Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) is celebrating ROMP Week 2025, welcoming three first-year medical students from Queen’s University’s innovative family medicine program.
Students Amrit Marwaha, Tasneem Patel, and Neha Tangri will spend the week gaining hands-on clinical experience under the guidance of Northumberland-based family physician Dr. Emma Smith, NHH’s medical quality physician lead. Local doctors Michelle Long and Marcus Cunningham will also serve as preceptors, providing valuable mentorship.
“ROMP Week is a real ‘win-win,’” said Smith. “It gives students early exposure to rural medicine, encouraging them to consider practising in communities like ours. Many students who participate return later during their clerkship or residency.”
Susan Walsh, NHH President and CEO, praised the program, saying: “Initiatives like ROMP Week highlight the tremendous opportunities in rural medicine while showcasing Northumberland County as an ideal place to live and work.”
ROMP Week is supported by the West Northumberland Physician Recruitment and Retention committee and aims to address Ontario’s family doctor shortage. The Queen’s University-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program, launched in 2023, immerses students in clinical practice from their first year.
Chief of Staff Dr. Mukesh Bhargava emphasised the program’s importance, stating: “These first impressions are invaluable. ROMP has been instrumental in attracting talented physicians to our hospital and community.”
Learn more online about the Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP) or ROMP Week.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
