Physician Rural Externship Program
Gain Rewarding Experiences in Rural Saskatchewan!
Explore rural and/or remote communities in Saskatchewan while immersing yourself in a hands-on family medicine learning experience by participating in the Physician Rural Externship Program (PREP)!
PREP exposes University of Saskatchewan (USask) medical students, between their second and third year, to medical practices outside of Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and their bedroom communities of Balgonie, Clavet, Delisle, Emerald Park, Langham, Lumsden, Martensville, Pense, Pilot Butte, Warman or White City. It is an excellent opportunity for you to apply your clinical knowledge, establish contacts, and learn what rural practice is all about.
Over the past 14 years PREP has seen 377 USask medical students take part in placements across 44 rural and remote communities in Saskatchewan. Year-after-year students respond with positive feedback that the experience was more than they anticipated and gave them superb access to clinical skill development helping to prepare them for their clerkships and excite them about family medicine practice.
The program is a collaborative initiative between the Saskatchewan Health Authority/saskdocs, the Saskatchewan Medical Association and the University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine.
“It was a worthwhile experience! I was able to better understand the demographic and dynamics of practicing in a smaller community as well as health problems common to the town. I was able to understand and appreciate the scope of practice that rural family physicians have as they often take up many roles. It was eye-opening to see how much paperwork needs to be completed behind the scenes to ensure continuity of care.”
PREP Participant, 2024
Program Requirements for 2025
USask undergraduate medical students between their second and third year of study can apply to participate in PREP.
The recommended placement length is at least four weeks. Start dates can be as early as May 26, 2025, and end dates can be until start of the 2025-26 school year (July 21, 2025). Consideration may be made to accommodate a shorter timeline (minimum 2 weeks) upon request.
Criminal Record Checks may be required by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
Extern’s Function
The externship is valuable experience in a clinical setting. The preceptor permits students, under direct supervision, to do only those procedures that the preceptor believes them to be capable of doing safely. Students will have the opportunity to shadow more complicated or advanced procedures.
Salary and Living Allowance
In 2025 externs will be provided:
- a salary of $500/week (subject to applicable deductions (e.g. EI, CPP, etc.))
- a cost-of-living allowance of $250/week (non-taxable income, provided by the SMA)
Externs are responsible for finding their own housing/accommodations.
Evaluation
Following completion of the externship, each student will receive a survey to evaluate their experience, which must be completed as part of the program requirements. Each student is required to complete this survey. The supervising physician will also be required to complete a brief evaluation of student performance. With consent from both parties, evaluations may be shared for future learning experiences.
COVID-19 Information
Clinical Patient Interactions:
- Medical students are expected to exercise personal and professional responsibility by following all Public Health COVID-19 related orders.
- Pre-clerkship students, during clinical learning experiences, will not see any patients or standardized patients confirmed positive for COVID-19.
Cancellation:
If circumstances require that PREP be cancelled prior to the start of the externships, no weekly payments will be made.
If circumstances require PREP to be cancelled at any time after the externship has commenced, or the student or supervising physician have begun but cannot complete the program for reasons that are outside of their control (including isolation due to COVID-19), the student and supervising physician will continue to receive their weekly payments.
Click the link below to apply for PREP!
Applications are now closed for 2025.