Medicine Hat

It's really hard to choose what I like because there are so many things that I like and appreciate about doing residency here. Firstly, I love the community and environment I am in. I really feel like I'm supported, and that the community is built for you to be successful. Everyone, from our coordinators to our preceptors, are very helpful and do their best to make sure you have what you need to be successful. I also really love the smaller environment. Everyone is so friendly, and you don't feel lost. The preceptors really teach, and I feel like I am learning a lot. They are also open and will answer your questions, provide you with resources, and give you the opportunity to practice your procedural skills.

It's not so hidden, but the people are one of the biggest gems. I've learned so much in my time here from everyone. During one of my rotations, any time I had a free break, I would ask the nurses to teach me a skill that perform all the time, but I wasn't too confident in. My preceptors have always been welcoming and I never felt shy or afraid to ask them questions, even ones that I thought may be a bit silly. They supported my learning goals and would give me advice and tips. Another gem is that the program is so customizable. If there is any experience you want, it can be arranged. The program director, the coordinators, and pretty much willing to work with you to ensure you get that experience. I also love that we are a small program. We have a WhatsApp group and the R2s help us out and give us tips. They answer any questions we may have. It's nice coming into the hospital and running into your fellow resident and getting a chance to catch up with them. Lastly, I love how small the city is. Medicine Hat has everything you need and is big enough that you can find something to do but is also small enough that you can get anywhere within a 15-minute drive. After having lived in Calgary where you can spend 50 minutes getting from one end of the city to another, even when there is no traffic, I really appreciate this.

I definitely feel like I am exposed to a wide variety of presentations. Every day, there's something new...and even the cases you feel confident in and present themselves in slightly different ways than you imagined. More importantly, it's really about the experience. You pretty much get to try and do everything. I feel like learning here is really providing me with the opportunity to learn the skills that I need to become a great family physician.

Yes, I do. I have time to do things that I like, exercise, and still read up on things that I'm not super confident on or familiar with. There's enough work to challenge you and to help you learn but you are supported in every way so that you don't feel burned out.