Published On: June 2, 2025
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) is proud to welcome medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University for Discovery Week 2025.
For the past 27 years, as part of Discovery Week, all first-year medical students at Western have participated in immersive, one-week placements in health-care settings across Southwestern Ontario.
During their placements at STEGH, medical students will be exposed to teamwork and collaboration within a non-urban setting and will have exciting opportunities to discover all the community has to offer.
“We are excited to host these future physicians at STEGH, where they will not only gain clinical experience, but also have the chance to see what it’s like to practice medicine in a close-knit, community-focused environment,” said Dr. Erica Van Daalen, Chief of Staff at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. “The relationships and experiences they build here during Discovery Week could inspire them to envision their future careers in small-town and rural settings, where their skills and compassion will be essential for the well-being of the community.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued collaboration with partners who welcome our medical students into their communities and provide them with unparalleled first-hand experiences,” said Dr. Victor Ng, assistant dean, Distributed Education, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. “Together, we’re training and inspiring a cohort of physicians who are eager and prepared to practise in small and mid-sized communities across Ontario.
From June 2-5, 14 Schulich medical students are welcomed as temporary members of the St. Thomas community, giving them the opportunity to meet patients, experience the unique health-care systems and interact with colleagues, getting a fulsome experience of what a day in the life of a local health-care provider looks like in St. Thomas.
During Discovery Week 2025, more than 190 Schulich Medicine students will be placed in more than 30 participating communities, from Windsor to Owen Sound.
“Through Discovery Week, Schulich medical students will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for rural regional medicine and health-care providers,” said Dr. Ng. “Many return to practise in the communities they trained in.”