Rural Rotations

In order to encourage rural practice and to provide a positive experience in rural Alberta, the RPAP promotes the concept of medical students and residents taking part of their training in a rural or regional community. With RPAP funding and support both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta encourage medical students and residents (Family Medicine and Royal College) to do mandatory and elective rotations with rural and regional preceptors.

The RPAP Rural Rotations program does NOT cover elective rotations in the following communities: Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon, Leduc, Calgary, Cochrane and Airdrie. And remember that you may require a vehicle while in the community.

For Alberta medical students and residents, the RPAP provides funding for accommodation and travel according to its RPAP Rural Rotations Reimbursement Guidelines REVISED 28 July 2009 and  Accommodation Information 17Aug2009.pdf (See Policies and Procedures under the Publications and Forms section of this web site), and an honorarium for the preceptors.  Expense claim forms can be found on our Forms web page.

The preceptors in each of the training sites have a direct link to the university they are affiliated with and are supported by the respective university through periodic on-site visits by faculty and preceptor development initiatives. In addition, preceptors receive an honoraria through RPAP and benefit from RPAP preceptor development and Enrichment Training initiatives.

Information on the available accommodation may be found by logging into the Accommodation section with Username: accommodation, and Password: accommodation.

Further information about rural education experiences (mandatory rotations and electives) for medical students and Family Medicine and Royal College residents may be obtained from:

University of Calgary
Rural Initiatives Program
Telephone: 1-877-466-4257
Fax: (403) 210-3986
E-mail: ruralmed@ucalgary.ca

University of Alberta
Office of Rural and Regional Health
Telephone: 1-866-492-0678
Fax: (780) 248-1163
E-mail: Rural&Regionalhealth@med.ualberta.ca

Out-of-Province Medical Students

Out-of-province undergraduate medical students in their clerkship year(s) of training interested in a medical elective with Alberta physician preceptors must first contact the electives office at the University of Calgary (elective@ucalgary.ca) or the University of Alberta (electives@med.ualberta.ca) to complete the required undergraduate elective application forms.

The University elective office will ensure communication with the student’s home university, will ensure that the student has medical malpractice insurance and will arrange for the student’s registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Canadian students may apply for electives anytime during their clerkship years. The decision to accept international students rests with the universities.

For more information as to procedures at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary, please contact the corresponding electives office.