Dr. Phil Hansen was recently recognized by Dalhousie University with the prestigious Preceptor of the Year Award for the province of Prince Edward Island. This award was recently presented at the Annual 2006 Faculty Development Workshop hosted by the Dalhousie University Department of Family Medicine in Halifax.
This award is given annually to one family physician in each of the Maritime provinces in recognition of outstanding training of medical students.
Health Minister Chester Gillan advised that health educators such as Dr. Hansen make it possible to provide training opportunities in Prince Edward Island to teach and guide medical students throughout their clinical rotation.
As part of the government’s enhanced physician recruitment plan, family practice training opportunities permitted 44 clinical rotations for medical students in 2005.
“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 Gillan. “We can provide medical students and residents with a good understanding of the practice and lifestyle opportunities PEI can offer.”
Dr. George Carruthers, Site Director for the PEI Medical Education Program, advised that feedback from students and residents on their educational experience in PEI has been extremely positive.
Since January of this year, 11 medical students have worked as clinical clerks, job shadowing a family doctor for approximately four to six weeks. Medical students have participated in the program from Dalhousie University, Memorial University, University of Western Ontario, University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto and Saba University – a medical school located in the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean.
“The leadership, dedication, and teaching ability of physicians like Dr. Hansen make it possible to provide strong training opportunities on Prince Edward Island,” said Dr. Carruthers.
Several other Island family physicians also teach and guide medical students through family medicine clinical rotations on PEI including Dr. George Carruthers, Dr. Ken Coady, Dr. Randy MacKinnon, Dr. Alfred Morais, Dr. David Reid, Dr. Peter MacKean, Dr. Cyril Moyse, Dr. Andrew Wohglemut, Dr. Lana Beth Barkhouse, Dr. Adrianna Veer, Dr. Paul Berrow, Dr. Ed White, Dr. Trina Stewart, Dr. Declan Rowan, Dr. Frank Estey and Dr. Kathy McNally.