Dr. Grant Matheson was recently recognized by Dalhousie University Medical School with the prestigious "Preceptor of the Year Award."
The award is presented to one family physician in the Maritime region recognized for outstanding training of medical students and residents.
Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem advised that health educators such as Dr. Matheson make it possible to provide training opportunities in Prince Edward Island to teach and guide medical students throughout their clinical rotation.
As part of Government's enhanced physician recruitment plan, family practice training opportunities permitted 12 medical students and residents to do part of their training in PEI last year.
"Our ability to recruit more family doctors to PEI is greatly enhanced by enabling prospective physician recruits to spend time working throughout our province directly with Island physicians," said Minister Ballem. "We can provide medical students and residents with a good understanding of the practice and lifestyle opportunities PEI can offer."
Dr. George Carruthers, Provincial Medical Education Coordinator, advised that feedback from students on their educational experience in PEI has been positive.
Over the past year, we had six medical students work as clinical clerks, job shadowing a family doctor for approximately four to six weeks," said Dr Carruthers. "We also had six residents, who are graduates from medical school, perform a six to eight week family practice rotation on PEI. Residents are more directly involved with the patient than clinical clerks but are still under the direct supervision of a family physician."
"The leadership, dedication, and teaching ability of physicians like Dr. Matheson make it possible to provide good training opportunities on Prince Edward Island," said Dr Carruthers.
Dr. Grant Matheson graduated from Dalhousie University in 1991 with his M.D. and received his Canadian College of Family Practitioners certification in 1993. He practiced for five years in Montague from 1993 to 1998 before relocating to Charlottetown to practice family medicine at the Parkdale Medical Centre. Dr. Matheson has been teaching medical students for the past six years.
Several other Island physicians also teach and guide medical students and residents through clinical rotations in family medicine including: Dr P.R. Hansen, Dr. George Carruthers, Dr. Mireille Lecours, Dr. Randy MacKinnon, Dr. Alfred Morais, Dr. D.B. Reid, Dr. G.W. Slysz, Dr. Janet Baker, Dr. David Stewart, Dr. Peter MacKean, Dr. Charles Duffy, Dr. Scott Cameron, and Dr. C. Moyse.