Research
As a cross cutting platform in the Cumming School of Medicine, DLRI has contributed to the "Eyes High" research goal by publishing four to six peer reviewed publications per year on top of the national and international presentations made. DLRI has evaluated and considered the impact of rural rotations on learner well-being, impact on career choice, performance in residency and eventual practice location as the group strives to respond to the needs of Alberta's underserved population: rural and remote communities.
Rural Health Research Funding Competition
Every spring, DLRI puts out our Rural Health Research Funding Competition. By applying for this competition, you could receive up to $5,000 in funding for your project!
Applications for 2020 are already complete, but please keep an eye out in Spring of 2021 for our next competition.
If you have further questions, contact us at dlri@ucalgary.ca
Areas of study
Check out our latest areas of exploration
Perspectives of Urban First Year Medical Students in Choosing Practice Location
There is a chronic shortage of physicians in rural areas in Canada. Medical students of rural origin are likely to establish a rural practice, but little is known about how students from an urban background determine their eventual practice location. The current study gathered data about first year students’ past experiences and plans for future medical practice.
The Impact of Rural Rotations on Urban Based Postgraduate Learners
The chronic shortage of physicians working in rural areas is a global problem. A common strategy by medical educational institutions to address this issue is the rural rotation. Canadian rural based family medicine programs include a minimum 6 months of postgraduate rural exposure, with urban based residency programs recommended to provide at least 8 weeks of rural training. Despite these strategies, there has been little improvement in the distribution of rural physicians. This review assesses the published evidence for the impact of rural rotations on urban based postgraduate learners.
Recruitment and retention of physicians in rural Alberta: Spousal perspective
Students often have research questions on arrival to the CSM. Lana Myroniuk had one about the impact of rural practice on the spouse or partner of the doctor. After creating a survey and presenting these findings at FMF, she spearheaded a mixed methods research project funded and supported by DLRI. As a first year resident she was a first author on a peer reviewed publication presented in the Journal of Rural and Remote Health.