Whether it’s the perception of limited access to resources and technology, or concerns about professional isolation, these assumptions can overshadow the unique rewards and opportunities that practicing rural medicine can offer.
For Dr. Ryan Tong, a physician at Uxbridge Hospital, the opportunities far outweigh any perceived challenges. For Dr. Tong, the broad range of clinical experiences and unique community dynamic is what makes practicing rural medicine so rewarding.
“One day, you’re in a clinic with your primary care patients and then there’s a trauma that you need to stabilize, and you run across to the Emergency Department to help with that. And then you do a hospitalist rotation on the weekend. It’s a really unique skill set,” says Dr. Tong.
A comprehensive training experience
Oak Valley Health provides a unique training opportunity to family medicine residents in that we have both urban (Markham Stouffville Hospital) and rural (Uxbridge Hospital) sites. This provides a broad learning experience that allows trainees the opportunity to explore how care is provided in the province and make decisions on where and how they want to practice medicine when they have completed their studies.
In 2021, Dr. Tong was a family resident trainee with a particular interest in hospital medicine. As part of his training, he chose to do a rotation in rural medicine at Uxbridge Hospital where our dedicated family medicine group enthusiastically supports trainees in their rural learning experience. Dr. Tong’s residency rotation at the Uxbridge site exposed him to the possibilities of working in rural medicine.
“During my residency here, I had a chance to do a rotation in the Emergency Department and also on the floor, and I really liked my experience,” explains Dr. Tong. “And so, when I had an opportunity to do another elective here, I jumped on it. It was nice because I got a good flavour of what Uxbridge was like and the staff members here.”
Based upon his rewarding time in Uxbridge, Dr. Tong decided to swap his focus from an urban practice to life as a physician in a close-knit community. Upon graduation, he was invited to come on staff at Uxbridge Hospital. What Dr. Tong loves most about his work is the multifaceted nature of serving patients within the community and the diverse range of roles and experiences he encounters.
“It’s pretty unique because I also do some surgical assisting at Markham Stouffville Hospital. So, as a hospitalist at Uxbridge, I’ll take care of a patient on the floor, and then if they need surgery, sometimes after I’ve done my hospitalist week, I’ll actually see them at Markham Stouffville and participate in their surgery. And then, when I go back to Uxbridge, I can let the hospital know exactly what happened and what to look out for.”
This unique breadth of experience has given Dr. Tong the chance to see the different points of care throughout a patient’s stay in hospital. “I love the fact that you can touch base with a patient or family in so many different ways.”
Today, Dr. Tong has also settled into a new role at Uxbridge Hospital, transitioning from a learner to a mentor. Inspired by the rich learning opportunities and supportive environment he experienced, Dr. Tong now pays it forward by sharing his knowledge with resident trainees. His passion for nurturing the next generation of family practitioners has evolved into a formalized teaching role that he finds just as fulfilling as the art of healing.
Dr. Tong will be instrumental in the growth of academics at the Uxbridge site and the timing couldn’t be better. Over the next five years, the hospital will be completely rebuilt, providing our learners with a comprehensive rural training experience in a rich state-of-the-art facility on an integrated campus of care.
“I think it’s eye opening for residents to see the breadth of what they can do after residency.”
