initiatives nation-wide.

Our committee includes student representatives from medical schools across Canada. Committee members contribute to subcommittees working on specific initiatives, as student representatives on SRPC Physician Committees and as liaisons between their medical school communities and the SRPC.

Our growing committee includes liaisons from the schools listed below.

Check below to see which of your classmates represents your school.

Don’t see your school on the list? It is our goal to have representation from each of the 17 schools across the country, but we still need to fill some of those spots!  Contact us at chairstudents@srpc.ca if you know someone who could fill one of these vacancies.

School Liaisons

  • Alberta: Graeme Battigelli (2023)

  • UBC (South): Maya Venkataraman (2024)

  • Calgary: Jesse McDonald (2023)

  • Dalhousie: Hannah Price (2024)
  • Manitoba: Victoria Rust (2024)
  • McMaster: Will Pereira (2025)
  • McGill: Robyn Lee (2026)
  • MUN: Rebecca Tizzard (2025)
  • NOSM: Taylor Hammond (2024)
  • Ottawa: Emma Hennessey (2024)
  • Queens: Karen Lemon (2026)
  • Saskatchewan: Lauren Klammer (2023)
  • Toronto: Parker McNabb (2025)
  • Western: Tina Chen (2024)
(last updated Dec. 2022)

Our committee doesn’t stop there!  We have members working on numerous projects.  For more information, contact your school liaison above, join the student Listserv and get connected with us via social media!

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Upcoming Events

Visit the SRPC Events  / Other industry events / Online Events

Do you know of an event that should be added to the calendar?  Send us an email with the details.

Indigenous Health Series

SRPC's Indigenous Health Committee is in the process of developing a series of virtual, educational events to bring awareness and provide learning opportunities for all SRPC members about Indigenous health education. 

The presentations, "Jordan, Joyce, and Justice: Decolonizing Healthcare for Indigenous Children and Youth", and "Moving Towards Cultural Safety, Reconciliation, and Anti-racism" can be found at https://srpc.ca/indigenous_health

Stay tuned for future presentations! 

Annual Rural & Remote Conference

Each year, the Rural and Remote course, organized by SRPC, offers a wonderful opportunity for medical students to learn about rural medicine. Register this Fall for the 30th Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Course April 20-222, 2023 in Niagara Falls Ontario.

We hope these slideshows can inspire some students about the future and motivate others to brainstorm while they have time. These are not meant to stress you out, just mix things up during a tumultuous time. Enjoy, and please let us know if you have questions or feedback. 

CaRMS Primer:  Tips for preparing for CaRMS as a rural applicant

Rural Elective Across Canada:  A sampling of electives, including one from each province!

What is R&R and Why Should I Attend?

On Nov 18 and 27, 2023 we hosted an info session titled 'What is R&R and Why Should I Attend?' If you couldn't join us, the webinar recording is now available. If you're unsure about what to expect or how to receive funding to subsidize the conference cost, we invite you to watch the info session:

Students of Rural Medicine Blog

This blog is designed for Canadian medical learners to reflect on their rural and remote experiences, share stories with others, and learn about the ways that the our national network of peers are engaging with rural medical practice and community. Click the link below to view the blog!

SRPC Student BLOG PAGE

Have a story to share? Send in your submission here.

If you have any questions, reach out to us at srpcstudentoutreach@gmail.com

Current Initiatives 

We have been expanding our SRPC Student Committee team recently and are working to form connections with all Canadian medical schools. Below are some of the exciting projects that we are currently working on!

SRPC Mentorship Program

If you want to be an SRPC Mentee and need help looking for a Rural Mentor.
Make sure your SRPC membership is up to date and find out how to get started on the SRPC-Mentor-Program page.

Mentees and Mentors are required to be SRPC members to participate in this program. (Join here)

LGBTQ2S+ Health in Rural Canada

The LGBTQ2S+ population in rural Canada is under-serviced and under-researched. This infographic provides an introduction to the health and wellbeing of this community, including demographics, risk factors, and lots of resources!  Visit the LGBTQ2S+ resource page for the PDF copy and quick links to the referenced organizations. 


Social Isolation handout, designed for the general public

Click on Image to print the PDF

ENGLISH  FRANCAIS

Rural Residency Catalogue

Are you interested in applying to rural family medicine? Look no further! Check out the annual Rural Residency Catalogue for 2023 created by the Society of Rural Physicians Student Committee, which compiles information on rural sites all across Canada.

