Rural Week for Medical Students
Photo Credit: Travel Manitoba
Rural Week is a one-week learning experience for all first-year medical students enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. Rural Week provides an opportunity for the students to get first-hand experience and exposure to not just rural and northern medicine but rural and northern life. It is an opportunity for participating communities to showcase themselves and promote the opportunities and benefits of rural and northern medicine.
Rural Week is coordinated by the Department of Family Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine in conjunction with the Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office.
Rural Week Details
Rural Week is compulsory for all first-year University of Manitoba – Faculty of Medicine Students.
The information you provide will be forwarded to both the preceptor and the Visit Coordinator of the community to which you are assigned.
To properly organize student travel to/from communities it is very important for us know if you will have access to a vehicle and will be willing to transport other members of your assigned group. For communities within driving distance, the planning committee will assure at least one individual has access to a car for transportation. Pre-authorized drivers will be reimbursed a set mileage rate based on the return distance from Winnipeg to your community.
Timeline
| Detail | Location | Date |
| Attend: Rural Week Introduction Meeting I | Apotex 050 | January 23, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m. |
| Registration Process | https://forms.office.com/r/uGWJ1dFRen | Deadline: January 30, 2026 |
| Download & Review Student Guide | View the student guide here | Ongoing reference to print and bring with you |
| Review Rural Week Community/Student Assignments | Will be Emailed | April 2026 |
| Meet with other students going to community and discuss transportation issues | ||
| Contact Visit Coordinator | Immediately upon receipt of assignment. Will be updated as we confirm sites. | |
| Attend Rural Week Information Meeting II | Frederic Gaspard Theatre | April 28, 2026 12:00 p.m. |
| Provide UGME with driver details | Undergraduate Medical Education Office, | |
| Arrival | Rural Week (May 25-29): Arrive Sunday, May 24 Rural Week (June 1-5): Arrive Sunday, May 31 If going to a fly in community, you will be given a flight itinerary | |
| Attend Rural Week | Assigned Community | May 25-29 or June 1-5 |
| Preceptor Evaluation of Student | See Appendix 2. Prior to departure arrange to have the preceptor complete and discuss the Preceptor Evaluation of Student form with you. Hand in at wind-up or have the preceptor complete the survey below: Preceptor Evaluation of Student | |
| FINAL STUDENT SURVEY | Student Evaluation of Rural Week – Link will be emailed to students | |
| Departure | May 29 or June 5 |
Community Placements
You will randomly be placed with at least 1-6 other students to travel to an assigned community in rural or northern Manitoba. Group size is determined by size of community and availability of preceptors.
Each community in Manitoba is unique. You may experience hosts from a variety of cultural & ethnic backgrounds. Some people you will meet may not be familiar with cultural or ethnic backgrounds other than their own. Be aware that some communities may have limited or no access to internet.
Community profiles consist of contact information and provide a brief overview of local demographics, interesting features, and employment sources. Feel free to request additional information from your Visit Coordinator.
Preceptors
The student is expected to spend the majority of time with his/her family medicine preceptor(s). The student will go with the preceptor on morning rounds, attend at the office, and be on call with the preceptor. The student should have the opportunity to do histories and physical examinations, under the supervision of the family physician. Student clinical experience will be at the discretion of the family medicine preceptor. Throughout the week student may spend time with more than one preceptor. Preceptor Evaluation of Student Required
Visit Coordinator
The Visit Coordinator plays an important role in educating the student about the community, lifestyle, and various aspects of rural life in general. The Visit Coordinator will provide accommodation details, assist with schedules & help arrange extracurricular activities. During Rural Week the Visit Coordinator is the “go-to” person in the assigned community.
ONE person from the group must initiate communication with the visit coordinator. Students will contact the Visit Coordinator to discuss general expectations & special requirements for stay within the assigned community as well as set a time and place for the group to meet upon arrival in the community. Check with the Visit Coordinator regarding the hours and availability of restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations in your community. Accommodation details (see below).
Itinerary
In early May, Rural Week Information Meeting II will take place. During this meeting students will receive information regarding their preceptor, accommodations, and community placement. Kathy Risk will arrange travel to northern & remote communities. Travel itineraries will be provided to those students.
Community Coordinators
Communities
Below we have provided information that will be valuable for you to review prior to going to your assigned Rural Week Community. Contact your visit coordinator if you require additional information.
If you experience any difficulty with the information below, please contact Ashley Shaw ([email protected]) as soon as possible.
More information
Accommodations
Accommodations (maximum 5 nights per individual student) will be provided at no cost to the student.
The type of accommodation will vary depending on location and availability; local arrangements are made by the visit coordinator. Students may be billeted in a home, placed in a bed and breakfast, or in a local motel.
Rural Week organizers, Visit Coordinators & Preceptors are expecting you to stay in the assigned community for the entire week. No commuting is permitted.
It is the students’ responsibility to discuss with the Visit Coordinator the necessary items to be brought into the community. Some communities may require students to bring with them bedding and/or food items.
Meals
It is the students’ responsibility to discuss meals with the Visit Coordinator or Preceptor As well as, what, if any food items are to be brought into the (remote) community.
Be aware that hours of operation of stores and gas stations vary from community to community. Accessibility to restaurants varies throughout the province and may be limited. Some remote regions require students to supply their own food.
Special Needs
Identify special needs (allergies, religious or meal preferences) during the online registration process. If for any reason your circumstances change, notify the Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office immediately by contacting:
Ashley Shaw: [email protected]
Travel – Vehicle – Transportation
On Sunday, May 24, 2026, or Sunday, May 31, 2026, you will travel to your assigned community; plan your arrival time for early evening. You will start your community and clinical experience the following morning. If you are flying, your travel itinerary will determine arrival time.
