Sundre group supports local students pursuing path in health care

Several scholarships presented to five recipients during recent Sundre Hospital Legacy Gala attended by Alberta’s health minister

Back row, from left: Jason Nixon, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA and minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services; Chantal Crawford, Myron Thompson Health Centre site manager; Presley Layden, LPN student at NorQuest College; and Leanne Kerik for daughter Maddy, who is in her second year of studies at the Lethbridge University to become a RN. Front row, from left: Adriana LaGrange, Red Deer-North MLA and minister of Health; Joyce Wicks, Sundre Healthcare Professionals Attraction and Recruitment Committee chair; Vi Ellithorpe, Sundre Hospital Auxiliary chair; Raegan Blatchford, who is in her second year of studies to become an RN through Red Deer Polytechnic; Elisha Hollar, a LPN who is upgrading her credentials to become a RN through Athabasca University; and Kendra Bartholow, who is in her third year of studies at Red Deer Polytechnic to become a RN. Hollar was the recipient of the Joanne Overguard Memorial Scholarship valued at $1,000 as well as the hospital auxiliary’s scholarship worth $1,500. Layden, Maddy, Blatchford and Bartholow were all presented with health career scholarships each worth $1,000. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff

SUNDRE – A local non-profit organization firmly believes that a crucial part of enticing health-care professionals to commit to a career in a rural community involves fostering development opportunities for local students who are either interested in pursuing a path in medicine or upgrading existing credentials.

To that end, the Sundre Healthcare Professionals Attraction and Retention Committee, which operates under the umbrella of the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee, allocates funding received through grants from Mountain View County as well as the Town of Sundre toward bursaries that were presented during the recent Sundre Hospital Legacy Gala fundraiser.

This year, there were five recipients who were presented with scholarships valued at $1,000 and $1,500.

Funds raised by the futures committee also support the local hospital, while the attraction and retention committee – with logistical and financial support from Rural Health Professions Action Plan – helps to organize events like a nurse skills day to introduce, and along the way possibly even inspire, students to study medicine.

The futures committee was also involved in the push to establish a training space for medical personnel such as firefighters and paramedics that can also be used by students and community groups.