The Rotary Club of Guelph has announced a commitment of $180,800 to support the development of a medical education centre at Guelph General Hospital, to be paid over a 5-year period.
Rotarians believe the centre is a valuable project that will provide a lasting benefit.
The Guelph medical education centre is one of four in the area where McMaster University medical students are trained in various specialties.
The development comes through Guelph General’s affiliation with McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.
The school previously opened a Waterloo Regional campus to increase the number of graduates practicing in smaller urban and rural areas by providing student experiences in smaller communities.
Medical students are currently training at GGH as part of the Waterloo program and their numbers will increase over time.
“Rotary’s gift will enable us to create a superb medical education centre,” said the hospital’s president Richard Ernst.
“It will provide the opportunity to showcase the hospital and Guelph to our community’s future physicians.”
Dr. Marcel Doré is a GGH assistant clinical professor at McMaster’s Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus. He said, “We do need to make this an excellent centre of care because it will make us more attractive for physicians to work and live in the community.”
Doré also said he believes the program will raise the overall quality of care because the veteran doctors “have to stay on their toes” when they teach the new doctors and that an adequate supply of physicians is critical to quality care.
Rotary financial support will come from the Rotary Club of Guelph Dream Home lottery.
The donation will be used to build and equip the appropriate facilities including a student lounge, quarters for residents, video conference room, teaching aids, furnishings, and equipment.
“We are absolutely delighted that Rotary has chosen to support this project,” said executive director of he Foundation of Guelph General Hospital Suzanne Bone.
“Their gift is an important investment in the health of our community.”
