Submitted by Prairie Mountain Health
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) was proud to once again partner with the Swan Valley Medical Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee (SVMPRRC) to host a medical student rural interest group (RIG) workshop in Swan River October 2-4, 2026. The annual weekend event featured 25 first and second-year medical students from the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine who explored the benefits of career and lifestyle opportunities in the Swan River Valley. It followed a successful RIG workshop held in the communities of Brandon and Minnedosa in January 2026, where PMH hosted 75 students across the two rural centres.
PMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adrian Fung, who worked in Swan River for nearly six years, says it’s a great time of year to explore the Swan Valley and local medical opportunities. “We’re very excited that with the organizational and financial support from the SVMPRCC, we were able to have another annual workshop in Swan River. PMH and the provincial Health Care Recruitment and Retention Coordination Office sincerely appreciate the support of the U of M, local physicians, staff and community volunteers who help make the RIG weekend a success.”
The SVMPRRC greeted the students and provided welcome bags for everyone, as well as an ‘Explorer Pass’ allowing students to return and visit Swan River at their convenience. Following the welcome, Dr. Leah Koetting invited all of the students back to her house for a bonfire.
There were hospital and facility tours, along with casting and suturing clinical stations, with Dr. Burnside, Dr. Cazakoff, and Dr. Koetting as preceptors, and Charnae Betcher (Swan River Physician Assistant), Enas Alharethi (Year 2 Resident-Neepawa), and Ihuoma Amako (Year 1 Resident-Parkland) assisting.
After clinical station rotations, workshop participants moved to the newly renovated Amphitheatre at the Swan Valley Regional High School for an Indigenous Teachings Presentation from Elder Caroline Quill. A town tour and a visit to the Swan Valley Historical Museum, where students rode a miniature train around the museum grounds, were another community highlight before departing for the Thunderhill Ski Area for a delicious catered supper.
The Rural Interest Group and the University of Manitoba Medical Classes of 2028 and 2029 were honoured to join the Swan River community for a weekend of clinical skills and festivities. “We are grateful to PMH and Swan River for providing us with this opportunity, as this is the northernmost trip we were involved in this year, giving students invaluable insight into what it means to live and work rurally.”