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Huron Expositor, 2007-12-19, Page 30Page 30 The Huron Expositor • December 19, 2007 News Shepherd wins Healthkick recruitment award Susan Hundertmark Dr. Carolin Shepherd is hoping the Healthkick Huron award she won recently will bring awareness to the need in the community for more healthcare professionals. "And, I'm hoping it will show the potential for some fulfilling careers in healthcare as well," she says. Shepherd was one of five Huron County doctors to be recognized this year by Healthkick Huron during the first year the organization fund- ed recruitment awards. "The awards are part of our ambassador program," says Healthkick manager Laura Overholt, who adds a workshop for Huron County's five recruitment committees earlier this year led to the idea of offering awards for local people active in the recruitment of healthcare professionals. Healthkick Huron is a three-year project that is funded by the province and local organizations to respond to the shortage of health- care professionals in the region. The six -pronged project, whose first-time funding is coming to an end, aimed to encourage high school students to consider a healthcare career, provide experience for youth at local health facilities, provide nursing training for the local work- force, create temporary work place- ments for_ recent health graduates, make the area attractive to interna- tional medical grads and create community ambassador teams to promote the area. Shepherd's award recognized her role as the "physician champion" of a MedQuest camp in Seaforth held over the past two years for high school students interested in a career in healthcare. Overholt says Shepherd's partici- pation in the MedQuest camp "has 3-foliday Collection Schedule The Bluewater Recycling .Association and its entire staff would like to wish everyone a lvlerry Christmas and a happy New year. During this holiday season, we postpone the regular collection of waste and recyclables in order to allow our staff to savour this joyous hoCi ay season with their family. Since Christmas and New years Day are on a Tuesday this year, there will- not be any collection on Tuesday, December 25th and Tuesday, January ist. An alternate correction will- occur on Saturday, December 29'6 for all those normally corrected -on those dates. Wednesday, December 26th is a regular correction day for us except for the Town of Goderich and Seaforth, and the `Village of Blyth which wilt not be collected until -Wednesday, January 2nd Please ensure that your material -is set out by 7:ooam as the driver may be there earlier than usuaC The regular collection schedule wilt resume onWednesday, January 2nd We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns please cal l-800-265-9799 ext 228. • submitted photo Gwen Devereaux presents the Healthkick award to Dr. Carolin Shepherd at the recent BIA Christmas party. been greatly appreciated." "She helped organize the camp, mentored the medical students who were camp counsellors and was a presenter to the high school stu- dents. She's been able to develop an interest in students in rural medi- cine and she's so worthy for recogni- tion," says Overholt. The award included a framed cer- tificate and a monetary award of $500 towards professional develop- ment activities that would help with recruitment and retention of health- care profession- als. "It's up to the recipient what they want to do - there could be a lot of flexibility there," says Overholt. Shepherd says her involve- ment in the MedQuest camp was "a wonderful experience." She enjoyed working with high school stu- dents who were "bright and moti- vated" and with medical students who were able to experience rural medicine during their time in Seaforth and area. "There's a huge shortage of doc- tors and nurses and exposure to those careers at this age (Grades 10 and 11) is really important. It's a stage that's so pivotal because if they're not getting their maths and sciences, they can't enter these fields," says Shepherd. Since statistically, rural students don't traditional- ly pursue med- ical careers, Shepherd says it makes sense to encourage them to look at health- care careers when it's more likely they'll return to practise in a rural area. "Anyone can do it if they're determined - it's a matter of want- ing it. And, it's so exciting to see their (the high school students') potential at the camp," she says. Shepherd says she also wants to stress how much sup- port the MedQuest camp received from the whole community in Seaforth and Huron County. "Everywhere we went, there were people wanting to help us out and sup- port us. The com- munity has been great," she says. Seaforth Community Medical Centre Health & Wellness Centre of Excellence Owned & Managed by Seaforth Community Hospital Trust 28 Centennial Drive, Seaforth NOK 1 WO 519-527-1770 Holiday Dec. 24th 8:30am to 12:00noon Dec. 25th closed Dec. 26th closed Dec. 27th closed Dec. 29th closed Dec. 31st 8: 30am to 3: OOpm Jan. 1st closed May all the joy the season brings be yours now and in the coming year. Season's greetings from all of us at the Seaforth Community Centre.