The Mission of the NSS:

• To provide rehabilitation learners with an opportunity to increase their awareness of Northern rural and remote as well as aboriginal health care issues and improve the potential for their recruitment and retention to these areas.
• To provide career development opportunities for practitioners who will be practicing in Northern community rehabilitation centres.

What is the NSS?

The Northern Studies Stream is a unique experience found at no other Physiotherapy program in Canada.

• In 1990, McMaster University partnered with Lakehead University and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to create a satellite campus in Thunder Bay.  The partnership has now evolved to include the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
• Parallel academic units are run in both Thunder Bay and at McMaster for 8 weeks
• The NSS curriculum is delivered in a manner that ensures the same high academic standards between the McMaster and Thunder Bay sites.

Why was the NSS developed?

The NSS was developed in response to a need for rural clinicians in Northern Ontario. There are a multitude of benefits from this program, including:

• Increasing students' awareness and knowledge of the determinants of health unique to northern and rural communities 
• Increasing awareness of First Nations health concerns and practices
• Providing students with skills required for the unique practice of rural healthcare 
• Support from preceptors, program educators and other clinicians in the north
• Partnerships between rehabilitation professionals, McMaster, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the local communities.

Accreditation: 

• The OT and the PT programs have previously been awarded the longest accreditation terms possible, with the Northern Studies Stream identified as a highlight of the program.
• Within the NSS, the curriculum is delivered in a manner that ensures the same high academic standards between the McMaster and Thunder Bay sites.

What are the opportunities to participate in the NSS Program?

• Clinical placements in Units 2, 3, 4, 6
• Academic and Clinical in Unit 5 (January – April).

Students:

• Delivers 33 placements per year for OT students and 33 for PT students.  By the end of their education, one half of each PT and OT class will have had a placement and/or academic education opportunity in the north.
• In addition to placement, the NSS program offers the opportunity for 12 PT students to complete an academic unit in the North, followed immediately by a clinical placement.  This academic unit is 8 weeks in duration followed by a 6 week placement.  These semesters are synchronized with the McMaster Campus.

Faculty:

• NSS Coordinators are McMaster University Faculty members
• Faculty employ strategies to ensure consistency including: use of video and audio conferencing technology, shared marking of evaluations and on-going communication between the unit/term chair, course coordinators and the NSS coordinator.

Preceptors and local clinicians:

• Preceptors are recruited and supported by regional physiotherapy Placement Coordinators in Northern Ontario.
•  Involvement with the program allows local clinicians to participate in program delivery, curriculum development, examinations and the admissions process.
• Many local clinicians have McMaster University faculty appointments (professional associate) with the School of Rehabilitation Science as they contribute to both the academic teaching and the clinical teaching.

How successful is the NSS program?

Studies conducted by McMaster faculty in the north and other program staff have demonstrated that:

• Each year, anywhere from 12-33% of students who participate in the NSS program return to work in this region
• Studies have shown that retention is improved amongst clinicians who feel involved with education and supported in their professional practice. The NSS program provides both of these opportunities
• NSS program has consistently received excellent feedback from students.

How are current students selected to participate in the NSS program?

• An information session will be held for those students who may be interested in the Northern Studies Stream in the fall of the first year
• Amongst applicants, a random draw is held
• Students may be able to complete more than one placement in the north if sufficient spots are available.

Funding

Funding is provided to students for travel and accommodations through a grant provided the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Travel by Car:  Mileage paid for one round trip from McMaster to placement community

Travel by plane: will be arranged directly by contacting our travel coordinator once student has indicated he/she will fly

Accommodations are provided by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Enquires about the Northern Studies Stream should be directed to:

Christopher Winn
Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Science
Physiotherapy Coordinator, Northern Studies Stream
McMaster University
winncs@mcmaster.ca