Lethbridge City Council is marking Alberta Rural Health Week by ensuring a warm welcome for the inaugural class of students in the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) at the University of Lethbridge.
“This is an important moment for our city and our region,” said Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “We want to welcome these students and recognize the outstanding effort of local physicians and community members who helped build this program. Many of these doctors have been doing this work on top of their regular clinical work to care for the residents of this community.”
The Southern Alberta Medical Program is an innovative partnership between the U of L and the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, established with funding from the Government of Alberta.
It’s one of two Rural Medical Education Program training centres in Alberta and will allow students to earn a U of C medical degree, while completing their education in Lethbridge and rural communities across southern Alberta.
Students in the program will train alongside other healthcare professionals, gaining hands-on experience in community and rural settings. The program is designed to enrol learners who are more likely to practice in rural and regional communities after graduation.
“By creating a welcoming environment and building strong connections to the community from day one, City Council has set these future doctors, and our region, up for long-term success,” added Hyggen.
Several physicians who live and work in southern Alberta have taken on leadership roles, guiding the development of SAMP, bringing deep regional knowledge and lived experience to the program.
Administration has been directed to work with post-secondary institutions, healthcare partners and community stakeholders to coordinate the welcome and recognition activities in a fiscally responsible manner, in accordance with City policies and procurement practices.
The approved Official Business Motion allocates up to $10,000 from Council contingency funds. The funds will support a formal welcome and community recognition initiative for the program’s first cohort of students, who will begin their studies in Lethbridge in July.
