Northern Studies Stream (NSS)
The Mission of the NSS:
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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.
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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 PT/OT program in Canada.
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In 1992, McMaster University partnered with Lakehead University to create a satellite campus in Thunder Bay
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Parallel academic units are run in both Thunder Bay and at McMaster for 8-9 weeks
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The NSS curriculum is delivered in a manner that ensures similar academic standards between the McMaster and Thunder Bay sites
Why was the NSS developed?
This stream was developed in response to a need for rural clinicians in Northern Ontario. There are a multitude of benefits from the use of 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
How successful is the NSS program…?
Studies conducted by McMaster faculty in the north and other program staff have demonstrated that:
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Each year, anywhere from 12-25% of students who participate in the NSS program return to work in this region
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In Northwestern Ontario, greater than 80% of practicing OT and PT clinicians actively take students for clinical placements, compared to 30-40% of clinicians in southern Ontario
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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
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NSS program has consistently received excellent feedback from students
How are current students selected to participate in the NSS program?