Upon arrival you will meet your Visit Coordinator at a predetermined time/location. The Visit Coordinator will orient you to the community and show you where you will stay. At this time you should receive your schedule for the week.
Each group of students is responsible for organizing travel within their assigned group.
Mileage for ONLY ONE (1) vehicle per community will be authorized for reimbursement, other than preauthorized communities.
The pre-authorized driver will receive the vehicle travel allowance based on the university mileage chart.
Departure Date is Friday, May 29 or Friday, June 5.
Personal Items – What to Bring
Bring your white coat and any diagnostic equipment you may have purchased over the first year. (i.e. stethoscope)
Bring appropriate seasonal clothing and outerwear as you may be doing some outdoor activities.
Reimbursement
Food: Students will be reimbursed thirty dollars ($30.00) per day as a living allowance. Upon receipt of completed Student Evaluation of Rural Week form Undergraduate Medical Education will issue travel & meal allowance as outlined above. No further action is required.
Transportation: One pre-authorized driver will receive the vehicle travel allowance based on the university mileage chart. Unless otherwise pre-approved.
Daily Schedule
The following activities may be worked into the daily schedule: Clinic duty, Emergency room duty, High school visit, visit health care team member(s) as available, Operating Room/ ER (if applicable), Visit Personal Care home, & extracurricular events (see below).
We encourage preceptors to provide students with hands-on experience. Some students’ experiences will be more observational, according to the preceptors’ teaching style and experience. The most common issue for students is the level of hands-on responsibility they are given. This will depend of your level of confidence and the rapport that you build with your preceptor over the week. Students are encouraged to have an open, professional discussion with preceptors if they feel the level of responsibility is inappropriate.
Community Events & Extra Curricular Activities
The organization of extra-curricular activities is primarily the responsibility of the Visit Coordinator however, each community is unique and this assigned task may fall into the hands of others. We do our best to encourage a variety of experiences. However, the community may be limited by time, money and talent.
In the past students have experienced community tours, farm tours (including pig barns), and factory tours, golf excursions, fishing trips, and sporting events. Finally, community BBQ’s have been very popular.
High School Session Resources
While in the host community, students may be asked to do a short career presentation at the local high school. Check if the Visit Coordinator has made prior arrangements with the school. Confirm the date & place. Please note that student populations vary from community to community, as does their exposure to a resource such as an experienced medical student. The ultimate goal is to provide students with positive reinforcements that will encourage them to set and achieve their career goals. Feel free to have fun with this.
Several formats have been used quite successfully. Rural Week students have presented to large audiences seeking general health career information and some have experienced informal one-on-one situations with students specifically interested in medicine.
Evaluation – Recording Your Experience
Before you arrive in the community, familiarize yourself with the Student Evaluation of Rural Week Summary located in your Student Guide. The information provided is offered to you in a thought provoking format; the actual online evaluation will take only a few minutes to complete. Keep in mind that the evaluation is a journaling experience; it is not a comparison to the experience of others. We value all comments.
Prior to your departure request that the Preceptor complete the Preceptor Evaluation of Student Form before you leave the community. Take time to review with preceptor.
Prior to your departure and before you arrive at the wind-up;
Complete the Students Evaluation of Rural Week ONLINE.
Rural Week Student Evaluation (REQUIRED)
Bring your camera and use it during the week.
Email photos ASAP to Ashley Shaw: [email protected]
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency (family emergency, illness, transportation trouble, etc) at any time during the preparation of and participation in Rural Week students must immediately contact Ashley Shaw and the Visit Coordinator in the community.
Ashley Shaw
[email protected]
204-648-6763 (after the hours of 8:30 – 4:30 Monday to Friday)
Questions & Concerns
Please discuss any concerns you have with Rural Week Personnel or your Visit Coordinator. You will find that everyone is genuinely happy to welcome you to their community.
Hear from Rural Week Students
Rural Week in Neepawa
With Jarrad Perron
“Like many students, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Rural Week. While I had heard many people say it was enjoyable, I wasn’t convinced the experience would align with my interests or career goals.
My experience in Neepawa completely changed my perspective. From the genuine kindness and appreciation, we received from the community to the incredible support from local physicians, coordinators and hosts, I quickly discovered that rural medicine was far more rewarding than I had imagined.What surprised me most was the breadth of experiences available. In a single week, I had the opportunity to shadow a physician and see patients, participate in procedures, assist with a delivery, and gain hands-on clinical experience far beyond what I expected. The trust and supervised autonomy were incredibly confidence-building and made the week a truly formative experience in my medical career.
This experience also gave me a new appreciation for rural physicians and the vital role they play in their communities. I always knew they did a lot, but seeing it firsthand reinforced just how important these professionals are in the communities they serve. Rural physicians provide care across an extraordinary range of needs, from sprains and injuries to prenatal care, chronic disease management, and even supporting patients through complex treatments such as chemotherapy. They are trusted, respected members of their communities who make a profound difference in people’s lives.
Rural Week left a lasting impression on me. It turned out to be an incredible experience that left me with positive memories. Neepawa became the place where I was able to put my medical training into practice first, gain confidence in my skills, and really saw the distinction between medicine as an art and medicine as a science. It’s an experience I would wholeheartedly recommend to future students.”
— Jarrad Perron, MD-PhD Candidate, University of Manitoba