We have included a google map so you can see where each program is located, check out the links on page 2 of the catalogue. Also find testimonials and FAQ from real residents attending many of these programs. Best of luck with CaRMS!

Our student members have worked hard to keep this document as up to date as possible by contacting CaRMs and every program coordinator, but can sometimes miss new sites as they are created. A survey is linked on page 2 for any feedback you may have! 

While this has been developed with input from the residency programs, it is not designed in any way to replace the information that is available via CaRMS. If there is a contradiction between information presented in the catalogue and that presented elsewhere, then the information from CaRMS or directly from the school should be taken as correct.

The National Rural Electives Handbook

We want to give a huge thank you to Anchaleena Mandal for making this fantastic resource for students a reality. She worked hard to put it together before her residency.

But this handbook is not just a one-time thing. It's a living document that can be updated in real-time by the Student Committee. That means students will always have access to the most up-to-date version. Plus, they can choose to download it in their preferred document format.

Anchaleena, your hard work has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for going above and beyond for our students!

Access Handbook Here

Additionally - a rural filter for the AFMC portal is coming! (Once visiting electives are opened again). In lieu of visiting electives, check out the National Events Calendar to learn about residency programs by joining virtual info sessions, resident academic days and meetings with the Program Directors.

Rural Outreach & Mentorship Initiative (ROMI)

The Rural Outreach & Mentorship Initiative (ROMI) is now recruiting mentees and mentors for the 2023-2024 school year! ROMI offers free one-on-one mentorship for high school students from rural communities interested in exploring a career in medicine.

We match grade 11-12 students from rural or remote areas with current medical students who are passionate about supporting rural youth. We also offer monthly virtual presentations and panel discussions on various topics related to careers in medicine and healthcare.

Interested? Sign-up by October 31, 2023 using the links below or email us at romi.mentorship@gmail.com for more information!

High-school students: [sign up here]

Medical students: [sign up here]

Contests and Awards

Rural Research Poster Presentation

Each year, a rural research poster session is hosted at the SRPC's Rural & Remote Conference. Poster proposals must include a clear research purpose, objective, methodology, summary of the research results and conclusion. We will judge the posters on rural relevance, research methodology, impact, clarity of presentation and your ability to answer questions regarding your research. Posters are restricted to a width of 4 feet and a height of 3 feet.

SRPC Students will have the opportunity of being awarded the best student research poster. The winner of best research poster will win the equivalent of $500 credited towards attending the conference.

RULES: 
  • The entrant must be a member of the SRPC
  • The deadline for submission is December 31st each year.
  • Format: Microsoft Word
  • Please submit your proposal to submissions@srpc.ca

Medical Student Essay Contest


Each year, the SRPC Nomination and Awards Committee hosts a rural essay contest for medical residents. Students are asked to submit a self-reflection from their elective in rural medicine. 

The winners will win the equivalent of $500 (students) credited towards the cost of attending the SRPC's Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Course, and the essays will be considered for publication in the (CJRM) Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine.

STUDENTS : Please send us a self-reflection from your elective in rural medicine.

  • The entrant must be a member of the SRPC.  
  • Length: 500 - 1000 words
  • Deadline for submission: December 31st each year.
  • The contest opens on September 1st each year.
  • Submit your essay to: contest@srpc.ca

Rural Student Leadership Award

The Rural Student Leadership Awards are presented to students and residents in good academic standing who have demonstrated a sustained interest in rural medicine. Find more information about application/nomination requirements here. Cash prizes of $250 will be awarded to the two student winners each year. 

Submit your application/nomination to nominations@srpc.ca

Deadline for submission: January 31st each year. 

Entrant must be a member of the SRPC. 

Find all the details on the SRPC Award Page.

Past Initiatives


Rural & Isolated Support Endeavor (RISE)

The Rural & Isolated Support Endeavor (RISE) was created by a working group of the SRPC Student Committee with the goal to emotionally support clients who live in rural areas across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our initiative partners medical students with clients in rural communities across Canada to provide weekly check-ins via phone and social connection.

The RISE program concluded in the spring of 2021. Thank you to all the RISE program volunteers!