Thunder Bay Plays Host To Huge Medical Conference
by Scott A. Sumner
The hotels are sold out, flights into Thunder Bay were hard to come by and the excitement level was high as 882 medial delegates from over 50 countries round the world converged on Thunder Bay to learn more about themselves and what they can offer others.
“ There are five medical organizations that are known world wide and we are fortunate to have our Dean, Dr Roger Strasser who is a member of all the organizations. The main theme of these organizations is around rural health education with other mandates as well. The five organizations traditionally have their own conferences but this one event in Thunder Bay is bringing all those conferences together into one,” said Sue Berry, NOSM Assistant Dean of Integrated Clinical Learning. “ Many of the participants are from over 150 different health schools around the world. We have 300 learners, 200 of our own NOSM students plus 100 from elsewhere as well as researchers and clinicians. Thunder Bay is an ideal location to hold this event as we are the newest medical school in Canada and have a similar mandate as others who are socially accountable for the regions they serve with leading edge technology.”
Everyday the event will feature speakers in the morning and afternoon from around the world. After these sessions there are workshops and 10-minute presentations on research activities. Also delegates present their research and unique activities like Pearls (personally arranged learning sessions) occur where the audience helps with answers. There is an incredible expertise here in Thunder Bay this week according to Sue Berry who noted there are 17 medical schools in Canada and we have 75% of them represented here.
“ We have taken over most of the hotels rooms in Thunder Bay and the flights are sold out here for several days as we found out with one delegate who was trying to get in after a missed flight and had to wait two days. This event highlights the NOSM as one of the younger medical schools making a difference in Canada. It is a thrill that 882 people wanted to come to Thunder Bay to see the community,”smiles Sue Berry.
The event had local community site visits to different organizations here to learn how we service the local economy. There were also conferences on the move to travel in NW Ontario. “ On Thursday we have two coach buses leaving for Sudbury. One will be travelling the north route to the Lake Helen Reserve and then on to Hearst and Cochrane ending up in Sudbury. The other will go along Lake Superior, stopping in Nipigon and leaning about our Digital Imaging System across the North - telemedicine and then on to Wawa and Manitoulin Island and then to Sudbury. We also have delegates going on 1-day workshops in Sioux Lookout and some going to Marathon. There are also tours around Thunder Bay.” said Berry. “ The delegates to this conference are from all over the world and in some cases flights can be over $2000 with the total cost to them to attend over $4 to $5000.”
