[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mdphoto2.jpg” caption=”Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) has given McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine the prestigious Keith Award.”]Rural doctors have given McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine a prestigious award as the medical school that best selects and trains physicians who choose to practice in rural communities.

The Keith Award is bestowed by the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC).

Trina Larsen-Soles, president of the physician society said: “We are very proud of the achievements of McMaster University. In a time where the medical schools are producing more and more city specialists, McMaster is one of the schools that has been able to hold the line by selecting students and training doctors for where they are most needed.”

The latest figures released by the SRPC show that despite earlier gains, rural Canada is again losing ground and rural doctors. There are 155 fewer doctors working in rural Canada than in 2002, although more than one in five Canadians live in rural areas.

John Kelton, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, including the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, and Vice-President, McMaster University, said that McMaster has always had a higher proportion of students interested in family medicine than other schools.

McMaster currently offers over 20 positions in rural and underserved communities to first and second year family medicine residents and these programs are very popular.

“McMaster is encouraging medical students to gain rural experience,” he said, adding that a new program called McMaster Community and Rural Education program (Mac-CARE), will give undergraduate students the opportunity to complete their MD programme in a rural setting.

“Mac-CARE will also place family medicine and specialty residents in underserved communities. Internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine and surgery residents will all increase their exposure to under serviced areas through the Mac-CARE program.”

Kelton also said, “Studies show students often stay and practice where they learn, and doctors stay in their rural communities longer if they teach. We also believe that communities that teach have an easier time recruiting new doctors, and this would be a tremendous boost for the under serviced areas around Hamilton.”

The winner of the Keith award was selected by looking at the alma mater of all rural docs in 1998 and again in 2004. Practice location was taken from the Canadian Medical Association database.

Second, and third place winners were the University of Ottawa and University of Manitoba.