by Lisa Clements, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department
The Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund (OMSBF) is implementing a variety of initiatives designed to raise awareness of the financial challenges faced by medical students, and to increase funding available to students in financial need.
Following is a summary of recent and upcoming OMSBF events.
University of Toronto students express gratitude to donors
In January, medical students from the University of Toronto volunteered their
time to personally thank physicians who pledged their support to the OMSBF in
2001.
The "OMSBF Student Thank You Campaign" proved to be a mutually enriching experience. Students who took part were able to personally thank donors on behalf of themselves and their colleagues, while physicians had an opportunity to converse with some future members of the medical profession.
Many physicians continue to express shock at the unprecedented financial challenges faced by today's medical students.
OMSBF staff wish to thank the volunteers from the University of Toronto who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the "Thank You" campaign.
OMSBF spring telemarketing campaign continues
More than $140,000 has been raised through the "OMSBF 2002 Spring Telemarketing
Campaign," which commenced in April and will run to the end of July.
The need for the Student Bursary Fund continues to grow. In the four years since medical tuition deregulation, fees have escalated, while government assistance remains stagnant.
As the OMA has stated in its recently released "Position Paper on Physician Workforce Policy and Planning," medical tuition must become more affordable in order to reduce financial barriers to medical training.
Soaring tuition rates and overwhelming debt-loads are threatening accessibility to medical education. Physicians are urged to donate to the OMSBF to ensure that a medical education is within reach of any student who has the ability and desire to pursue a career in medicine.
OMSBF at OMA Council
During the recent OMA Annual Council Meeting, OMSBF Implementation Committee
member Savtaj Brar updated delegates on Fund activities and accomplishments
over the past year, and provided an overview of plans for future OMSBF endeavours.
Mr. Brar, co-chair of the OMA Student Section, and a second-year medical student at the University of Western Ontario, told delegates about the most exciting development of 2001 - the announcement in December of the disbursement of $2,000 to each of 87 deserving medical students.
The OMSBF disbursements came as a result of the generosity of more than 2,800 physicians and corporate donors. With their assistance, the Ontario Medical Foundation has raised more than $2.9 million toward its campaign goal of $4 million.
This year, the OMSBF will continue to contact physicians across the province, as well as approach a variety of industry leaders, in order to extend an offer to demonstrate their commitment to an accessible medical education.
Academy of Medicine Ottawa hosts third Annual Golf Tournament
The Academy of Medicine Ottawa will host its third annual charity golf tournament
and dinner on June 12, 2002. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated
to the OMSBF.
The event will be held at the Meadows Golf & Country Club in Ottawa.
Physicians and others interested in participating in the tournament may contact
Dawna Feeley at (613) 733-2604 for further information.