Northern Ontario and Rural Medicine (NORM) Committee

Photo by Maddie Nolan, Attawapiskat First Nation, ON

About NORM

The Northern Ontario and Rural Medicine (NORM) Committee is a subcommittee of the Ontario Medical Students Association (OMSA). Our committee members consist of medical students studying across Ontario with interest in promoting rural generalist and specialist medicine!

We have three primary aims:

1. Acknowledging the social, economic and geographical barriers to medical student engagement, the NORM facilitates student support and engagement in OMSA initiatives focusing on students from Northern Ontario. In addition, a separate working group will do the same for students from other medical schools in the province with rural satellite campuses. 
2. Acknowledging the gaps in accessibility and provision of healthcare to rural and Northern Ontario, with specific interest give towards Indigenous populations. Given the unique health care concerns in the North, the NORM aims to create and support advocacy initiatives and campaigns that seek to fill the awareness gap where possible. 
3. Acknowledging students studying in Southern Ontario who have limited access to opportunities in rural healthcare. Given that one of the predictors for successful recruitment of physicians to Northern, rural and remote communities involves training in these areas, the NORM seeks to create and/or support opportunities for Southern Ontario medical students to train in the North – opportunities such as observerships, electives, workshop and/or conferences are considered.

Resources

Our Committee

NORM consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and four portfolios. Please click the links to learn more about each portfolio and their projects. 

• Northern and Rural Student Engagement
• Northern Ontario and Rural Health Advocacy
• Urban Student Engagement
• Indigenous Health Advocacy

Social Media

Want to learn more about our committee? Find us on social media!