Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives

Connecting preceptors, students, researchers, healthcare professionals and rural communities.

Engage Communities.

Inspire Social Accountability.

Create Opportunities.

At DLRI, we believe in providing quality healthcare to the people of rural Alberta. We strive to accomplish this goal by fostering and sustaining meaningful relationships between medical educators, healthcare professionals in training , individuals and families living in rural communities. Our commitment to education, research and continuous improvement results in the recruitment and retention of dedicated and skilled rural physicians.

Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) is an innovative educational partnership between the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge aimed at enhancing medical education and healthcare in Southern Alberta by providing cutting-edge training to undergraduate medical students.

UCLIC is a one year clerkship option for 3rd year medical students interested in learning medicine in a generalist environment. Students are based in a family practice in a rural or regional community and learn the generalist specialties in an integrated fashion by following their patients from the clinic to specialty consults, surgery, delivery, etc. This longitudinal approach allows students to develop an appreciation for the natural history of illness and an understanding of the importance of continuity of care and relational continuity.