This summer, two pharmacy students travelled to northern communities to complete their experiential education rotations.
Kathleen Klippenstein and David Fuss, both in their third years, travelled to Thompson and Norway House respectively as pandemic restrictions were lifted just in time for their arrival.
Thompson General Hospital provided a unique opportunity as the centre provides care to a large portion of northern Manitoba and requires diverse services for their patients. David and Kathleen were put through the rigorous pace of a hospital pharmacist and had a wide variety of experiences.
Their preceptor, Jennifer Thackeray, made sure they experienced as much as possible in the two-week rotation. Then, off to Norway House Cree Nation near the northern part of Lake Winnipeg, where Norway House Pharmacy provides community pharmacy services, as well as support for the hospital pharmacy.
A high volume of prescriptions gave them many opportunities to engage with patients. A special thanks to preceptors Mayank Patel and Robert Becker for having students provide support to the Norway House Cree Nation community.
The students were also able to visit the site of the communities’ future Norway House Cree Nation Health Centre of Excellence. They also experienced the challenges of living within a remote community including high food prices, stable internet and cell service, items often taken for granted in Winnipeg.
Both Kathleen and David had a wonderful experience that they were able to share with their classmates and appreciated the northern hospitality provided to them.
“I have been so grateful for the opportunities provided to me to work and learn as a pharmacy student up north,” said Kathleen. “Completing my third year rotations in Thompson and Norway House was an experience I was looking forward to during this past year, and I am thankful to all of the people who made it possible, for both myself and fellow student David, to complete our training in the north this summer. It was an amazing learning experience and I would recommend it to other students if they are given the opportunity to do so.”
The college would like to thank RBC Experiential Learning Travel Initiative for financial support of this program.
