'A more diverse healthcare cohort': Program encourages students to pursue medicine
For some, becoming a doctor can seem out of reach.
In Canada, less than seven per cent of medical students come from low socio-economic backgrounds.
This is why Antoine Denis and his classmates at the McGill School of Medicine launched the Academic Immersion in Healthcare (AIH) Project.
"We wanted to make a change, basically. It has actually been shown that a more diverse health care cohort actually improves patient outcomes," said Denis.
The goal of AIH is to make medicine more attainable by showing high schoolers, through a series of videos, exactly what being a health care professional looks like.
"It actually demystifies what health care is. It shows them the health care workers actually working acutely to sort of manage a patient who is sick," Denis explained.
The program then links students like Yassine Abdellatif with resources to help them succeed.
"I know many people, many of them [are] my friends, who want to become a doctor and don't know how," said Abdellatif, who is a CEGEP student. "I think this [...] really helps people to get to their objective."
Quebec is currently facing a serious healthcare worker shortage.
"We need fresh dynamic new faces in institutions like the MUHC and the CHUM and the CHSLDs across the province of Quebec. We need an uptake of people coming in," said Naveed Hussain, a nurse with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
Hussain says a more diverse healthcare system would mean better care for more people.
"Sometimes you have people coming from different backgrounds and ethnicities and have different religions and different cultural upbringing[s], and when you have people that understand that you can create care plans that can be optimal for these patients."
But according to McGill paediatrics professor Dr. Saleem Razack, before the health network can become more diverse, diverse communities need more exposure and opportunities.
"I think a program like academic immersion health care is exactly the kind of thing that get students saying that they could see themselves doing this," said Dr. Razack.
Antoine Denis says that for now, the project is focused on encouraging future doctors.
But he says the plan is to expand the program to also help aspiring nurses and other healthcare professionals.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.