Phase 2 Clerkship Coordinator Dr. Sarah Strasser paid a visit from NOSM (www.normed.ca) to check in on third year clerks Marlon Hagerty and Kristie Skunta today. The learners have been extremely busy and it’s hard to believe that they will be leaving the community in just over 6 weeks. Next weekend we are hosting our annual Physician Appreciation Night at the Dryden Ski Hill and we are going to take advantage of the recent snow fall to get away and enjoy some R n R on the hill and trails. This is the tenth year for the Physician Night and we will be including the medical students, residents as well as the third year clerks from Sioux Lookout.

Former third year Clerk Tyler MacGregor stopped by last week for a visit while on rotation in Obs/Gyne with Dr. Fairley and made the rounds visiting old friends and picking up his regular three eggs to start the day in the cafeteria. We wish Tyler all the best with his CARMS match as he looks to be heading to Orthopaedic residency; we knew him when. Bruce Cook is our homegrown physician in training and former clerk that is also awaiting word on his CARMS match. Bruce has signed a return of service agreement and is coming back to Dryden with his family upon completion of his Family Medicine Residency. He’ll be joining his friend Adam Moir who is a first year resident in Thunder Bay committed to practice in Dryden in 2011. There is a nice core of new physicians coming to Dryden to work with recent additions Dr. Stephen Viherjoki and Dr. Kerry Wilson in the clinic (www.dingwallmedicalgroup.ca).

As the days grow a little longer and the temperatures warm we are enjoying one of the nicest times of the year; you can hit the lakes after work for an hour or two with a lawnchair and t-shirt and start working on that summer tan while fishing. The third year clerks will be doing that this Friday afternoon as the forecast calls for near zero temperatures (and well above zero fish counts!).

That’s all our news today; discussions with two full time ER physicians is progressing and we’ll keep you posted. Have a great week!

Chuck