Rapport Winter 2010/11 : Page 26
dR. heLeNa haMdaN [ ALUMni PRoFiLe choosing Windsor one of the first to train in Windsor, family doctor helena hamdan (Md’05) now calls the city home. r. helena hamdan (Md’05) is a pioneer: as for being one of the first graduates to train she was one of the first medical students and complete her family medicine residency at schulich Medicine & dentistry to make in Windsor, hamdan says she doesn’t think about the move to Windsor for training. Now she’s made it that way because the program didn’t feel new. it permanent. “even in its infancy, it went very smoothly. i enjoyed in 2003, schulich Medicine & dentistry myself a lot more than my colleagues who stayed expanded clinical training for the third year of behind in ottawa.” medical school to the Windsor area. it began with after graduation, hamdan chose to set up just nine students and hamdan was one of the her practice in Windsor. she says that despite first on board. a reputation for having a dearth of doctors, Windsor she transferred to Western after beginning is “much better than many cities” in how it has medical school at the university of ottawa. responded to the need for specialty care. her reasons for relocating to Windsor were both The hospitals are working hard to improve the way professional and personal – she had heard good patient care is managed and provided. “The hospitals things about the new program, and her husband are not set in their ways. if they think they can do was working in detroit at the time. something better, they give it a try.” The result of this Right away she knew she had made the right flexible attitude has been better care for patients and move. “being such a small and new program we more hands-on experience for medical students. received more exposure in rounds,” hamdan explains. That practical experience is a big draw for “We had more one-on-one teaching. That’s how it was students, says hamdan. and that is good for the presented to potential students, too, so i decided city and the care provided to its residents. to attend (Windsor clinical training) instead of going The region is already having success recruiting to a traditional teaching hospital setting.” and retaining talented doctors because of the That intimate training environment continues. Windsor Program. “studies show that doctors in 2008, the training blossomed into the schulich stay in the areas where they train because they’re school of Medicine & dentistry – Windsor Program, comfortable. They know colleagues, consultants and with 92 students currently enrolled. in fact, hamdan is how the hospitals work,” hamdan explains. “Plus, now teaching Windsor Program students and is proud if you work in an area long enough, you don’t want to be part of “changing the way things are done.” to leave; it becomes your home.” 28 d ] schuLich schooL oF MediciNe & deNTisTRy
Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here