CORNWALL, Ontario – Caroline Trieman liked Cornwall so much the first time around, she decided to come back.
The third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa has been shadowing doctors at the Cornwall Community Hospital, learning about everything from general surgery to easing aches and pains as part of a rural rotation component all her classmates must complete.
But it was two years ago, during what’s known as a ‘Week in the Country’ when Trieman got her first taste of practicing medicine in the Seaway City.
She and a slew of other young med students spent a week here, to see what life as a doctor in a small city would be like.
When Trieman had the opportunity to return here for her rotation work, she jumped at the chance.
Cornwall surgeon Dr. Reji Menon said it comes as no surprise.
“We’ve been the number one requested community,” she said, but then stopped short when asked why that is. “We do a good job, I suppose.”
But Trieman believes she has the answer.
“One of the reasons is the staff and the community have been so welcoming,” she said, and then added, “It makes us feel valued as students. As a first-year student you often feel like you’re stuck in a classroom. I knew I would it would be a good learning experience here.”
Indeed. She has “scrubbed in” on gallbladder surgeries, watched as Menon removed breast cancer lumps and has assisted in procedures like colonoscopies.
“When the interesting cases come along…you can get right in there,” said Trieman.
Menon added the hospital is branching out its work to assist first-year med students when they visit Cornwall. Some 14 students a year take part in the ‘Week in the Country’ program and the hospital is reaching out to area high schools to get even more young people eyeing a career in medicine.
“This way we are getting a message out to the parents as well,” she said.
